Getting Started in Youth Volleyball
How to choose a first program, what to expect at every age from 7 to 18, and how school and club volleyball fit together.
How to choose a youth volleyball program
Most kids start between Grade 2 and Grade 6. The best first program is the one your child enjoys enough to come back to: short, active, lots of touches on the ball, and coaches who make it fun.
- Try it firstStart with a free camp or a beginner session before committing to a season.
- Match the levelPick by experience, not age alone: Beginner, Intermediate, Club or Elite.
- Check the fitDay, time, location and season length should work for your whole family.
- Register and prepareSign the waiver, pack the equipment checklist, and arrive 10 minutes early.
Read the full guide: choosing a program
Questions to ask any program
- What is the coach-to-athlete ratio, and how many ball touches does each child get?
- Are the coaches certified (NCCP) and screened? Do they follow the Rule of Two?
- Is the program grouped by level or only by age?
- What happens if my child misses a session, or the program is not a fit? (See our refund policy.)
Which Vision program first?
| If your child… | Start with |
|---|---|
| has never played | Free Camp, then Vision Elite Academy (Beginner) |
| plays at school and wants more | Premier League or Skills Camps |
| wants to play on a team that travels | Vision VC club (tryouts in December and January) |
| wants to play after school or on holidays | Before and after school or Holiday camps |
Youth volleyball by age: what to expect at each stage
Our programs follow Long-Term Athlete Development (LTAD), the Canadian Sport for Life model Volleyball Canada uses. Each stage has a different goal, so "winning" means something different at 8 than at 16.
FUNdamentals: learn to love the game
Lightweight balls, lower nets and small-sided games (2 v 2, 3 v 3) so every child touches the ball often. Focus on movement, catching, throwing and simple passing.
What parents see
- Short sessions, lots of games and laughing
- No fixed positions, no tryouts
- Progress = more ball control and confidence
Learn to Train: build real skills
The best window to learn skills. Overhand serving, setting and the first approach to an attack. Players try every position. Mini-volley and 4 v 4 lead into 6 v 6.
What parents see
- First leagues and holiday tournaments
- Many mistakes: that is how skills are learned
- Keep other sports in the mix
Train to Train: build the engine
Growth spurts change coordination for a while. Training adds speed, jumping, strength basics and team systems. Club volleyball usually starts here (13U–15U).
What parents see
- Tryouts, a club season and weekend tournaments
- A first specialised position, still flexible
- Watch sleep, recovery and sore knees
Train to Compete: perform under pressure
Position-specific training, strength and conditioning, scouting and match strategy. Athletes aiming for university start their recruiting plan (see section 13).
What parents see
- 16U–18U club, provincial teams, showcases
- More hours: protect school and rest days
- Your role shifts from coach-in-the-car to supporter
School volleyball vs club volleyball
Most of our athletes play both. School volleyball runs in the fall; club volleyball runs in the winter and spring, so the seasons fit together.
School volleyball
- Season: fall (about September to November)
- Cost: low, run by the school
- Team: classmates, school coach or teacher
- Games: school league and school tournaments
Club volleyball
- Season: winter and spring, after tryouts
- Cost: higher: coaching, gym time, tournaments, uniforms
- Team: athletes from many schools, certified club coaches
- Games: provincial and out-of-town tournaments
Ready to find the right program?
Search programs in Winnipeg, Calgary, Edmonton, Fraser Valley and Montréal, or ask a coach.