Prospects & LTAD
Volleyball Prospects Canada and Volleyball Canada’s Long-Term Athlete Development (LTAD) Model
1). Volleyball Prospects Canada – perhaps more than any volleyball organization outside of Volleyball Canada – closely adheres to the national principles of LTAD. In every aspect of this cycle, VPC is exemplary. No other organization outside of the National Team structures consistently offers the opportunity for young women to hone their volleyball skills so effectively and develop sporting excellence as thru the Canada Prospects Teams structure. In keeping with “Volleyball for Life”: Long-Term Athlete Development for Volleyball in Canada, VPC works extensively in Stage 5: Learning to Compete as well as within Stage 4: Training to Train. VPC, thru its Canada Prospects Teams initiative, specifically offers a variety of competitive training conditions and gives initial international exposure to those advanced players throughout the age group designations U15/16/17. All athletes who experience this competitive training and introduction to international competition return to their Club and/or Provincial/National teams with significantly higher levels of fitness preparation and volleyball skills. This models the “principle focus” of Volleyball LTAD-Stage 5.
2). By offering an avenue for elite training and first exposure to international level competition, VPC expands the pool of players both comfortable and competitive in a high-quality training environment. This, in turn, expands the player development pool available to both Provincial Teams and Volleyball Canada for its elite National Team programs. VPC maximizes high-level athlete training opportunities thru exposure to elite level coaching and a rational, introductory level, international competition cycle. Initial exposure to international competition against high-caliber teams of the same age group is a critical development pathway under the auspices of Volleyball LTAD-Stage 5; VPC provides this very opportunity every year, pitting Canada’s best against US and other international teams within age-appropriate groupings.
3). The VPC paradigm seeks to draw competitively from across Canada. VPC ID Development Camps currently exist in Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta, and British Columbia and clearly fall within the LTAD Training to Train/Learning to Compete stages. Canada Prospects Teams give Canadian athletes an equal opportunity to compete with their international peers as they are drawn from a national pool rather than a small, localized population pool, which might relegate them to the bottom of any competition that includes teams drawing from high population density centers. Canada Prospects Teams seek coast-to-coast representation, drawing players based on one over-arching factor: merit. Full-time expansion of scouting efforts and the pursuit of ID Development Camps into Eastern Canada is planned for the near future. All Canadian female volleyball athletes within the proper age-group designations are currently able to post free online profiles and be scouted for a Canada Prospects Team.
4). Volleyball Prospects Canada is not in conflict with Provincial or National Team programs. VPC does not seek to dictate which programs an athlete should attend or which are best for an athlete’s development. VPC’s motto has always been “Athletes First”; we are absolutely supportive of the individual’s right to choose what is best for them at any given stage of their athletic career. Whether that be a Prospects team, a Provincial team, a Beach team, a post-secondary University/College team in Canada or the United States, the Canadian National Team, or perhaps all of these programs at different times in an athlete’s career cycle! This depends, of course, on an athlete’s ability, their LTAD stage of development/training, a rational competition schedule, and the need to avoid overtraining/overuse and burnout. VPC’s Canada Prospects Team program only draws 1 – 3 elite athletes in the 15U, 16U and 17U age divisions from each province, creating additional opportunity for local athletes to compete at the Provincial team level. VPC seeks to educate & provide opportunity; it’s the athlete’s choice.
5). Volleyball Prospects Canada is integral to Canada’s LTAD System Alignment and Integration. VPC is an athlete-centered, coach driven program; national and international program preparation is extensive; talent ID/scouting is nationally based; VPC coaches are all NCCP qualified; performance development/support are offered to athletes and coaches; facilities for training and competition are always of the highest quality; workshops and education for athletes/coaches enhances training/competition cycle. VPC has positioned itself as a stakeholder in the role of LTAD by being integrated and aligned in a way that provides optimal benefit for all involved.
6). Volleyball Prospects Canada is neither Pro-American nor Pro-Canadian – we are Pro-Athlete. VPC seeks to provide the best opportunity for the individual; by supporting the athlete first, we support our entire National volleyball system.
