FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQ)
"Club" is the term used for "Competitive Volleyball" instead of the term "Rep" used in other sports. They both mean the same thing.
Tryouts for the Competitive programs start in mid-September. Days, Times and locations will be posted on the website in mid-August.
Age Divisions are based on Year of Birth. To be eligible to play in a particular age division you must be turning that age or younger during the year of the Ontario Championships which are in April. For example... if you want to play in the 2020 16U Ontario Championships, you must turn no more than 16 during the 2020 Calendar year. If you turned 16 at any time in 2019 you are not eligible for 16U, the youngest age division you can play in would be 17U. (one exception... if you were born between Sept. 1st and Dec. 31st you can play down one age group)
The entry level Age Division for Competitive is 12U for girls which is grade 6 and younger and 13U for boys which is grade 7 and younger. The oldest Age Division we run is 18U which is grade 12. For more info about our Competitive programs select "Programs".
Ontario Volleyball runs the following Age Divisions in both genders: 13U, 14U, 15U, 16U, 17U & 18U plus the 12U Girls division.
Competitive athletes practice 2 or 3 twice per week for about 2 hours depending on age groups. Younger athletes usually practice from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM and the older athletes from 8:00 PM to 10:00 PM. Practices stay on the same days, times and locations unless there are school cancellations. Sometimes practices could get scheduled for weekends in certain circumstances.
Game play is tournament format only and consists of about one tournament a month from November to April unless a team plays up an Age Division as well as their own.
Additional the coach may schedule the team for invitational tournaments and scrimmages.
The Club season runs from Sept. to May with no activity during Christmas Break or March Break. Exhibition Tournaments start in October, Competitive tournaments in Nov. or Dec. and conclude with Ontario Championships in April and the possibility of Nationals in May.
We plan for our Tier-1 16-18U teams to attend Nationals each season. Nationals Registration (only) is included in these teams fees. Hotels & all travel costs for Nationals is not covered, and teams may raise as much money as possible through fundraising activities to help offset some of these costs.
Other teams may be permitted to attend (at full team expense) and this is determined on an individual team basis.
The OVA and Volleyball Canada website links are always the best source for the most up-to-date schedules for tournaments, Provincials and Nationals. A direct link to those websites has been placed on the homepage.
The team maintains a detailed schedule of all activities on TeamSnap. All athletes and parents have access to TeamSnap and TeamSnap will communicate notices of upcoming events.
The WAVES Rep programs start with an emphasis on technical skill development and practice drills with a gradual shift throughout the program towards maximum game play.
WAVES runs a program called the Momentum League for athletes 7-12 or 13-18 years of age who are new to volleyball.
The WAVES Beach Volleyball academy runs in May and June to prepare athletes for the Beach Volleyball season.
Additionally, WAVES runs special camps and clinics throughout the year, often with special guest coaches.
For more info on all of the WAVES programs, select "Programs" on the menu bar.
You do need to tryout to be selected to a WAVES team. We try our best to place as many athletes as possible on teams. If we have a large number of athletes trying out in a specific age group, we will do our best to run more teams at that age group. There will be some cuts due to the need to operate full teams of 10 players or more. Other opportunities to play volleyball are offered through camps & clinics throughout the year.
WAVES Team selections are posted shortly after the evaluations/tryouts.
Athletes are encouraged to tryout regardless of skill level. At the younger levels we select teams based on future potential as well as current skill.
Ages 12U-13U are all equal teams. We evaluate all players and form equal teams based on evaluations.
Age 14U will be up for discussion with coaches following evaluations. This will depend on total number of players and strengths.
Ages 15U-18U will be tiered based on skill level, and a team of Evaluators, working with the specific coaches, will determine these teams.
Registration fees vary year to year and by age groups. They are made available prior to the tryout period. Please contact us for more information on the fees for different age-groups.
Fees are due at the end of the tryout period when the player signs with the club. Fees can be paid in full or in 3 installments and payments can be maid by cheque, VISA or eTransfer.
Each age-group will be provided an outline of what is included in that age-groups fees. These differ depending on number of travel days, coaches, uniform & apparel costs, hotels, OVA fees and so on.
Uniforms and Player Kits are issued in mid-late November. We submit our order shortly after teams are selected, and typically it is a month before we receive everything back. We make every effort to have these distributed before the first official tournament or league day.
Most practices will be held at Elementary/High Schools in the Etobicoke area. Specific location information is locate on the "WAVES Locations" page under "About Us" on the menu bar.
You will be provided with a detailed schedule on TeamSnap for the season that will include practice times, league games, tournaments provincials and Nationals.
A general outline is provided for each age-group on orientation night for your planning.
TeamSnap is a club management software app which the WAVES VC uses to ease the managerial operations for the support staff, coaches, managers, players and parents.
It keeps track of all the roster info, schedules events and communications.