How IMPACT Volleyball Club Guides Athletes from First Serve to Elite Play
At IMPACT Volleyball Club, we’re committed to doing development right—through expert coaching, long-term athlete planning, and age-appropriate training. That’s why our programs are built around the Canadian Volleyball Development Pathway, a nationally recognized model created by Volleyball Canada.
Whether your athlete is new to the sport or striving for college or national-level volleyball, this pathway provides a clear route forward.
🚦 What Is the Canadian Volleyball Development Pathway?
The Canadian Volleyball Development Pathway is based on Volleyball Canada’s Long-Term Athlete Development (LTAD) model. It outlines seven progressive stages that help athletes develop physically, technically, and mentally at the right pace.
These stages promote:
• Smart, age-appropriate training
• Injury prevention
• Competitive growth
• Lifelong involvement in the sport
📈 The 7 Key Stages of Development
1. Active Start (0–6 years)
• Focus: Basic movement and coordination through play
2. FUNdamentals (6–9 years)
• Focus: Introduction to volleyball-related movement in a fun environment
3. Learn to Train (8–12 years)
• Focus: Skill acquisition and court awareness
4. Train to Train (12–16 years)
• Focus: Technical development, strength, and strategy
5. Train to Compete (16–18+ years)
• Focus: High-performance training and competition
6. Train to Win (18+ years)
• Focus: Competing at national and professional levels
7. Active for Life (Any age)
• Focus: Lifelong participation through playing, coaching, or officiating
🔧 How IMPACT Volleyball Club Supports Each Stage
Here’s how we align our programming starting at the learn to train stage of the pathway:
🏐 Learn to Train
Athletes in our U12–U13 Development Teams gain strong foundational skills, participate in scrimmages, and receive positive reinforcement from trained coaches.
🔥 Train to Train
Our U14–U16 travel teams train multiple times per week with emphasis on:
• Positional skill work
• Game IQ
• Strength & conditioning
• Video review and feedback
We also support athletes attending VC Regional Excellence Programs and Provincial ID Camps.
🎯 Train to Compete
Our U17–U18 Elite teams compete in OVA Premier tournaments and Volleyball Canada Nationals. We provide:
• College recruiting support
• Showcase preparation
• Performance tracking and mentorship
🏆 Train to Win
Many IMPACT alumni move on to U SPORTS, NCAA, and Team Canada programs. We maintain a strong alumni network and guide our top athletes toward professional and national opportunities.
🤝 Active for Life
Not everyone wants to go pro—and that’s okay. We encourage athletes to stay in the game through:
• Coaching
• Officiating
• Adult leagues
• Mentorship roles within our club
✅ Why the Development Pathway Matters
By aligning with the Canadian Volleyball Development Pathway, IMPACT ensures:
• Athletes develop at the right pace
• Players stay healthy and motivated
• Coaches use best practices based on science and sport psychology
• There’s a clear path forward at every level of skill and commitment
Whether your goal is to play varsity volleyball or simply enjoy a life filled with sport, this pathway ensures every player has a place—and a future—in the game.
📣 Ready to Join the Journey?
At IMPACT, we support every stage of your athlete’s volleyball journey with passion, purpose, and performance-driven coaching.
Together, we build athletes—and people—who make an impact.
