When skills stick
Late childhood is when young players pick up movement skills fastest. This is the time to learn the overhand serve, setting and a first approach, and to play every position.
Parent Resources · Calgary
Starting Club Volleyball in Calgary
Where a new player should begin, how the game changes between 12 and 18, and how the school and club seasons line up in Alberta.
Getting Started
Choosing a Youth Volleyball Program in Calgary
Every Skyline Alberta club team is competitive and picked at tryouts, which means there is no club team for beginners. New players start with our camps, then try out once they feel ready.
- Start with a campSummer Day Camps mix coaching with games all week and end with a Friday tournament.
- Work on the fundamentalsSkills Camps and Positional Camps focus on serving, passing, footwork and each role.
- Get ready for tryoutsHigh Performance Camps raise training to game speed for club athletes.
- Come to tryouts2027 tryouts are November 29, December 5 and December 6. One $50 fee covers all three sessions.
Which Skyline Alberta program suits your child?
| If your child… | Try this next |
|---|---|
| has never played volleyball | Summer Day Camps, Skills Camps or Positional Camps |
| plays for their school and wants more | Skills Camps or Positional Camps (setters, middles, outside hitters and liberos) |
| is preparing for tryouts | High Performance Camps, for game-speed training before the club season |
| wants to play on a competitive team | Skyline Alberta club tryouts (November 29, December 5 and December 6) |
| wants volleyball in the summer | Summer Day Camps, ending with a Friday championship |
Five things to ask any club
- Do the head coaches have NCCP certification, and is every staff member screened and Safe Sport trained?
- How many players are on a team, and how is playing time decided?
- How many practices are there each week, how long are they and where?
- What do the fees cover, and can we pay in instalments?
- What feedback does my child receive, whether or not they make a team?
Development
Youth Volleyball From 12 to 18: What Changes Each Year
We use Volleyball Canada’s long-term athlete development model. Every stage has its own aim, so doing well at 12 means something different from doing well at 17.
What parents see
- Camps rather than a full club season
- Plenty of mistakes, which is how skills get built
- Keep playing other sports too; they help
Building strength and speed
Growth spurts can make players clumsy for a while. Training adds speed, jumping, basic strength and team systems. In Calgary, club volleyball usually starts here, from 12U and 13U.
What parents see
- Tryouts, then a club season from January to May
- A main position, while still learning the others
- Keep an eye on sleep, recovery and knee pain
Competing under pressure
Position-specific training, strength and conditioning, scouting opponents and game plans. Athletes aiming for university volleyball usually start the recruiting process in Grade 10 or 11.
What parents see
- More hours in the gym: protect school time and rest days
- Larger tournaments, showcases and maybe travel
- You move from driver and coach to supporter
School or Club?
School Volleyball and Club Volleyball in Alberta
Many Skyline Alberta athletes play both. School volleyball finishes in late November, club tryouts follow right after, and the club season runs from January to May.
School volleyball
- When: in the fall, roughly September to November
- Who: teammates from the same school, coached by teachers or volunteers
- Cost: low; the school runs it
- Games: school league games and school tournaments
Skyline Alberta club volleyball
- When: January to May, after tryouts
- Who: athletes from many schools, with NCCP-certified head coaches
- Cost: a season fee covering coaching, gym time, uniforms and tournaments
- Games: weekend tournaments; U15 and older teams can join the Dominican Republic tour
Programs
Volleyball Camps and Programs in Calgary
From drop-in open gyms to summer day camps and position training, there is a Skyline program for every young player.
