KELOWNA VOLLEY LEAGUE

Registration is now open for the Fall 2024 season of the most exciting league in town! Runs Sundays (Grades 4-6 1-3PM, Grades 7-8 3-5PM) at Okanagan Christian School.

Early bird discount & free training clinic ends August 25th!

Introducing Kelowna Volley League!

We are SO about the newest addition to the Genesis Athletics Club family - Kelowna Volley League! This house program was developed for two reasons.

First because we wanted to make space for more kids to play volleyball. Volley League functions as a place for kids to get more touches at a critical stage in development. The league takes place on Sunday, so it can be done concurrently or instead of school volleyball or club volleyball. The more kids get to play, the better players they become!

Second, we wanted to create a less formal environment to reduce stress on the players. Our hope is to teach kids how to play well, and to allow them to make mistakes without the pressure of failing (because of course, that's how we all learn!). And most of all, we want volleyball to be fun. School / club competitions can be stressful, and confidence improves when players know that they have "been there before" and had success.

Volley League can be done on its own, or in compliment to NextGen Training Sessions / School Volleyball / Club Volleyball Teams. We had so much fun running Kelowna Volley League for the first time last year, and we're SO EXCITED to introduce our revamped, "Volley League 2.0" program this season!

Volley League 2.0 Includes:

10 Week Season from Sept 15 to Nov 17 (will resume with new season after Winter Break).
2 hr sessions at Okanagan Christian School with plenty of seating for parents / fans.
1 hour of skills development each week followed by 1 hour of team gameplay.
Sessions are Sunday afternoons from 1:00-3:00PM (Grades 4-6), and 3:00-5:00PM (Grades 7-9).
Experienced coaches leading skill development sessions.
4v4 & 6v6 formats, based on skill, to encourage more rallies!
Pool format allowing parity of play and success, and pushing even the most skilled players to grow.
1x Genesis Practice Shirt & 1x Volley League Team Shirt included.
Each division will have a championship title with league trophy and t-shirt prizes!
Season (including gear) costs $295 or $249 with early bird discount!
Does not include mandatory Volleyball BC insurance ($14), which can be purchased here.

Register by August 25 to get FREE participation in our September 8 skills camp!

Grades 4-6 Fall League

Grades 7-9 Fall League

Why Volley League?

In comparison to many team sports, volleyball in Canada is an anomaly. While nearly every child has a stint playing TimBits soccer or hockey, very few kids start playing volleyball before it is introduced in school in Grade 6-8. Even if players make some of the few club teams in the city, most time is spent practicing instead of playing. When it comes time to play games can leave kids with performance anxiety!

Volleyball is a sport with a high skill cap, and it makes sense to focus on these early. But even when organizations have options for younger players (like our NextGen Training sessions) it is hard to get kids playing volleyball. Most time is spent on practicing skills, which while productive, is boring!

Volley League is designed to get kids the "most touches possible" - both out of game (control drills) and in game (4v4 matches). This borrows from the successful basketball 3v3 model. Learning how to get the feel for volleyball and develop a well-rounded approach to the game is what allows for better psycho-social skills and can overcome physical constraints.

How Does it Work?

After an initial week of skills training practice where coaches can assess skills, players are divided into teams of 6-8 players, each receiving a different coloured jersey shirt and unique team name (this last season the Griffins, Dragons, Leviathan, Phoenix, and Unicorns)

Each session starts off with 1 hour of skill development - high rep drills in the Japanese model that has proved so successful throughout the years. Then, teams will play short (15 min) games against different teams (with 6-8 mini teams). There is competition, playoffs, and a trophy at the end of the season but the heart of the program is geared towards helping kids refine their skills and gain confidence in a fun and encouraging environment.

The emphasis is on learning the critical skills of volleyball in a fun and inclusive atmosphere. So what are you waiting for? As the young people say, GAME ON!

About us

Kelowna Volley League is run by Genesis Athletics Club, a community-based registered non-profit society based in Kelowna, BC. We have volleyball and basketball offerings, promoting an active lifestyle to people of all backgrounds.

We believe that when you do one thing well, you do everything well. By giving youth a chance to participate and take pride in sports, that impact spills into other areas of their lives. And when a group of people are making positive changes, it impacts the whole community! Learn more at GenesisAthletics.ca