Women's Volleyball Selection Criteria

Women's Volleyball Selection Criteria Updated: July 2026
Team selection decisions are made by the coaching staff using observational and written evaluations, historical performance, and training and competition evidence. Volleyball is not a timed or purely measurable sport; selection reflects the interconnected technical, mental, physical, and social factors below, weighed against team needs at the time of selection. No single factor guarantees or precludes a roster spot; the factors listed under each of the three criteria are illustrative, not exhaustive.

1. Technical, Tactical & Physical

Team Needs & Positional Fit — immediate and long-term roster needs, including position and role.
Physical Attributes — height, vertical jump, agility, speed, strength, and trends in these measures over time.
Training Capacity — ability to train and compete consistently at the level required.
Foundational Skills — passing, digging, setting, attacking, blocking; consistency and improvement over time.
Versatility — ability to play multiple roles and integrate with different lineups.
Development Trajectory — growth potential and responsiveness to coaching, regardless of current skill level.

2. Mindset & Personal Excellence

Commitment to Excellence —use of available resources and consistent and unconditional engagement and effort with team activities.
Consistency Under Varying Conditions — sustained focus and performance regardless of circumstance.
Self-Management & Reliability — decisions that support academic and athletic goals, recovery, and wellbeing.
Willing to Learn — openness to feedback, reflection, and resilience through setbacks.
Program Engagement — follow-through on commitments to the team's technical, physical, and mental development.

3. Teamwork & Interpersonal

Culture Contribution — support for team environment and shared goals over individual recognition.
Role Acceptance — willingness to take on roles that serve the team.
Relationship Building — collaborative relationships with teammates and staff.
Communication — clear communication across verbal, written, and non-verbal channels (including body language), and the ability to give and receive direct, timely information with teammates and staff, and if applicable improves over time.
Team Impact — contribution to a setting where teammates can perform with belief in their ability to contribute to team goals.

Assessment Scale
The coaching staff uses this scale to guide evaluation across the criteria above. Assigning a rating requires judgement, applied consistently to each athlete's performance and development against these standards.
5 – Exceptional: Consistently performs at or above top national/international standards for their role. Demonstrates a dominant and positive impact on and off the court. Shows high level mastery in learning, development, and performance over time if applicable.
4 – Excellent: Regularly meets high national/provincial standards and is capable of performing effectively at national level. Shows strong learning and development with consistent performance in most contexts.
3 – Strong: Meets provincial standards with some inconsistencies. Shows clear potential to perform at national level but requires greater consistency in performance or commitment to development.
2 – Developing: Currently below average for this competitive level in key areas. Demonstrates partial understanding or execution but has notable gaps that require targeted development and support.
1 – Below standard: Does not yet meet minimum standards required to contribute effectively at this competitive level. Has significant gaps across most areas and requires substantial improvement.

It is the belief of the Varsity Blues women's volleyball staff that considering the mix of Selection Criteria listed above will result in the selection of the optimal mix of athletes who will work together as an effective team and contribute to team success. These criteria include subjective as well as objective measures and technical and character criteria in assessment and evaluation of performance & contribution. Although all criteria will be considered, not all criteria are weighted the same when assessing what is needed to achieve the goals of the program, and final roster composition reflects the coaching staff's assessment of team needs rather than a ranked comparison of individual athletes on any single criterion. The coaching staff is responsible for making all athlete selections.
Note: Athletes, including past and present, who are selected will be assessed on an ongoing basis. Based on this assessment, they will receive clarification and/or further instruction about future team participation during or at the end of each season.

2026-27 SELECTION PROCESS AND TIMELINES

Phase 1 – Returning Player Evaluations

Ongoing demonstration: Athletes are expected to demonstrate learning, development, and contribution throughout the season, informing the coaching staff's assessment of performance and program fit.
Ongoing feedback: Coaches will hold regular conversations with athletes on standards, role expectations, performance, and contribution to team environment, so that athletes understand expectations and can work toward them.
Early confirmation, where applicable: Continuation with the team may sometimes be confirmed before the end-of-season review and will be communicated directly to the athlete. This relates to team membership only — not role, playing time, or position, which remain subject to ongoing assessment.
End-of-season review: Coaching staff will review each athlete's performance, development, adherence to standards, communication, and contributions. This may confirm a roster spot or require participation in open selection, with no guarantee of selection for the next season.
End-of-season meeting: Each athlete receives their assessment, provisional outlook, and feedback on strengths, areas for improvement, and expectations.

Final selection decisions follow the published selection criteria and the program's roster and positional needs. Past membership does not guarantee future selection.

Phase 2 – Open Try-out –Date: Tues. September 9, 2026 4:30-6:45pm (location Sports Gym of the Athletic Centre)

Selections will occur during or following the Open Try-out on September 9, 2026
The goal is to finalize the 2026–27 roster by September 11, 2026.
- The coaching staff may extend this timeline where additional observation, evaluation, or consultation is needed to make fair and informed decisions. Any extension will be communicated to affected athletes as soon as reasonably possible.
Decisions may be communicated in-person or via email.