Updated: August 2025
In selecting athletes as members of the Varsity Blues Men's Volleyball Team, the coaching staff will consider the information listed below through observational and written evaluations.
The goal of the selection process is to select a team that can train and compete at a high performance level on a daily basis and compete with the best teams in Canada. This requires elite level performance, team cohesiveness and a constant pursuit of excellence. The sport of volleyball is not a measured or timed event. In the selection of athletes who will compete together as a team, it is difficult to make selection decisions based solely upon objective measurements that can be used to compare one athlete against another.
Decisions are based on many interconnected factors and those taken into consideration during the selection process include:
• Physical attributes: Height, jump, agility, speed, etc.
• Skills: Effectiveness and efficiency in passing, digging, setting, attacking and blocking. Progressive Improvement: Positive changes in physical testing, technique/skill and strategic awareness.
• Needs of team: Positional needs and positional suitability, short term/immediate vs long term/future program needs.
• Unconditional Effort: Demonstrates that focused effort is not conditional on environment or those around you.
• Feasibility of contributing to goals of team: Ability to perform at a level to compete nationally & believes that passion, grit and unconditional work ethic creates success.
• Commitment: Demonstrate commitment to high performance in general and to the varsity program overall and attends to all aspects of high performance development (technical, strategic, physical, mental, and emotional).
• Self-Care is a priority: Makes personal choices that reflect a high performance lifestyle both on and off the court ensures a healthy well-nourished body & mind (including sleep, nutrition, hydration, life balance, etc)
• High Performance approach to athlete development: Trains, competes and prepares mentally and physically 12 months a year and strives for national standards of training.
• Potential for Development: Demonstrates awareness of what it takes to succeed but skills are not developed yet. Willingness to go outside of comfort zone to develop and improve.
• Teamwork: The willingness to accept a role that leads to team success and is a great team ambassador.
• Winning Attitude: Demonstrates the "will to win", the desire to compete during training & competition.
• Shared Purpose: Contributes to the team atmosphere with a shared purpose of creating a successful team.
• Relationship Builder: Treats others with respect, supports program, team, the Faculty and U of T.
• Effective Communication: Demonstrates good communication skills and interactions and willing to work through and resolve conflicts that might interfere with the success of the team.
• Versatility: Exhibits a balance between offensive and defensive skills as well as the ability to play different positions and with different players on the court.
• Maturity: Exhibits an ability to adjust to various situations, dealing with adversity, and reacting appropriately. Accepts responsibility and is accountable for actions and learning. Takes initiative and is self-directed.
• Attendance at team events: Makes training/competition/team activities a priority when scheduling activities.
• Other intangible considerations that affect the dynamics and performance of the Team: Contributions to the team environment will be assessed.
EVALUATION GRID
5 = Excellent elite-level: Meets national standards of performance & has a lasting and dominant impact.
4 = Above average: Meets provincial standards of performance but average nationally & can perform at the national level.
3 = Average: Average standard of performance provincially. Inconsistent performance but has potential to perform at national level.
2 = Below Average: Standards of performance below provincial average and deficiencies in many areas. Some potential but limited.
1 = Unacceptable: Not approaching level of contribution required or expected. Significant blatant deficiencies in all areas.
It is the belief of the Varsity Blues men’s volleyball staff that considering the mix of selection criteria listed above, which includes subjective as well as objective measures in evaluation of performance ability, will result in selection of the best athletes who will work together as an effective team and contribute to team success. Although all criteria will be considered not all criteria are weighted the same when assessing what is needed to achieve the goals of the programs. The coaching staff, and ultimately the head coach, is responsible for making all athlete selections. Final selections will be a collaboration of the coaching staff’s discussed opinions on the student-athletes potential fit for the state of the program.The needs of the team, with a focus on positional needs, and positional suitability, are important criteria that are taken into consideration. The vision of the head coach, understanding the recruiting status of of the program will determine the positional needs of the program, both short term and long term.
Expectations of University of Toronto Volleyball Players
1. Making choices that demonstrate that you are a responsible, accountable and serious student-athlete.
2. Demonstrates a relentless commitment to effort .
3. Arrives for training and competition mentally ready to extend their limits at every opportunity.
4. Demonstrate ability to let go of their mistakes in order to give the next opportunity the greatest chance for success.
5. Always be on time…make it a habit to wait for others BUT never have others wait for you
Coach Contact Information:
John Barrett - Head Coach
john.barrett@utoronto.ca
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