Stoirm Volleyball was founded in 1999 by Joe Duggan. The goal of the club was to provide an opportunity for athletes to play volleyball year round, thus growing the sport and supporting the development of teams at the local school levels. 

In our 25th year, Stoirm Volleyball provides a quality volleyball experience for local athletes at all skill levels. We strive to ensure that its skilled players are challenged and receive opportunities to play in significant provincial and national events.

Overview

Welcome to 2025! We are so excited to begin our 26^th year and the next chapter of what we hope to be another 25 years of volleyball in Antigonish. Practices will start this Sunday, January 12^th.

Please take the time to read the following sections carefully to take note of your team’s practices times. Also note that some of our processes have changed since last year.

What’s New

We are ringing in 2025 with a new Board Executive! Amy MacDonald-Dee is the new President. Trudy Delorey will serve to assist this transition as Past President. Charles MacDonald remains on as Vice President, Andrea Brophy is the new Treasurer and Dina Bell as Secretary. Many thanks to Jody Cook for her work in the executive over the past number of years as President, Coaching Coordinator, Treasurer and Coach. Thanks also to Jen Farrell who was our previous secretary but is now working as our web admin and registration coordinator.

Over the past 5 years our club has been successful in fostering a positive, inclusive, and respected club culture both on and off the court, locally and across the province. This has been particularly highlighted through our adoption last year of the True Sport Principles (www.truesportpur.ca) as our guiding values and principles, which we lean on as we navigate the challenges of providing both competitive and development pathways for our athletes.

Continuing from last year, all Stoírm teams from the 13U-18U age levels are considered Travel Teams, where we will all be competing and representing the club at tournaments across the province and at Provincials in Halifax in April. Seeding and Tier placement is determined by the SuperSeries tournaments. New for this year, because of the explosion in the number of 14U teams, this age category will now attend 2 SuperSeries tournaments like the 15U-18U age categories do. The dates of these are noted below along with the dates of our Welcome Day and Team NS Canada Games Training Weekend which will be held at StFX mid-March. The locations for the SuperSeries tourneys are still tbd but we hope to be able to host as we have in previous years. VNS Championships will be held at the Canada Games Centre and CP Allen High School/Bedford Hammonds Plains Community Centre.

• WELCOME DAY & SERVE-A-THON @ DR.JHG: JANUARY 25, 2025
• Super Series #1 - 14UG/14UB                                   February 7-9, 2025
• Super Series #1 – 15UG                                             February 14-16, 2025
• Super Series #1 - 16UG/16UB                                   February 21-23, 2025
• Super Series #1 – 18UG/18UB:                                 Feb 28-Mar 2, 2025
• 16U Girls Joe Duggan Tournament                          March 7-8, 2025 Dr. JH Gillis
• CANADA GAMES TRAINING WEEKEND (TEAM NS GIRLS & BOYS) @ STFX: MARCH 14-16, 2025
• Super Series #2 - 14UG/14UB                                   March 21-23, 2025
• Super Series #2 – 15UG/16UB:                                 March 28-30, 2025
• Super Series #2 – 16UG/18UG/18UB:                     April 4-6, 2025
• VNS Championships - 13UG/14UG/14UB               April 11-13, 2025
• VNS Championships - 15UG/16UG/16UB               Apr 25-27, 2025
• VNS Championships - 17UG/18UG/18UB               May 9-11, 2025

Leadership Stream:

Stoirm Buddies: Leadership and Service are values that Stoírm leans into with all their participants. Without these, we simply wouldn’t have the club. In 2023 we created a Leadership Stream with our senior athletes called Stoírm Buddies where our older athletes had the opportunity to help coach our younger development athletes once/week.

We are looking to continue this opportunity this season and plan on sharing this opportunity across our 16U-18U squads. Athletes will be both the online and free SafeSport training module (45min), and Anti-Racism module (45min) which will also provide the athletes an NCCP coaching number. As this opportunity develops, we will reach out to the coaches and teams with more information.

Officiating: We have had a surge in the last couple of years with new referees, which is incredibly helpful for us, our neighboring clubs, and VNS with regards to game and tournament organizing. Parents or athletes who are interested in becoming officials can reach out to the club and we will provide more information. It’s a great side hustle!

Registration

Registration will open on Wednesday, January 8^th at 4pm, through to Friday, January 31^st at 4pm. Please read carefully the information below as there are some changes both to payment processes and sibling fees.

Fees this season for all travel teams at the 13U-18U age categories will be $375: $325 + $50 (refundable jersey deposit at the end of the season). These fees are the same as 2024.

Due to administrative changes at the Volleyball Nova Scotia (VNS) level, we have had to slightly change our payment procedure.

This $375 will now be paid across both the SportHub and SportLomo platforms:

1. SportLomo: https://volleyballnovascotia.sportlomo.com/

Our $375 fee includes the $84.00 VNS and Volleyball Canada (VC) fee.

In previous years, families were asked to confirm their information for VNC/VC on the SportLomo website, so the majority of you have a SportLomo account. Due to changes at the VNS level to ensure the information is accurate, families will now have to pay the $84 fee through SportLomo:

1. SportHub: ca

The remaining total, $291, will be paid through the usual steps on SportHub.

*NEW* Sibling fees: $116.50 for each additional child. (This is a 40% reduced rate of the $291. The VNS/VC fee for each athlete does not change and must be paid in full on the SportLomo site for each athlete).

If you are new to either of these sites, please take your time to acquaint yourself with this platform and payment process. Please note, SportLomo will only take credit card payment for the VNS/VC fees. The remaining club fees can be paid through SportHub or via e-transfer (SportHub is preferred if possible).

If you need assistance with SportLomo, please reach out to stoirmvolleyball@gmail.com.

If you need assistance with SportHub registration, please reach out to support@playfinder.ca or stoirmvolleyball@gmail.com.

Please follow this link for information on funding programs to help support the cost of registration if applicable: https://www.antigonishvolleyball.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/Athlete-Registration-Funding.pdf

• Club fees cover the following: Tashikara volleyballs for each athlete (new!), tournament fees, referee fees, monthly facility & storage charges, coaching expenses, coaching courses/conferences, etc., equipment and jersey replenishment, first aid supplies, admin costs (website hosting, digital media, meeting room fees, etc.)

Payment

Sibling fees: $116.50 for each additional child. (This is a 40% reduced rate of the $291. The VNS/VC fee for each athlete does not change and must be paid in full on the SportLomo site for each athlete).

For the 2024 season, Stoírm will accept payment via the Sporthub Platform, or e-transfer to stoirmvolleyball@gmail.com. 

Note that payment is not required until registration status has been confirmed, after registration closes.  You will receive an email and see the status change on your Sport Hub account when you are confirmed. Be sure to keep an eye on your junk mail, and mark us as a “safe sender” so future emails are not missed.

When you have received the confirmation email indicating you can now pay, please follow these steps if you are paying via the SportHub platform:

Payment can now be made online right from your Sport Hub profile! Log in and scroll down your family profile page until you see the tabs and select the "Fees" tab. Beside the Stoirm registration and fee you will see a big blue button called "PAYTODAY".

Click this, and a credit card portal will be opened for you. 

Note: Review the Terms&Conditions of PayToday online payment portal here, anytime! 

We will also accept e-transfers to stoirmvolleyball@gmail.com Please add in the memo section the first and last name of the Athlete. 

If you have any questions please contact stoirmvolleyball@gmail.com and/or support@playfinder.ca 

Teams and Scheduling

Teams have been notified of practice times and locations. 

Note that we have gym times currently booked at Saint Andrew Junior School (SAJS), Antigonish Education Center (AEC), East Antigonish Education Center (EAEC) and École acadienne de Pomquet (POM)

Without the use of each of these locations we would not be able to accommodate the level of interest we see on an annual basis.

Fundraising & Welcome Back Serve-a-Thon

We are currently working on organizing our 3rd Annual Serve-a-Thon! This was such a fun Welcome Back event and Fundraiser, so we're doing it again on Saturday, January 25th in lieu of pratices that day. Save the date!

We are also part of Sport Nova Scotia’s SportSplit monthly 50/50 draw via Rafflebox (same platform as the provincial Firemen’s 50/50). It is a monthly, province-wide, multisport, online 50/50 raffle. We will work to push this platform on our social media channels this season.

To buy tickets, go to www.sportsplit.ca, click “Buy Tickets Now” in the upper right-hand corner, choose your entry. At the end of the Billing Information section, you will see a drop-down menu titled “I would like to support:” and you can choose Antigonish Stoírm Volleyball. Thanks in advance for your support!  

Thank you so much for volunteering your time to coach with Antigonish Stoírm!

We have a 20+year history of providing an opportunity for the youth in our community to stay active and healthy throughout the winter, and into the summer with our growing beach program. Our club is open to all athletes from ages 10 through 18 and we provide opporutnites to play both at an introductory/foundational (StoirmKidz) through to Tier 1 and Tier 2 competition levels*.

The following information can also be found here on VNS's website: http://volleyballnovascotia.ca/page.php?page_id=96966

First Steps (due in November each year if applicable):

1. As a coach within the Stoírm club, we require that you have a Child Abuse Register check, as well as a RCMP Vulnerable Sector Check. These need to be renewed every 3 years. 

• The Child Abuse Register Check process info and form can be accessed here: http://novascotia.ca/coms/families/abuse/ChildAbuseRegister.html.
• For your VSC Check through the RCMP, to waive the fee, please contact a board member for a copy of a letter that you can provide to the RCMP to acknowledge your volunteer status with the club.

If new or renewing, please scan and forward of copy of these documents to stoirmvolleyball@gmail.com

If you would prefer to submit a hard copy for us to keep on file, please let us know via email and we can certainly make arrangements.

2. Coaches Association of Canada (CAC) Safe Sport Training:

• Online course around Safe Sport for athletes, coaches, referees, and anyone involved in sport.
• Free to take, 45 minutes to complete prior to your first interaction with youth.
• Access the course at: https://safesport.coach.ca

Once completed please email or scan/send a copy of your certificate.

Next Steps:

There are two websites you have to toggle between as a volleyball coach and therefore have to create/monitor accounts on the following sites:

1. thelocker.coach.ca: The main page that houses all your NCCP info.

• If you are a new coach and need an NCCP#, click “Create one now!” on the main page.
• If you are returning, enter your credentials as noted. If have any questions about your NCCP#, contact Megan Conroy at vnsmegan@sportnovascotia.ca .
• This page is essentially your dashboard for your own Professional Development, upcoming modules, etc.

2. Now, open a new tab, and go to coach.volleyball.ca

Create an account here by clicking on “register”. This will ask for your NCCP # (it’s optional, but add it)

This page is specific for your Volleyball Certifications (this page and the previous “talk” to each other via your NCCP # - you’ll see that there are certain NCCP courses listed on here that you will need/should have, like Making Headway in Sport and Making Ethical Decisions for example).

After you register/login, you should see a page like this:

Other important/required courses:

The following are the basics of what any Head Coach needs at any level, regardless if you are a new or returning coach:  

Foundations of Volleyball (Volleyball Canada site, see above under "Development Coach")

Making Head Way - Generic Version (http://thelocker.coach.ca)

• This is a concussion protocol and awareness online course, which takes about 45 minutes to complete, and is free of charge.

• • • To Register:
      • Go to the National Coaching Certification Program(NCCP) website at the link above, and log into the NCCP Locker using your NCCP.
      • Click on the eLearning tab, and then click on Making Head Way - Generic to register and complete the course.

Making Ethical Decisions - Online Evaluation  (http://thelocker.coach.ca)

For MED, there are two free options right now:

• Online, free courses offered by Coach NS, https://www.coachingns.com/nccp-online-courses
• At home-study (at your own pace). Requires a bit more time but good for those who are unavailable for the online evening courses. https://www.coachingns.com/nccp-home-study

In addition to these, all Head Coaches need the following:

• 16U/15U/14U/13U*
• (All the above) + their Development Coach Workshop in Year 1 (Their 1^st year as Head Coach since 2017). Also known as “Trained Development Coach”)
• Those same coaches need to be Development Coach Certified by the completion of Year 2 since 2017 (Their 2^nd year as a head coach since 2017)). 
• 17U/18U*
• Need the basic courses + Certified Development Coach + Advanced Development Coach Workshop in Year 1(Their 1^st year as Head Coach since 2017). Also known as “Trained Advanced Development Coach”
• Those same coaches need to be Advanced Development Coach Certified by the completion in their Year 1 (Their 2^nd year as a head coach since 2017)

Contact Megan Conroy, vnsmegan@sportnovascotia.ca for more information/clarification.

Ongoing:

1. When in your Locker account, click on the Calendar tab and check out the amazing FREE ONLINE courses that are ongoing throughout the spring. This is a great opportunity for coaching Professional Development that has previously cost $$ and would have required travel to Halifax. Please take advantage of these great learning opportunities!!
2. The Canadian Sports Center Atlantic (CSCA) Professional Development page is updated frequently with new PD opportunities: https://cscatlantic.ca/coaching-programs

• Our YouTube page has majority of the recordings of sessions: https://tinyurl.com/y59948ra
• And you can subscribe to receive CSCA coach updates here! https://tinyurl.com/yxj6fx2u

VIP Program

Vip is a coaching program created through a joint effort between the Canadian Sport Center Atlantic (CSCA), Sport Nova Scotia and Support4Sport. The program goal is to recognize the contribution of coaches in communities across Nova Scotia. Vip is not a certification or requirement, but rather a proactive opportunity for coaches to continue to excel in ethical leadership.

This program is designed to raise the bar for what it means to be a coach in Nova Scotia. Vip participants are supported and part of a broader community who are leading the way, creating a positive impact on the lives of everyone in the provincial and community sport sector. Check out this link and scroll down to see the current list of Nova Scotia VIP coaches and their respective sports! https://cscatlantic.ca/vip-coach-program-application

The following page highlights some details about the program. Many of the requirements you would have already completed as part of your Development/Advanced Development Coach status. For clubs who have 10+ coaches with VIP status, there is an opportunity to have the club logo added to the VIP swag!

To inquire more about the program or to enroll, contact Kirsti Mason, Community Coaching Lead with Canadian Sport Center Atlantic commcoach@cscatlantic.ca .

To officially obtain the vip coaching status, you must meet the following criteria:

• Sign Coaching Association of Canada (CAC) Code of Conduct
• Obtain three Professional Development points within the past 12 months
• Complete Safe Sport Training*:
  • Commit to Kids
  • Respect in Sport
  • Making Ethical Decisions
• Trained or Certified to coach the level of sport indicated in your application
• Submit a Criminal Record Check with Vulnerable Sector Check and Child Abuse Registry*

*Coupon codes will be provided so you can complete the training at NO CHARGE.

Upon acceptance into the vip program you will be rewarded the following:

• Under Armour Kit ($200 value)
• Under Armour Discounts
• Connections with a variety of coaches across Nova Scotia
• Professional Development opportunities and resources
• 50% off the Atlantic Coaches Conference
• Financial support to complete required NCCP courses

Introduction

Welcome to Sport Hub Antigonish! The first time you use the Sport Hub site, there are some additional steps required for set up. See below. Once these steps are complete, future registrations will be quick and easy!

Sport Hub is much more than the registration portal, it is a community wide, collaborative initiative with many long-term goals to improve community sport. As part of Sport Hub, the new website is locally developed and constantly evolving. We are always interested in your feedback. Email us at support@playfinder.ca with any ideas or questions.

Creating an Account

1. Go to https://mysporthub.ca/
   • You may wish to “bookmark” this page on your browser for quick future access
2. On the top right corner of the page, on the menu bar, click “Create an Account”
3. Fill out your details, create a password, and save your information
4. Once successful, you will now be able to log in. Click “Log In” on the menu bar (top right)
5. Fill in your User Name and Password, click “Log In”
   • If on a person device, you may check the "remember me" box so you will be automatically logged in on future visits.

Setting up your Family

1. On the top menu bar to the right, you will now see your “Hub” in yellow (ex. “John Doe’s Hub⇓”). Click this to reveal a dropdown menu of options
2. Under this drop-down menu, select “Family Profile”
3. Click the black button labeled “Edit Family Info”, fill out your information here and submit

Adding Family Members

1. You will first need to add yourself as the “primary adult”. A flashing warning will be visible and you will not be able to take other actions until this step is complete – the warning will disappear once you have added yourself to the family
2. Another flashing warning will let you know you have required reading. Click the black “Required Reading” button to review the Safe Sport information. Confirm you have seen this page by submitting through the button at the bottom of the page. Flashin warning will disappear once you have viewed the required reading
3. Add family members by clicking “Add Family Member” and filling out their profile

Registration

1. Once you have added the registrant as part of your family and completed their profile, you will now see a “Waiver” button beside their name. Click this, review the waiver, and confirm that you have read and understand the waiver by clicking the confirmation button at the bottom of the page. Do the same with the Media Waiver. 
2. Return to your family profile page. Now you will see a “Registration” button by their name in place of the waiver button. Click this to reveal a personalized list of programs based on the participant’s profile
3. For more info on a program, you can click the title to reveal additional details. Select the programs you wish to register for using the checkboxes, and then hit “Submit” to request registration.
4. While your status is still “pending” you can unregister as well using the same process. Once the registration status is confirmed, you would have to contact the organization directly to unregister
5. Follow payment prompts ONLY once your registration status is CONFIRMED by the organization.

Stoírm Beach Volleyball - Summer 2025

Overview

This summer we are excited continue our Beach programming. We are mirroring the format VNS follows in their leagues in the city, and hope that in the coming seasons our program will grow and continue to provide additional opportunities for youth sport in our area.

The season will vary in dates across the two age levels but will start in early July and end mid-late August. 

Junior High Beach (grades 6-8 co-ed)

Sundays, July 6 - August 10, 5-8:30pm
Final Tournament August 17

• Cap of 17 teams (pairs).
• Teams can be f/f, m/f, m/m
• Schedules will be released after registration closes. Athletes can attend for the full evening but will only play during their scheduled time (unless there is an absence that needs to be filled)
• Individual SportHub registration required - please note teammate name in notes.   
• Athletes without partners can register; partners will be assigned if available.  
• $50/athlete
• Payment via Play Finder (formerly Sport Hub) or etransfer to stoirmvolleyball@gmail.com

High School Beach league (Grades 9-12 co-ed; 2 girls or co-ed only)

Mondays, July 7 - August 20, 6-930pm
Final Tournament August 23

• Cap of 14 teams (pairs)
• Teams can be f/f, m/f only
• Schedules will be released after registration closes. Athletes can attend for the full evening but will only play during their scheduled time (unless there is an absence that needs to be filled)
• Individual SportHub registration required - please note teammate name in notes. 
• Athletes without partners can register; partners will be assigned if available.  
• $50/athlete
• Payment via Play Finder (formerly Sport Hub) or etransfer to stoirmvolleyball@gmail.com

Where: 

• Beach volleyball courts, Central Field, Braemore Avenue
• Please note that there will be other sports organizations utilizing the field facilities each evening. Please do not walk through the turf if it is in use.
  *If you are playing music, please make sure it is for all ages.

How to Register:

• All athletes are to register individually. 
• Registration is to be done through Play Finder (formerly Sport Hub).
• Once you have submitted your registration request, you will see your pending request in the “Registrations” chart on your Family page.
• Click the “Notes” button for the registration and use this feature to type in your teammate’s name.
• Save this information and you will now see your notes in the chart.

What will the season look like? 

• Beach volleyball is mainly self-officiated. Rules will be reviewed with athletes at the beginning of the program. A coordinator will be present each night to record scores and provide guidance as necessary.

What if I can’t make it or my teammate has to miss a night? 

• One player from each team must be on the court for your match. If one teammate is absent, a sub from the sidelines is able to fill in for the match. The sub must be a paid member of the beach league. 
• If both teammates are absent, any two players can hop on to play the match so the team in attendance will still get their match. This counts as a forfeit for the absent team.
• We will be recording scores so that at the end of the season we can create a fair tournament schedule. 
• We want the athletes to be focused on playing and having fun and not worrying about standings or subs. 

Additional info

For both leagues, athletes who register after the maximum number have been reached will be notified and placed on a waitlist until registrations have been confirmed/paid.