Club Volleyball Early Signing Procedures
Following feedback received at the Club Information Meeting on September 1, the Indoor Competitions Committee reviewed our regulations regarding the Early Signing Period. The committee has determined that the best course of action for this season is to leave the regulations as currently in place. Clubs have been operating under these regulations throughout the summer and the committee decided it was best to not make any changes at this stage.
Volleyball Manitoba will review the Early Signing Process moving forward to ensure it is meeting its intended purpose for the best interests of athletes and clubs.
As previously notified and communicated, the Early Signing Period is only open for Athletes playing in the 16U/17U/18U age categories. The Early Signing Period will be in effect this year from Sep 7-13 and allows clubs to offer spots to players and formally receive commitments. For full Scouting and Recruiting Rules, including for the 13U/14U/15U age categories, please check out those rules HERE.
Clubs and athletes are not obligated to use the Early Signing Period and may continue to use the tryout period in December to explore all options.
The following outlines the process to follow if clubs and athletes/families would like to formally offer and accept club roster spots:
- The Offer and Agreement Form is available on the Volleyball Manitoba website HERE (posted the morning of September 7th).
- Any Clubs making offers must be approved for the 2021-22 season. Instructions on the Club Approval process are posted HERE.
- Offers can be made beginning September 7 through September 13 at 11:59pm.
- Athletes may receive offers from a Club at any time during the Offer Period, however Clubs must allow athletes at least 3 days to consider offers. This means that clubs should not expect a commitment from athletes until September 10 at the earliest.
- Once Clubs have a signed and accepted offer, they must submit this information to Volleyball Manitoba before the end of the early signing period. More details on this process will be posted by the end of the day on September 7.
- Clubs who have signed players will have team and player lists published on the Volleyball Manitoba website. This is in place to help provide unsigned athletes with some direction during the December Tryout Window, letting them know which Clubs/Teams have which roster positions filled already.
- Athletes choosing not to sign an offer during the Early Signing Period may then enter the December Tryout Period. These athletes can try out for other club teams during this time.
- No further communication or contact from other clubs can be made with an athlete once they have signed an offer.
- Clubs can not hold Camps, Tryouts or any other program during this window.
- No formal offers may be made to athletes between September 14 and the start of the December Tryout Period.
- Clubs that have signed athletes through the Early Signing Period can maintain contact throughout the school season, however, clubs are still not allowed to train as a team during this season and athletes are not required to attend any club activity such as camps.
- Clubs should avoid conflict with School programs and encourage athletes to prioritize their School Season.
When a club makes an offer to an athlete and the athlete accepts and commits during the early signing period in September, it is intended as a commitment by both parties for the club season, just as if the offer and commitment were made during the try-out period in December. Once they have signed and committed to an offer, athletes are considered signed until the end of the Club Season and any signed athlete may not be recruited by any other club (no further communication or contact from other clubs can be made).
Though it is strongly discouraged, if a release is requested from either the athlete or club at any time after a commitment is signed the following process is in place:
- a written statement submitted to Volleyball Manitoba describing reason(s) for the release request (including whether they are planning on joining a different team or in the case of the club indicating whether they are planning on signing additional athlete (s)) and either:
- in the case of the athlete, obtaining a written release from the club the player wishes to leave – noting that the Club shall determine by its own criteria whether to release the athlete.
- in the case of the club provide contact information for the athlete and parents for VM to follow up with them as necessary.
Athletes who have committed to a team during the Early Signing Window are posted HERE.
Please note that if an Athlete is not listed here, they are not considered signed and are free to be recruited according to our regulations and/or attend tryouts in December. If a Team is not listed here, they have not signed any players.
