Mark Dodds, Berlin 2008
Country of ice hockey – Canada, does not have professional volleyball league. Read about volleyball in Canada from Canadian national team player Mark Dodds.

 

 

Competition

The Volleyball league in the Universities across Canada is there to allow students the chance to continue to play sports at a high level, while working towards an education.

How many teams play in the competition? How many go lower, how many come up?
There are 28 teams in the CIS(Canadian Interuniversity Sport) League, with 4 regions. Canada west has 10 teams, Ontario has 11 teams, Atlantic has 3 teams and Quebec has 4 teams. Teams do not move in and out of the league.
System of league? (how many rounds, play-off, play-down)
The regular season consists of a home and away match with each of the other teams. You playoff in your region to go to the national tournament, 8 teams
receive a birth to nationals. The winner of each region, the host, and 3 wild card teams from the region of the medal winners in the previous year.
When the league starts normally, when ends, how many games per week?
League starts in October and finishes in early March. There are 2 matches per week, usually Friday and Saturday.
Matches in Tv? When the matches starts (time)?
The final of the National Tournament is Televised across Canada.
Fans on matches (estimate)?
The number of fans will range from 200 to 2000. Most of the gym’s have seating for 2000-3000 fans
Quality of league? Foreign players?
The league has produced some great players, but the level is dropping due to less people playing volleyball. There are some foreign players who choose to come to Canada to go to school and play. There is no limit for foreign players.
Which balls in league Mikasa, Molten, Gala, ? ?
Baden
Cups: how many teams are participating in Champ. league, CEV, ??
N/A
WWW page where can I find info about the league?
www.cisport.ca
How many stars you give to league? 1- bad, 5- best

Travelling

Departure on match, day before? Bus, car, train, ??
Departure for matches is usually the day before the match and transportation is with a bus or plane
Max. distance to travel? Max. lenght of way?
In regional play the max travel distance is 1500km so about a 3 hour flight.
Quality of travelling, road?
Quality of travel is very high.
How many stars for travelling? 1- bad, 5- best

 

Clubs

They give or pay for:
Car?

No
Appartment?
No
Food?
No
Training stuff?
Usually shoes and practice clothing
Vitamins and food supplements?
Yes
Language school, teacher?
No
How good is rehabilitation, care of doctors?
The treatment for the players is done with the highest level of care. There are paid physiotherapists at each University that take care of the athletes. As well as a physio student that is with the team in training and matches.
How many stars for clubs? 1- bad, 5- best

Money

Average money from contract per season?
Some athletes receive scholorships that will help pay for their University tuition.
Best player contract?
N/A
Average wage in country?
N/A
Stars for money? 1 – bad, 5 – best

 

Life

Language, hard to learn?
Well it is English, i am not sure if it is hard to learn.
Life style, fun, are young people ?in??
The lifestyle is great, University life is a lot of fun because there are a lot of young people around so it is a great atmosphere.
Womens and their charm?
The women in Canada are great. There are a lot of beautiful women in western Canada, especially Saskatoon.
Price of 1 litre well know beer in restaurant (Heineken, Budweiser, ?)?
$5 CAD
Price for 1km in taxi?
about $1
Climate, cold or hot, rains, ??
In the summer it is very hot, getting up to 30 degrees. And in the winter it can get very cold, getting to -40 degrees. It is a wonderful place!!
Stars for life? 1- bad, 5- best