Registration
Teams from the provinces of BC, AB, SK, MB, ON, and QC please register through your respective provincial association's website. Teams from NB, NS, PEI, NL, YK, NWT, and NU please register at www.volleyball.ca Deadline: April 6th 2009 Registration fee: $750 ** No need to enter your team roster. It will be automatically transferred from P/TAs to VC after the respective registration deadline. (Exception: Teams from PT/As that do not currently have an online registration system will have to enter the contact information for all team members). Important Registration Information! Please note that registrations are done on a FIRST COME, FIRST SERVE BASIS. Please enter your team on the waiting list even if the category is full

Eligibility
Team Eligibility All teams must: 1) Be registered and in good standing within their own region (P/TA) and with Volleyball Canada. Out of country teams must also be registered and in good standings within their own National Federation 2) Participate in the Provincial Championship held in their own Province or Territory, if one exists (team roster must be the same at provincial and national). 3) Meet all registration requirements.

Roster
The teams roster may consist of a maximum of 15 players and 4 coaching staff (Head Coach, Assistant Coach, Manager). Only 12 of those 15 players can be registered on the scoresheet during the competition and will be permitted to play any given match. These 12 athletes may vary from one match to another.

Withdrawal
Refunds will be given (less a $100 administration fee) on withdrawals made up to the entry deadline of the event (April 6th). After this time, no refunds will be given.

Technical Matters
The Official Volleyball Canada 2008-2009 Indoor Rule Book shall govern play at the National Championships Please reiew de 2008-2009 Indoor Competition for details concerning eligibility, divisions, seeding, scouting, etc. All coaches and team contacts should be aware of its content. It is available to be downloaded under Registration Information

Team Check-In
Team check-in will take place on Thursday, April 30, 2009 from 1:00pm to 8:00pm at Carleton University, outside of the Alumni Hall gymnasium. At check-in, each Team contact must be able to supply an emergency contact phone number for their team during their stay in Ottawa. The cell and hotel phone number of the Coach or Team Manager is sufficient.

Coaches Meeting
The Coaches Meeting will take place Thursday evening, April 30 in the Norm Fenn Gymnasium at Carleton University from approximately 9:15pm to 10:00pm. The exact start time of meeting will be dependent upon the completion of the the Team Canada Men's red and white game in the adjacent Alumni Hall gymnasium.

Coaches Certification
Coaches are requested to present proof of coaching certification (full level 2) to scorekeepers at the beginning of each match, along with their team roster. If coaching certification is not presented, officials will make a note on the scoresheet for the tournament committee to take action.

Competition Schedule
The final competition schedule will not be posted until the Monday before the event. The final matches on Sunday, May 3 are currently scheduled for 5:15pm. We will do our best to run on schedule, however, unforeseen events may cause the tournament to run later than expected. Friday, May 1 and Saturday, May 2 Pool Play: AM Wave (first matches starting at 7:30am) - 18U Men-Division 1, 18U Women-Division 1, 17U Women-Division 2 PM Wave (first matches starting at 3:00pm) - 17U Men-Division 1, 18U Women-Division 2, 17U Women-Division 1

Warm-up
A minimum of 15 minutes (5-5-5) will be available for warm-up prior to the start of each match. Teams will be able to warm up with volleyballs in designated ball warm-up areas before each match.

Practices
Practice times will be available on Thursday, April 30, 2009 from 12:00pm to 9:00pm at Carleton University. To book a practice time, please contact Brenda Willis at [email protected]. Please make sure to include the age and gender category, your team name, and a preferred time.

Referees
Volleyball Canada certified officials will be assigned to each match. Official's coordination will be done through consultation with the Province and Territory Officials Chairs and the National Officials Chair.

Minor officials
Teams will be required to provide one linesperson for each of their matches.

Referees Meeting
All certified officials are requested to attend the mandatory referees technical meeting, chaired by the Referee Supervisor. This meeting will take place on Thursday evening, April 30 at approximately 10:00pm in the Norm Fenn Gymnasium at Carleton University following the completion of the coaches meeting.

Medical Services
There will be medical attention provided for the athletes by Emergency Medical Services personnel. There will also be a team of athletic therapists located in the Athletic Therapy room for taping, ice, and other requirements.

Accommodations
HTG Sport Services is the official hotel provider for this event and makes choosing a hotel for your team fast and simple. By offering an on-line, real time reservation system you are able to select a hotel, access maps, driving directions, tourist information, restaurants and much more. All host hotels have been blocked and special rates negotiated. To book your teams rooms simply click on the link below and follow the prompts: https://notes.htgsports.com/hrms.nsf/0/4CA880E6E2765C23852574B2006C47D4?OpenDocument You can also contact HTG Sport Services directly by calling Jessica Forster-McKewan at 1-800-668-5596 (x207) or via email at [email protected].

Photography Services
The Host Organizing Committee for the 17U/18U Canadian Open Volleyball Championship is pleased to announce that Freestyle Photography will be the Official Photography Service Provider for the event. Freestyle Photography will also shoot team or special pictures upon request. Please contact Andre Ringuette at [email protected] for further information. You can also link to this URL for photo information: http://www.freestylephotography.com/

Tickets
Tickets prices to the 2009 17U/18U Canadian Open are as follows: 3 DAY PASS Over 18 - $20.00 13-18 - $10.00 12 and Under - Free 1 DAY PASS Over 18 - $10.00 13-18 - $5.00 12 and Under - Free Tickets can be purchased only at the door.

Tournament Merchandise
The Host Organizing Committee for the 17U/18U Canadian Open Volleyball Championship, which will take place in Ottawa from May 1-3, 2009, is pleased to announce that VSP Sports will be the Official Merchandising Partner for the event. As part of this partnership, VSP will be responsible for all pre-event and in-venue sales of official event merchandise.

Transportation
Teams are responsible for arranging their own transportation to, from, and during the championships.

What to do in Ottawa
Ottawa and Canada's Capital Region boast a magnificent setting, historic sites, national symbols and entertaining family attractions. Each year, millions of people visit Ottawa for a taste of what it means to be Canadian. They are not just visiting landmarks and museums, they are also visiting a community – a thriving community of over one million Canadians. 1. Attractions The Ottawa area offers a wide variety of outdoor recreation in early May, including the following activities: • For walking enthusiasts, the Ottawa area boasts many hiking trails in parks and tourism communities. Gatineau Park, located in the Outaouais region of Quebec minutes north of Ottawa, is a 35,600-hectare wilderness conservation area with 40 lakes and 185 km of hiking trails. Victoria Island has old ruins, a park and an outstanding view of Parliament Hill. The historic Byward Market offers a myriad of cafes, boutiques and shops. • Cycling, walking, jogging or in-line skating on 170 kms of bicycle paths – second longest in North America. The pathways are fully linked, all paved and run predominantly through "green spaces" along the picturesque Rideau Canal and Ottawa River. Bikes, skates, canoes, paddle boats are readily available for rental. • Enjoy 23 golf courses, 135 tennis courts and 6 sport complexes. • There are many indoor recreational facilities including wave pools, interactive laser games, IMAX and OMNIMAX theater production and much more. 2. Culture and Heritage Arts and culture abound in Canada's Capital Region. Twenty-nine museums are found in the region, twelve of which are national institutions. These include the Canadian Museum of Civilization and the National Gallery of Canada. They offer their own fascinating permanent collections of art and artifacts, which bring Canadian history and development alive, but they also attract world-class traveling exhibitions. The National Arts Center is also renowned for its program of arts and culture, including the presentation of plays, as well as innovative dance, music and variety shows. Heritage attractions such as the Parliament Buildings, the Supreme Court of Canada, Rideau Hall, the Rideau Canal, the Byward Market and the Mackenzie King Estate offer visitors a wide variety of attractions. 3. Entertainment To entertain visitors, the Ottawa area offers extensive dining, shopping and nightlife opportunities. Choose from an assortment of restaurants in the area, or shop at one of the seven major shopping centers and four designated tourist zones in the city. Ottawa has a variety of evening entertainment, including the "Casino de Hull" in adjacent Gatineau, QC. In addition, Ottawa is home to the National Arts Center and more than 50 galleries and theatres. Canada's Capital Region is a popular destination for families as well, with its Children's Museum at the Canadian Museum of Civilization, children's festival and museum programs. Theme parks, the Experimental Farm, petting zoos and much more are often included in family packages offered by local hotels. Within an hour's drive, visitors can enjoy the interesting small towns and communities surrounding the Ottawa area. Visitors to Ottawa are provided with natural beauty, culture and entertainment. Ottawa is supported by an existing infrastructure that provides quality tourism services. A Visitor Center is located in the downtown core of the city, providing information to help people orient themselves in our "visitor friendly" city. 4. Some Helpful Links http://www.ottawatourism.ca/en/visitors/what-to-do.html http://www.canadascapital.gc.ca/bins/index.asp http://www.byward-market.com/ http://www.ottawakiosk.com/

Tournament Jury
The tournament jury is composed of a Volleyball Canada/Domestic Competition Committee (DCC) representative, Host committee representative, and the Referee Supervisor. For more information on the Jury's powers and duties, please consult the 2008-2009 Indoor Competition Guide.

Performance Bond
The $400.00 team performance bond remains the responsibility of each Provincial/Territorial Association. Ultimately, teams will be required to forward the bonds amount in the event of any infraction which affect: 1) VC Code of conduct violation 2) Accommodation/facility damages 3) Uniform regulation 4) Coaches fail to meet coaching certification requirements 5) If a team does not fulfill its competitive obligations to an event. For more information on Performance Bonds, please consult the 2008-2009 Indoor Competition Guide.

Your Feedback Needed
VC in partnership with Region 6 of the OVA, consistently seeks to provide better services to the participants. After completion of your event, please invite athletes, parents, coaches and volunteers to visit Volleyball Canada's webiste (www.volleyball.ca) and fill out the Online Evaluation Survey of the 2009 National Championships. It only takes a few minutes of your time and helps VC serve you better.