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The event also features both the Canadian men’s and women’s national teams.

“We do this every three years,” said Mark Eckert, president and CEO of Volleyball Canada. “We might be able to get it down to every two years. The idea was to get every player playing through the cycle of four years through the under-14, 15, 16, 17 or 18 age group where they would at least get to play in it once or maybe twice, because it really is special compared to a normal year where it’s in one facility and you get only one age group and maybe just one gender.”

The concept of an all-encompassing national event was first put into practice in 2012 with 672 teams taking part at the inaugural tournament in Toronto. Three years later in Calgary, upwards of 780 teams participated.

“When you come to this, there are as many athletes here participating as there is in the Summer Olympic Games,” Eckert said. “You walk into the Expo Centre and it’s neat to see the kids come in on their first day, because their jaws drop. They have never been in a place with 55 courts, let alone all the other side diversions. I’m sure it’s a coach’s nightmare, but it’s great for the game.”

Unlike traditional national championships, teams do not have to qualify for the event through regional or provincial tournaments. The open concept allows players from every volleyball club in the country an opportunity to participate.

“That’s the joy of this business model, this is an open entry,” Eckert said. “The whole idea, and we did this to stimulate growth in the sport 15 to 20 years ago, is that when you go with that (playoff) model and you win your provincials, you have to figure out a week later how to fly 3,000 kilometres across the country for nationals. Then you maybe get to play in a tournament with seven other teams or less because they couldn’t afford to go.