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17U Information

17U (Born in 1993) 

17U is the third level in Alberta’s elite development system which leads to a Canadian Open National Championship. This category of play also leads to Alberta’s Provincial Team Program for outstanding individual athletes. 

17U teams are not eligible to participate in 21U events.

17U teams will combine with the 18U category for the Premier Series of tournaments. There will be a separate 17U Provincial Championships provided there are 8 or more teams entered into each of the 17U and 18U categories per gender. In order to be eligible to compete in the Canadian Open Championship, teams must take part in the Provincial Championship for their age category. The libero position and 6 limited substitutions will be used for Premier events and the Provincial Championships. 

The season will consist of 5 events; 4 Premier Tournaments and the Provincial Championships. The top 2 finishers in Division 1 at the Provincial Championships will have their entry fee paid for by Alberta Volleyball into the Canadian Open Championship. The Tachikara International will be the official competition ball for this age category. 
Pandas
17U Green - Keith Wills, Laura Koester

Keith Wills - Head Coach
Keith Wills joins NAVC after a coaching stint in Ontario where he was Coach of the Fleming College Women’s Volleyball. During that time Keith was also heavily involved with Ontario Volleyball Provincial Team Programs. In his time as the Athlete Development Chair and Head coach of the Ontario Volleyball Regional Teams, Coach Wills experienced significant success winning the Gold Medals at the 2006 & 2008 Ontario Summer Games and Silver at the 2007 Ontario Regional Games, and was awarded the 2007 Ontario Volleyball Coach’s Recognition Award.This past summer Wills helped guide Team Ontario U17 to a 4th place finish at the 2009 National Team Challenge Cup. Keith also experienced a great deal of success with the Durham Attack Volleyball Club in Oshawa, Ontario, leading his teams to many championships including the 2005 U15 Provincial Championship and a 5th place at the National Championships. Coach Wills also participated as a guest coach for the 2005 Youth National Team Selection Camp. Along with his NAVC duties, Keith is the current Head Coach of the Women’s Volleyball Team at Concordia University and will be coaching the Zone 6 Women’s Team at this year’s 2010 Alberta Winter Games. He graduated from the University of Alberta, with a Physical Education degree specializing in Sport Performance. Along with his scholastic achievements Wills is an NCCP Level III coach, and Level 1 Course Conductor.
 
Laura Koester - Assistant Coach 
Laura started her volleyball career in Saskatchewan where she played for her school teams, six years of club and two years for the provincial team. After high school Laura played two years of university volleyball in the United States before returning to Canada to be a University of Alberta Panda (2002-2005). Throughout high school and university Laura coached many volleyball camps and various levels of both school and club volleyball including NAVC. Having finished two degrees (B. Comm. and B.A. Econ.) and now beginning her career, Laura is once again looking to give back to the volleyball community and pass along the knowledge she has gained from great coaches and programs.
Bears
17U Green - Dave Jones, Deen Lockhat
 
Dave Jones - Head Coach
Dave is returning after an outstanding season with his U16 boys team last year! Not only was his team Provincial champions. They also took the Gold medal at the Western Canadian Open Championships, which was a third national title for Jones' coaching career. To top the year off, Dave was awarded the AVA 2009 Club Coach of the Year for U16 boys. Dave is certainly one of our most veteran coaches in the club and has coached men’s and women’s team for more years than he’d care to admit! He has coached both high school and club volleyball for well over 20 years and has worked with teams in our club at all levels; from U13 right up to Jr. Mens. Dave works for the Edmonton Public School board and is presently the Principal at Harry Ainlay High School.
 
Deen Lockhat - Assistant Coach
This is Deen’s third season with NAVC. Deen was an assistant coach with the Midget U16 Bears last season and helped the team win a Provincial Title and a Gold medal at the National Championships. Dean also coached the Harry Ainlay Junior Boys to another city championship last season and he has previously coached the Zone 4 team in two summer games as well as at the Jasper Volleyball camp. He’s won a gold medal in his tier at the Canadian Open in Calgary, and a bronze medal at the Alberta Summer Games. Deen is currently coaching with the Harry Ainlay Sr. Boys volleyball team.