What extra requirements apply to head coaches, and what are the penalties?

From Volleyball Canada's 2027 National Championships Coach Eligibility Requirements (updated August 26, 2026), all deadlines March 15, 2027:

• Year 1 head coach and assistant coaches: the mandatory items above. The Development Coach Workshop, the Rule of Two e-learning module and the Anti-Racism e-learning module are recommended.
• Head coach in their 2nd year at a National Championship: must have completed the Development Coach Workshop.
• Head coach in their 3rd year or more: must hold active Certified Development Coach status (workshop and evaluation).
• A coach who is Certified at any level (Development, Advanced Development, Performance) must still complete the mandatory items and keep Active status in the NCCP Locker; an Inactive coach is not eligible. Advanced Development workshop training counts as the 2nd-year requirement, but Development Coach Certification must come first.

Penalties: a head coach who does not meet the requirements pays a $250 CAD fine before taking part. After March 15, 2027, a head coach who is still short and has already received a Nationals fine (2023 to 2026) is ineligible and is removed from the roster; the club must then secure an eligible coach through the team staff exemption process and pay a $500 fine.

Exemptions: a coach who has not met the requirements by March 15, 2027 may apply, but only if the head coach was assigned to the roster after March 30, 2027 through an approved roster change (with verification from the PTA). A coach who received an exemption in 2023 to 2026 cannot request a second, and PTA exemptions do not apply to Nationals.