Has anyone experienced this before with a volleyball club?
2026 Season
Posting this to warn other families in the BC volleyball community before signing with Arsenal Volleyball Club.
Multiple families were financially harmed, misled, and in some cases had their children retaliated against after asking legitimate questions. These are the facts.
Athletes reported that the Club Owner often swore at them during practise and used up 1 full hour to yell and scream at them. They reported that he would berate them saying how they should be grateful for playing for Arsenal, degrading and belittling them, calling athletes (14/15 yr old girls) toxic.
The club advertises that this is an elite club with elite training - False.
There was no elite training, there was no elite anything with Arsenal Volleyball.
When families asked legitimate questions, they were ignored and the athletes were retaliated against and punished.
Final blow - Provincials on May 3-4, 2026. We had one coach on day 1, and Club Owner showed up on day 2. As a founder of the club, he took photos with all the girls at the end, and then called only a few to take another photo, leaving out the other 5 athletes (who's parents he is retaliating against) to stand on the side feeling left out and watching in disbelief. He wanted to create a rift within the families, a "divide and rule" tactic, to try to keep control. He "chose" some athletes to attend Nationals, excluding the rest, even when all athletes paid and trained together the whole season.
FINANCIAL CONCERNS
-There was zero transparency with financials.
- Nationals was on the season schedule for May 29th, but Arsenal ended their season on April 30. Families were expected to pay for extra training fees for Nationals after April 30.
- A $250 gas charge for one coach's round trip for a local tournament appeared on the Provincials invoice with no explanation. When asked via email two days before Provincials about the $250 charge, they received no reply and no warning their daughter would not be played due to "no pay no play" rule Club Owner created. (not in the contract or any form of writing) We then overheard him yelling at the coach that day, saying why did she tell the families they can pay the invoice so their child can play. He had full intention of not playing those athletes.
- Families were charged late fees, which was not in the contract. No warning, no reminders of amount owing - just invoices with $150 late fees. (another made up rule, with no policy to refer to)
- The $500 uniform fee was collected in full. The season has ended and the gear kit is still incomplete - multiple items never delivered. And the quality of the gear is extremely poor, some no-name bag brand that will not cost more than $20, it fell apart within 1 month, sleeves and jersey seams are coming apart. Definitely not worth $500.
THE 300-HOUR PROMISE VS. REALITY
- Arsenal advertised a specific training breakdown to sell the program:
3 on-court practices (~9hrs/week)
This was never delivered. Practises were 3 (2hr) practises, and mid season, one of the practises became a conditioning day at the park.
strength and conditioning (2-4 hrs/week)
2 were delivered, the rest of a self guided workout at the rec center
video review (1-2 hrs/week)
This happened only once the whole season
Friday scrimmages (4+ hrs).
This happened only twice the whole season. The 3rd one he invoiced the families for.
Total: ~300 hours at $2,500 = $8.33/hr.
Actual hours 150hrs received.
- This $8.33/hour figure was presented as proof of value. When families raised concerns near season end that they had received nowhere near 300 hours, the club said the numbers were 'average,' 'approximately,' and 'roughly' - and not guaranteed.
- The specific math used to sell the program became vague and non-binding when it came time to deliver.
BOTTOM LINE
- Families paid thousands of dollars for a program that was not delivered as described.
-The communication was awful built by design. No one knew anything when asked, they would just bounce off from each other, blaming the other one, saying they didn't have info and the other one did. They created so much confusion that you're left feeling dizzy and confused - spinning his words in circles.
The lack of communication and disrespect was atrocious. The athletes and parents were treated so poorly with no compassion. With full intention to harm, evident in petty and spiteful behavior.
They were malicious and harmful to both the athletes and their families. This is not a coach that should be around aspiring growing athletes.
Don't make this mistake, learn from our experience.