Physical Training

Volleyball-specific physical training is a critical part of training to be an elite player, and Durham Attack has been a pioneer in this aspect, with our first athletes doing week physical training sessions in 2005 and full teams training weekly a year later. Since that time physical training has become a mandatory component for quality OVA clubs.

From the beginning we’ve worked with Michael Slean as our Head Trainer, and his experience is second to none. Mike’s facility in north Oshawa is not your typical family fitness facility – it is designed to train volleyball athletes.

Team 12 Training

Team 12’s brand new training facility will be the new site of all physical training for Durham Attack athletes. T12 has moved on October 1, 2015 and is ready for all training sessions this season. The new facility provides much more open training space and expands the scope of sport specific exercise that can be done during each session. The new location provides 3000 square feet and has 18 foot ceilings. Athletes will now be able to complete sports specific movements like maximum block jumps and spike jumps within their physical training. The higher ceilings also allow for some ball control drills and sport specific conditioning with the ball to be included. T12 also has a modified size volleyball court to the space that will also help maximize transferability of training movement patterns and exercises.

This new opportunity allows this great club to be even better.

Physical Trainers

Mike Slean has been working tirelessly with our athletes for more than a dozen years. His unique background makes him perhaps the most respected trainer in the province for volleyball athletes.

Mike played his University volleyball at the University of Toronto. He completed both a Bachelor of Physical Education and Health and a Bachelor of Education. With the Varsity Blues, Mike played as a Left Side for 5 OUA Championship teams in 5 years. This accomplishment made Mike the only player in OUA history to win 5 Championships. During that time Mike was a 5-Time First Team OUA All-Star and received CIS recognition 4 times as All-Canadian or All-Canadian Honourable Mention. Mike was also an academic All-Canadian in his last year and was nominated twice for both major University of Toronto awards – Athlete of the Year and the Leadership Award. Mike continues to play indoor volleyball and was a member of the Toronto Ruffriders Club that won the 2012 Open National Championships and recently returned from the 40 and over 2015 US National Championships as a member of FOG Volleyball Club with a Gold medal and was named MVP of the tournament.

On the beach, Mike represented Canada on the FIVB World Tour. Mike came 5th in the 2003 Pan-Am Games in Santa Domingo and also finished 17th in the World Championships in Klagenfurt, Austria. On the Labatt Pro Beach Tour, Mike won National Tour events in Parlee Beach, New Brunswick and Parksville, British Columbia.

Mike owns both Team 12 Training and Solstice Sport Beach Volleyball. Team 12 Training has provided team training services to Durham Attack Volleyball Club for the past 9 seasons. T12 will again be responsible for training services for the club in the 2015-16 Season. T12 was also the provider of training services for the Durham Lords Women’s team in 2014-15. At Durham College, Mike has taught in the Fitness and Health Promotion Program for the past 6 years. Mike is a Certified Personal Trainer through CSEP.

As a coach, Mike is a Level 2 Indoor coach and is entering his 8th year coaching within the club, working with both the boy’s and girl’s side of the club at the 16-18U level. During that time Mike has been a key part of 4 National Championship teams. This season, Mike is excited to develop the foundation of our boys program.