Beach volleyball has been growing in popularity, and in Manitoba, two coaches are leading the charge to make the sport more accessible and empowering for young athletes. Chloe Reimer-McCaughan and Erika Vermette, are deeply passionate about the game. As the sport made its way into the Canada Games, they’ve not only been part of the competition, but also working to develop and mentor the next generation of players.

‍

Empowerment at Canada Games 

For Chloe, the Canada Games experience has always been about something bigger than herself. 

“I think it's really exciting to be part of an event that's so much bigger than yourself,” she shares. “I love that all the sports are come together to be Team Toba."

As a coach, she sees the opportunity to not only nurture athletic skills but also to empower young women. 

“I also love the chance to make young women feel really important and empowered. When you get the chance to hear a name over the intercom and get driven around, there's this feeling of ‘I really matter’ and ‘I have a lot of value’ and that feeling lasts for a lot longer than the competition.”

Chloe is deeply invested in creating a holistic approach to the game, both for her players and herself. 

“Because there's only two of you, there's no subs, there's nobody but you and your partner, there’s something very vulnerable to beach volleyball. It’s a holistic game, and your spiritual, physical, mental, social, all of that is really, really important, and sport is one component of that that you can work the rest through.”

From Player to Coach: Erika’s Perspective

For Erika, returning to the Canada Games feels like a full-circle moment. In 2022, she competed as an athlete. Now, as a coach, her perspective has shifted. 

“It’s such a unique experience,” Erika says, reflecting on the thrill of watching her athletes enter the opening ceremony. “Watching it instead of being in it honestly brought tears to my eyes, I was like, "This is crazy”. This is actually such a unique and amazing experience, and it's so inspiring for so many athletes.”

The transition from being a player to a coach is not lost on Erika. 

“I really found my voice because there are only two of you. You're coaching yourselves most of the time, and I think that really helped me grow into a leadership player. There’s so much to learn and the creativity too.”

Balancing Athleticism with Personal Growth

Both Chloe and Erika emphasize the importance of balance. For Chloe, that means creating an environment where athletes can develop both their skills and their personal identity. 

“It’s about finding the balance between being all in as an athlete and who you are. The girls need to go and enjoy being a person here for a little bit, because if your identity is only the sport that you play, that can be taken away from you in an instant.”

When it comes to choosing athletes, she looks for those who are willing to take risks, learn, and grow. 

“Even when we come to Canada Games, we learn from every match. Yes, this is supposed to be the peak of our summer, but that doesn't mean we're not learning along the way.”

Erika adds that the creative aspect of beach volleyball is a big draw for players. 

“Beach is very different from indoor, where you can be very creative and bring your own style to the game, which I have very much enjoyed and have found passionate in playing beach volleyball, and see in the players here, too,.”

‍

The Future of Beach Volleyball in Manitoba

Looking ahead, both Chloe and Erika are focused on growing the sport at the grassroots level and developing more coaches. 

“Right now, we have a huge dearth of coaches,” Chloe explains. “We have so many girls and guys who want to play beach volleyball, our leagues are exploding, but there’s not enough coaches.”

With beach volleyball off the Manitoba Summer Games program, she hopes that coach development can enhance player development, helping younger athletes be more prepared to move and compete in the sand.

With this team, I think it's just to keep learning. And we started off our season talking about like our ultimate goal for this is to just bring out the best in each other. And so we want to be on the podium. There's no doubt about that. We're all competitive, fierce women, but if we can bring out the best of each other, we will play our best, and we will come away from this week, like having such great memories.