|
NCAA Override Defeated, Sand Volleyball Moves Forward Dear AVP Family, Friends and Partners: Great news! Sand volleyball has secured its spot on the NCAA's list of emerging sports for women after today's vote by Division I colleges. Thank you to everybody who responded to yesterday's call to action and who has supported this legislation over the past year. Everyone who helped spread the word in support of sand volleyball contributed to our team effort. This is a big step forward for the sport of volleyball. -Sincerely, Jason Hodell, AVP CEO NCAA Division I schools voted down a sand volleyball override today at the NCAA Convention in Atlanta, meaning the sport may be played at the nation's biggest colleges as soon as next spring. Following a U.S. gold medal sweep in beach volleyball at the Beijing Olympics, the NCAA last April added "sand volleyball" to its list of emerging sports for women. The emerging sports designation is intended to encourage the development of opportunities for women by awarding NCAA subsidies to colleges that create programs. This decision, however, sparked a battle between the two-on-two beach game and the six-on-six indoor discipline. Sixty-three schools-including former NCAA indoor champions Nebraska, Stanford and Washington in addition to 2009 champion Penn State and the rest of the Big Ten-requested an override vote to take sand volleyball off the emerging sports list. At least five-eighths of schools at today's convention would have had to vote for the override to eliminate sand volleyball. The AVP Pro Beach Volleyball Tour, the country's only professional volleyball tour, was elated to hear the news. "The AVP is thrilled with the result of today's vote," said Jason Hodell, AVP CEO. "NCAA sand volleyball will grow our beautiful sport tremendously and provide wonderful opportunities for women to participate in collegiate athletics." "Al Lau and his team have worked tirelessly to advance the cause of sand volleyball and should be thanked by all," added Hodell. Today's vote allows schools to continue building varsity programs for the 2010-2011 school year and gives the sport 10 years to develop a following to bump it up to an NCAA championship sport. Emerging sports are given full championship status if 40 or more schools start programs within 10 years. Opponents of sand volleyball often cited financial constraints heading into today's vote. No school will be forced to compete if it cannot afford to or otherwise chooses not to. Sand volleyball is expected to be played in the spring, as indoor volleyball takes place in the fall, allowing athletes to play for both teams. Sand volleyball's status as an emerging sport in Division II has not been challenged. Division III administrators chose not to grant the sport emerging status. |
AVPNext
The AVP Pro Beach Volleyball Tour's membership-based grassroots program, works with local organizations to host and run volleyball programs for all ages and levels of competition. It sanctions a wide variety of volleyball tournaments, recreational leagues and instructional camps/clinics for all ages and abilities throughout the United States and represents the nation's largest network of outdoor amateur volleyball associations.
Get Involved AVPNext
NCAA Sand Volleyball Moves Forward
Great news! Sand volleyball has secured its spot on the NCAA's list of emerging sports for women after today's vote by Division I colleges. Thank you to everybody who responded to yesterday's call to action and who has supported this legislation over the past year. Everyone who helped spread the word in support of sand volleyball contributed to our team effort. This is a big step forward for the sport of volleyball.read more