Junior beach volleyball is now one step closer to the college game with the start of the BVCA Club Challenge Series powered by JVA. The new format includes 4 weekend events where junior beach volleyball clubs align their ranked teams to compete against one another for the win.
The format emulates the college game where each club will register a ‘squad’ of teams, in this case 3 teams, whereas at the college level it is 5 teams. The teams will be ranked 1, 2, or 3 with 1 being the strongest team. Similar to college, the format will be 1 vs 1, 2 vs 2, 3 vs 3 in match play. The win is awarded to the club that wins 2 of the 3 matches.
“By implementing this new format, our goal is to bring the beach club community together and prepare the athletes for the next level” shares 692 West Club Director and Beach Volleyball Club of America Founder Jeff Smith. “I feel with the current model that is in place, junior beach volleyball is set up as an individual sport, where players are competing with a different partner each weekend, and many times that partner is from another club. What is missing is the sense of team and the pride for representing one club, and that is what the Club Series will offer.”
Colleen Craig, Co-Founder and CEO of Rally Volleyball, one of the Challenge Series hosts, agrees. “Currently beach events are primarily run in a traditional format driven by age divisions and individual pairs competing against individual pairs. When the NCAA adopted collegiate beach volleyball, the format implemented shifted to being based on the skill level of 5 pairs representing a school in a Duel’s format. This represents a significant departure from the traditional format that many players, parents and even coaches don’t fully grasp. This club vs club series exposes junior athletes to the format utilized collegiately, providing them valuable experience handling different elements and dynamics. Having this format option will only help junior beach volleyball athletes prepare for the collegiate road ahead.”
A collegiate beach volleyball program typically has between 16-20 athletes on the roster. When the athletes make a commitment to compete for a college program, they are immediately part of a sisterhood bond that reflects pride and passion for the program and for the university. The athletes train hard together, challenge each other on the sand court and in the weight room, and they proudly wear their uniform when they step into competition. The sense of team and commitment is there from Day 1.
The BVCA Club Challenge Series powered by JVA is striving to foster the sense of unity and team dynamic so junior beach athletes can understand and learn the concept before they enter the college game.
“In the collegiate (beach) game there is a very unique style and emphasis on how to treat your partner, it’s like a marriage, and is unique in that regard” shares Stein Metzger, UCLA Women’s Beach Head Coach, who’s program won the 2018 NCAA Beach Championship. “Junior beach volleyball misses some of the team culture benefits that you see in indoor. At the collegiate level you have the benefit of both worlds, and I’m so happy to see that it will be emulated at the junior level.”
Stein is also the Director and Head Coach at Los Angeles Beach Volleyball Club, that will be competing in the BVCA Club vs. Club Challenge Series powered by JVA.
“The junior beach athletes will learn how to treat their partner in a partnership, and get on board with something bigger than themselves in a team setting.”
Tournament Dates
March 2nd & 3rd Huntington Beach — MORE INFO
March 16th The Strand- Dallas, TX — MORE INFO
April 6th & 7th – Southern California – More info coming soon
April 13th & 14th Lakeview Sports Complex- Atlanta, GA – MORE INFO
Format
Each club will bring a ‘set’ of teams (3). The teams will be rank 1, 2, or 3 with 1 being the strongest team. A club is able to bring multiple ‘sets’ of teams.
The series will emulate the college game, where 1vs1, 2vs2, 3vs3 in match play. The win is awarded to the club that wins 2 of the 3 matches.
Coaching will be allowed and we will follow the NCAA rules.
Cost
$375 per squad (3 teams)
$300 per squad for JVA membered clubs (promo code: JVA2019)
The beach club director can register the entire squad HERE.
For more information on the Club vs. Club Challenge Series click HERE. If you are interested in starting your own Club vs. Club Challenge Series event contact Briana Schunzel at briana.schunzel@jvavolleyball.org
About the Junior Volleyball Association
The Junior Volleyball Association (JVA) is a non-profit organization that promotes the growth of youth and junior volleyball through program and resource development, education and events. The organization was formed in 2006 with a primary focus of being a voice for junior volleyball club directors and coaches, and to this day with nearly 1,300 member clubs, is the only organization that is focused entirely on youth and junior volleyball.
