Mailbag: Support Sand Volleyball

Hello Friends and Beach Volleyball Enthusiasts,

Many of you have contacted USA Volleyball with questions as to the status of sand volleyball in the NCAA.  On January 15, 2010 there will be an override vote led by universities who are trying to block the addition of sand to the NCAA emerging sports list for women in 2010-2011.  We need your voice to help block this override vote!

Please take a quick moment to click on the link below to voice your support of NCAA sand volleyball!  (Below is the text of the petition.)

http://vovici.com/wsb.dll/s/2420g41250

LET US PLAY!

SUPPORT SAND VOLLEYBALL IN DIVISION I

“We, the undersigned, feel passionately that Sand Volleyball should be added to the NCAA emerging sports list for women in 2010-2011. We urge you to support the exciting and numerous opportunities for women that this sport creates. To make sand volleyball a reality for Division I, we respectfully request that each institution send a representative to the 2010 NCAA Convention in Atlanta, Georgia and vote on January 15 to defeat the override. We will watch this vote very carefully. Please support Sand Volleyball for the athletes, coaches, parents, administrators, fans, vendors and many more that will be positively affected by the addition of the sport. If you would like further information, please do not hesitate to contact the AVCA at members@avca.org or visit the AVCA Facebook page.”

So, if you’re a fan of Beach Volleyball and want to see it a NCAA sport, now is your time to have your voice heard!

In the news . . .

July 24, 2008 – We don’t write this news; we just link to it. Here’s a round-up of a articles we came across this week you may find interesting. 

Beach volleyball may be next NCAA sport for women though it will be called “sand” volleyball so landlocked schools still feel like they can participate.  It is being recommended that the NCAA put the sport on the “emerging sports for women” list.  Right now, indoor volleyball is the No. 2 women’s sport in the NCAA, second only to basketball, with 992 of the 1,064 member schools fielding teams.

Swimmer Jessica Hardy tests positive - controversey reigns before the Summer Games even begin as Hardy tests positive for a banned substance, leaving her just two weeks to pursue any appeals before the Beijing Games begin.

Tehran debates breaking dress code to broadcast women at Olympics - There are just three women among the 53 Iranian athletes who will compete in the Beijing Olympics (in rowing, archery, and tae kwon do). While these women play sports dressed in the traditional hijab, their international competitors do not — and therefore cannot be shown in Iranian broadcasts. Millions of Iranian viewers would like to cheer on their female athletes but it’s still a question whether the government will allow the events to be televised. 

Chow returning to China as U.S. women’s gymnastics coach - Liang Chow, once a celebrated member of the Chinese national gymnastics team, will return to his native city of Beijing for the first time in 17 years proudly wearing red, white and blue. After coaching Shawn Johnson to a number of world and national titles, the Des Moines resident was named head coach of the U.S. women’s gymnastics team this week.