StarBulletin.com

NCAA approves sand volleyball over objections from D-I


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POSTED: Saturday, January 16, 2010

Dave Shoji isn't sure how it will work. That's also been the main objection of the 63 Division I schools that were against the NCAA adding sand volleyball to the list of emerging sports for women.

“;It really has been happening too quickly in respect to there being no rules, no plan,”; the Hawaii women's coach said after learning that the addition of the sport for the 2010-11 school year had been approved at the NCAA convention yesterday. “;The idea of the sport is terrific, but given the current economics, I don't think anyone is in a position to add a sport, to add coaches and scholarships. UH is not in a position.

“;But if they (the NCAA) go with it, then we'll go with it.”;

The proposal had sparked a battle at the American Volleyball Coaches Association convention last month in Tampa, Fla., that was held in conjunction with the women's volleyball final four. Among the coaches against adding the sport was Jerritt Elliott of eventual runner-up Texas. He told the Star-Bulletin that he also agreed it was being pushed through too quickly without understanding the ramifications it would have on the indoor game.

The sand season would be held during the spring, conflicting with the time normally used to train for the fall indoor season.

There's also a question of funding for both scholarships and coaching staff. According to the NCAA news release, the organization would award subsidies to colleges that create the programs but would not force schools to add sand volleyball.

The Big Ten and schools such as Stanford, Penn State and Nebraska had requested an override vote to take the sport off the emerging sports list. The vote was 166-118 in favor of implementing the sport.

“;We (at UH) like the idea, and I'm sure some of the players will welcome it,”; Shoji said. “;But we have no plan in place. No one has a venue. I'm sure we could have a makeshift venue. Go somewhere and pull up a beach chair.”;

The Association of Volleyball Professions has held its pro beach events at non-beach cities for decades, setting up temporary courts in such places as Houston and in casinos in Las Vegas and California.

Yesterday's vote allows schools to continue to develop programs for the upcoming school year and gives the sport 10 years to develop into one with NCAA championship designation. Full championship status would be given if 40 or more schools add the sport within 10 years.

The NCAA Division I Board of Directors will decide whether to grant a request from the AVCA to delay the start of implementation from the coming school year until 2011-12.