USAV Announces Dates for Beach IDQs

B.J. Hoeptner Evans
Manager, Media Relations and Publications
Phone: (719) 228-6800
E-Mail: bj.evans@usav.org

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (Feb. 10, 2011) – USA Volleyball has announced the schedule for its five 2011 beach volleyball International Development Qualifiers (IDQs).

IDQs are tournaments to identify elite beach volleyball athletes for entry into select international events and other USAV High Performance Beach Programs. Teams that finish in the top three at IDQ events will get the opportunity to represent the United States in select NORCECA Beach Circuit and other international events.

“The rapid expansion of the NORCECA tour and its Olympic qualifying impact coupled with the demand for high-level domestic events that meet the needs of developing elite athletes has prompted USAV to enhance the IDQ schedule,” said Ali Wood Lamberson, USA Volleyball’s director of beach programs.

Changes in 2011include competitions hosted at the Olympic Training Center in Chula Vista, Calif., on FIVB regulation courts and the addition of a prize-money purse based on percentage of total entry.

IDQ events are open to all U.S. athletes who are not ranked among the top 20 USAV nationally ranked athletes*.

Four IDQs will take place at the brand new USA Volleyball Beach Center at the Olympic Training Center in Chula Vista, Calif. The July IDQ is scheduled to be held at Dockweiler State Beach in Playa del Rey, Calif.

The entry fee for each event is $60/athlete and all participants must have a current USAV membership (available online) by March 1.

The Molten NORCECA ball will be used**.

The Main Draw is limited to 36 teams per event in Chula Vista, with a single-elimination qualifier the Friday afternoon preceding, if necessary, deciding the last four Main Draw teams. Teams in the qualifier will be notified Tuesday before the event.

Main Draw competition format will be full match pool play with a single-elimination playoff.

Also new this year, one-third of entry fees will be paid out as prize money to the top four finishers.

All participants must hold a valid U.S. passport and may not be currently registered as a member of another country’s volleyball federation.

EVENT DETAILS
Event: International Development Qualifiers (IDQ) Beach Tournament
Women's IDQ Dates: March 19-20, Chula Vista, Calif. ■ April 2-3, Chula Vista, Calif. ■ July 9-10, Dockweiler State Beach in Playa Del Rey, Calif.
Men's IDQ Dates: March 26-27 Chula Vista, Calif. ■ April 9-10, Chula Vista, Calif. ■ July 9-10, Dockweiler State Beach in Playa Del Rey, Calif.
Cost: $60/athlete
Ball: Molten BV5000** (NORCECA ball)
Level: Open to all U.S. beach athletes not nationally ranked 20 or higher. 
Seeding: The new USAV National Ranking will be utilized.*
Format: Two days. Full match play (2 out of 3 to 21, 3rd to 15). Pool play with single elimination playoffs
Registration: Registration is online ONLY and closes the Monday before each event at 11:59 p.m.  Registration for the first two events will open Friday, Feb. 11.

To register, click the link for each event:

IDQ#1 Women: March 19-20, 2011

IDQ#1 Men: March 26-27, 2011

IDQ#2 Women: April 2-3, 2011

IDQ#2 Men: April 9-10, 2011

NORCECA BEACH CIRCUIT:
Teams that earn a bid to a NORCECA event will represent the United States in the Main Draw of the event.  USAV will provide a travel stipend of $200 per player for each event and pay the NORCECA entry fee.  Uniforms will also be provided. Players must organize and purchase their own airfare, hotel, and meals.

Advertised prize money for NORCECA tour events is $10,000/event. (See NORCECA web site www.norceca.org for prize money breakdown and event regulations). NORCECA events take place Thursday-Sunday. Athletes are required to arrive Wednesday evening, attend the award ceremony on Sunday and depart Monday morning.

2011 NORCECA BEACH CIRCUIT SCHEDULE CLICK HERE. Please note that the NORCECA schedule is subject to change.

Tags: Beach, Beach Volleyball, International Development Qualifiers, NORCECA Beach Circuit