(April 25, 2022) – USA Volleyball and the Association of Volleyball Professionals (AVP) announced today the launch of the U.S. Beach Club Championship, a new and innovative competition for junior beach volleyball clubs across the nation. The inaugural event will be held July 29-31 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
The U.S. Beach Club Championship will offer competition in four age divisions for boys and girls: 12U, 14U, 16U and 18U. Registration for the U.S. Beach Club Championship is now open on BracketPal.
All participants, coaches and staff must be registered USAV and AVP members. Athletes unaffiliated with a junior club are welcome to participate, as are international athletes. Seeding will be done through the USAVP Unified Ranking System, another joint effort between AVP and USA Volleyball that debuts this year.
“With the continued growth of junior beach volleyball events across the country, club beach competition is gaining in popularity and in some locations surpassing pairs competition, so it made sense for AVP and USA Volleyball to create the definitive beach volleyball club championship,” said Al Lau Chief Executive Officer of the AVP. “Our organizations formed a strategic alliance last year to help grow the sport at all levels, and we are excited to launch this first of many collaborations.”
The U.S. Beach Club Championship will run concurrently with the AVP Pro Series Fort Lauderdale Open. It immediately follows the USA Volleyball Beach National Championship, the culminating event of the USA Volleyball Beach Tour, which runs July 26-28 in Fort Lauderdale.
“USA Volleyball is tremendously excited about the U.S. Beach Club Championship,” USA Volleyball President and CEO Jamie Davis said. “This tournament is a great way to celebrate the growth of club beach volleyball and the clubs who emphasize teaching and growing the sport. We’re thrilled to partner with AVP in creating this unique new opportunity for clubs and athletes to challenge themselves.”
In the U.S. Beach Club Championship, athletes will compete not only for a division title, but will also to earn points for their club. Each division’s top eight teams will claim points toward the club competition, and the boys and girls clubs with the most points at the end of the tournament will be crowned the inaugural winners of the Club Cup.
The top three teams in each division will be recognized with awards, and individual awards will be presented for Most Valuable Player, Best Offensive Player, Best Defensive Player and a sportsmanship award.
About the AVP
Powered by some of the most dynamic and elite athletes in the world, the Association of Volleyball Professionals is the premier professional beach volleyball organization and longest-running domestic beach volleyball tour in the United States. Founded in 1983, the AVP has produced some of the world’s most beloved athletes, providing fans with unparalleled access to nail-biting matches on the sand. In 1996, beach volleyball became an official sport of the Olympic Games and the AVP proudly serves as the home court for Team USA’s Olympians.
Headquartered in Southern California, the AVP operates a three-tiered development system. AVPFirst, a 501(3)c youth program, is focused on creating healthy lifestyles and a lifelong connection to the sport by offering access to all. AVPNext is a developmental circuit providing athletes the opportunity to develop their skills and earn valuable AVP points to climb the rankings toward becoming a pro. The decorated AVP Pro tour is the gold standard in beach volleyball, with more than 100 professional athletes competing in front of passionate fans nationwide. Additionally, in an effort to grow the sport and celebrate those who love the game, AVP America leads a grassroots movement across the United States to curate thousands of events and matches for fans and players.
About USA Volleyball
Founded in 1928, USA Volleyball is a non-profit organization recognized by the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee (USOPC), the International Volleyball Federation (FIVB) and World ParaVolley as the National Governing Body for the sport of volleyball including the disciplines of beach, indoor, sitting, snow and beach ParaVolley in the United States. With more than 425,000 registered members, USA Volleyball conducts national championship events, coaching and officials certification programs, and grassroots development across all disciplines in a lifetime sport in which all can participate. USA Volleyball’s teams have won an Olympic medal in every Olympic Games since 1984, five Paralympic medals since 2004 and numerous World Cup, World Championship and Continental Championship titles. For more information on USA Volleyball, visit www.usavolleyball.org. #PathtothePodium