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  January 26, 2010

  Peace on the beach for volleyball governing body

   

  BOSTON — USA Volleyball will restructure to satisfy beach players who claimed the national governing body paid too little attention to their sport.

  In an amicable resolution to a long-running conflict, USAV voted unanimously on Monday to add a beach managing director who will have authority over the sexier, sandier side of the sport. About a dozen top beach players, including two-time Olympic gold medalists Kerri Walsh and Misty May-Treanor, attended the meeting to argue in favor of the proposal.

  "Everyone cooperated to improve the future of the sport together, for the mutual benefit of USAV and athletes," said David Schreff, the chairman of the USAV board of directors.

  A freewheeling offshoot of the more structured six-on-six game, beach gets the bulk of the attention thanks to the skimpy uniforms and party atmosphere on display at the Olympics and domestic and international pro tours. But the beach players have long complained that they have no authority within their own governing body.

  USAV agreed to dedicate seats on the board to represent the beach discipline to settle a 2006 lawsuit from 50 beach athletes, but complaints persisted. As the 2012 Olympics approach, beach players were concerned that the governing body would take control of the potentially lucrative qualifying tournament.

  In a related conflict, beach players were miffed when many collegiate indoor volleyball powers this month voted against adding sand volleyball as an NCAA sport.

  Walsh and men's Olympic champion Todd Rogers attended last the USAV board meeting in Holyoke, Mass., last fall and were prepared to resign from USAV without changes -- a symbolic first step in the direction of a separate governing body for the beach game.

  Fellow '08 Olympians Nicole Branagh and Jake Gibb, attended Monday's meeting at the headquarters of the AVP, the domestic pro tour.

  Source: USA Today

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