Santa Cruz Volleyball Forum

Maybe the NCVA will just go away if we don't participate in their events!

I think the NCVA is ingenious at convincing a lot of people from out of town that they have to pay - $25 to join NCVA, $20 each tournament, and $10 fee if they walk-up - to LEARN how to play beach volleyball. It is obvious that many participants in their so-called "tournaments" have only rudimentary beach volleyball skills.
Perhaps, in addition to allowing them one tournament per month, the City of Santa Cruz could require the NCVA to notify all past participants in their tournaments, that yes, indeed, they can also play for FREE at Main Beach Courts alongside the locals.

Then perhaps those players can attain the beach volleyball skills necessary to play in the novice (or other) division of Phil's tournaments, or their age division in the CBVA - the California BEACH Volleyball Association. These are actual tournaments that provide a competitive venue for players with beach volleyball experience, from recreational to rated, with the benefits of regulation and guidance, and non-monopolization of free public courts on which to practice. They could mix in and meet local players, who are a friendly and welcoming bunch - and the most competitive players - well, work your way up just like the locals have to! They could become regular weekend players - for FREE.

I think the NCVA is clever in presenting itself as "allowing the locals to use courts when they are available," and "helping the city out in these difficult economic times." I think the people who pay to play in these tournaments are naive about the nature of the Santa Cruz beach volleyball community and their rights to enjoy this FREE public facility, and the NCVA takes advantage of that naivete. I encourage all volleyball players to be as friendly to the NCVA participants as to anyone on the beach, and to let them know that they don't have to pay to be part of an NCVA event to enjoy the courts.

That's what I think! : )