Karch Kiraly is bringing back the Corona Light Wide Open, one of the nation's leading grassroots beach volleyball tours.
The tour will make nine stops, beginning at South Beach Park in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., on May 15-16.
It is the official qualifying tour for Beach Volleyball, a USA Volleyball-sanctioned national championship that will be played Sept. 17-19 in Manhattan Beach.
"The Corona Light Wide Open is one of the few beach volleyball events in the world that
captures the true essence and vibe of the beach," said Kiraly, the winningest player in
beach volleyball history out of UCLA. "It's all about playing the sport and living the lifestyle.
"Last year we quickly saw how people wanted a top-shelf, competitive beach volleyball tournament and a package of activities on the beach that allowed them not only to compete for a spot in the US Open, but have some fun and really let loose. This year,
we are taking the Wide Open experience to a much higher level."
The inaugural tour drew more than 3,500 players competing in up to 16 different
divisions.
Kiraly, a three-time Olympic gold medalist, co-founded the tour last year and will be
the chief volleyball officer this year. He will oversee the tournament structure and
rules development, conduct clinics and participate in exhibition matches in select
markets.
Meanwhile, the AVP announced Tuesday that it would bring back and expanded version of its Junior Camps, held in conjunction with eight AVP pro beach volleyball tour events.
"Being on site, the kids will not only be taught the classic beach fundamentals, but they will have an opportunity to experience the soul of the game and a sense of the possibilities," said AVP commissioner Mike Dodd. "Teaching young people to appreciate and enjoy our game is a responsibility the AVP accepts with pride."
Current and former AVP players, along with experienced coaches, will teach girls and boys ages 8-18 training techniques to improve their sand and indoor games with skills demonstrations, drills and workouts designed specifically for their skill and age level. Small courts, lower nets and lighter balls will be used for campers age 12 and below
They have beach volleyball nets up the whole time. And they don’t get nicked or vandalised. I was impressed by that. I shouldn’t have to be impressed by that. But I am.
While it is still spring and the temperature was a little cool Toronto took advantage of a sunny weekend to head down to Ashbridges Bay Park - home of the forest of poles used to hold volleyball nets.
About one third of the courts were in use and some of the games were pretty exciting, it was like being at the Olympics although some plays do not always work out as planned.
The Net was errected for the start of the summer to work alongside the youth club. There was no vandalism of the net although it was good to go along regularly and check the net is looking good, the tension is correct and all the ropes and staples are in correctly. This shows the net is used regularly and as it was with the youth club the village children took ownership of the net.
Huck nets do sell anti vandal nets made of steel but are very sever in their look. I would suggest a cheap net with a steel string to secure it in place and a leap of faith by your volleyball club and the local community. If you can find a local garage that will hold onto a ball or community center so the local people know where to borrow a ball even better. We donated some old balls to the youth club. You can advertise your local volleyball club on the posts so you establish the community club links.
At the other side again we go over the top of the post, using two staples to keep the string sitting on top of the post (dont hammer in the staples too deep as the string needs space to be pulled through for any loops, metal attachments etc) We then put anpther staple about head height to keep it aligned and then at waist height put in another staple. The net string goes through the staples a loop can then be added to be able to pull down on the net to bring the net to the required height.
Alternatively holes can be drilled 10 and 20 cm down from the top of the post and metal loops put through attached to a steel bolt. This again isn’t necessary but if you want to secure the net then the steel bolt can be used to padlock the net to the posts. Not the best way unless you use an anti-rust padlock.
