The following is the point breakdown and ranking system that will be used for BVA events during the 2001 season.

**This format is subject to revision at any time, at the discretion of BVA.

Beach Volleyball America participants must be documented U.S. Citizens and have eligible Federation Internationale de Volleyball (FIVB) status to represent the United States of America in FIVB World Tour events. In addition, athletes must be in good standing with their national governing body (NGB). The national governing body for American athletes is USA Volleyball.

The BVA Tour is recognized as the Official U.S. Men’s and Women’s National Tour by the FIVB and USA Volleyball.  Non-U.S. athletes who may be invited to compete in selected BVA events, at the discretion of the BVA, must be in good standing with their country’s NGB, the FIVB and must follow the FIVB’s procedures for competing in non-World Tour, FIVB-homologated events.

Point values
Points
Point Accrual
Seeding
Entry Deadline
BVA Wild Card Policy
Tournament re-seeding
Weather/Natural disaster/Uncontrollable circumstances (Force Majure)
Entry Fees
Direct Deposit/IRS forms
Tour Championship
BVA Men's Division

Point Values

Points

• Points will enter you into the main draw.

• The Main Draw Tournament will be held on Saturday and Sunday.  The Main Draw Tournament of a BVA event will consist of a 16-team field, per gender.  Ten (10) teams will be automatically entered into the Main Draw with the possibility of a maximum of 2 wild card entries per gender, per event.  In the event wild card entries are not applicable to the specific event, 12 teams will be entered based on points.

• The Qualification Tournament will be held on Friday, the day before the Main Draw Tournament at the site of the event.  The Qualification tournament of a BVA event will consist of a maximum 32-team field, per gender.  The Qualification Tournament will be single elimination, best 2 out of 3 games per match. Four (4) teams will advance to the Main Draw.  In a BVA 16-team Main Draw tournament, 12 teams will be entered into the Main Draw with 4 teams advancing from the Qualification Tournament. The Qualification Tournament will be held on the day before the main draw event, at the site of the Main Draw event, unless otherwise specified by BVA.

• In event of a tie, BVA will hold a blind draw for the final rankings.

• A maximum of 2 wild card teams per gender may be placed in the Main Draw event at the discretion of Beach Volleyball America.

• A player must participate in the event to receive points.

Point Accrual

• Total points to enter an event will be based on the last 4 BVA events held.

• Teams that do not participate in a BVA event, will receive zero (0) points for the missed tournament.

• Any team that participates in an FIVB World Tour event that conflicts with a BVA event will receive BVA points for the event missed. Points allocated to the individual will be based on an average of their last 4 BVA events played, within a 365 day period. The BVA Tour will credit these averaged points as if the athlete played in the missed BVA event, thus, these points will factor in for future rankings.

• Athletes missing an entire season, for any reason, will not be able to carry over points earned from the previous season.

Seeding
An individual’s seed value will be based on the average of their 4 most recent BVA finishes in a 365 day period. Points will be allocated to Qualification Tournament finishes, therefore these will factor into your seed value average.

A team’s seed will be the average of both individual athlete’s seed value average from their last 4 BVA events participated.

If you have not participated in 4 BVA events, your seed value will be based on the number of BVA events that you have participated in.

Players who do not have a BVA seed value will be given a 33^rd, or a seed value of 33 for their first tournament. They will be able to trade out their 33^rd seed with their first BVA finish.

In event of a tie, we will look at the last event. If the teams that tied participated together in the last event, the higher finish gets the higher seed. If partners have switched, we will hold a blind draw.

Entry deadline
For the first BVA Tour event to be held in Clearwater, Florida, April 20-22, a 30-day entry deadline will be in effect. Athletes must enter for the Clearwater event by Wednesday, March 21, 5pm Pacific Time. Teams that are not pre-seeded into the Main Draw will be entered into the Qualification Tournament. Athletes entering the event are not guaranteed participation until their entry is confirmed by BVA.

The BVA Athlete Services Director will notify teams of their confirmed entry into the Qualification and Main Draw events by posting the confirmed entry list on the BVA’s website, or phone hotline (858) 486-8659 x323. Entry lists can also be faxed upon request.

For all other BVA 2001 season events, please note entry deadlines below. Entry deadlines are subject to change by BVA, and only with prior notification to athletes.

The seedings for the events will be ready by 5pm PT, on the Tuesday prior to the tournament. Seedings for the events may be accessed by calling the BVA Event hotline @ 858-486-8659 x323 or online at the Beach Volleyball America’s official website at bvatour.com

BVA Wild Card Policy
The BVA will allow a maximum of 2 wild card entries into the Main Draw Tournament per event, per gender.  Therefore, a maximum of 2 teams may enter the men's or women's Main Draw Tournament via BVA wild card at the discretion of the BVA Tour.  Upon entering into the Main Draw, wild card teams will be seeded based on their rank as compared to the other pre-seeded teams and the teams entering the Main Draw through the Qualification Tournament.  If the wild card team has neither BVA points or rank, nor FIVB points or rank, they will be seeded accordingly. 

There are no limitations on the number of wild card entries a particular athlete or team can receive.  The only limitation is the total number of wild card entries into the Main Draw Tournament (maximum of 2).

Teams interested in applying for available wild card entries must do so on a per event basis.  A written request is required, to the attention of the Athlete Services Director of the BVA Tour.  Written requests should be submitted by the athlete him/herself and current contact information is required:  Name of both partners, phone numbers for both partners, email addresses for both partners and stated reasons for why a wild card should be granted. Wild card requests are due on the pre-determined tournament entry deadline for each event.  Notification of wild card status will be provided to the teams.

Tournament re-seeding
This will be on a case-by-case situation only and at the discretion of the BVA Competition Staff.

There will be no Main Draw re-seeding after the Qualification Tournament has started.

Weather/Natural disaster/Uncontrollable circumstances (Force Majure)
In the event that a BVA Main Draw Tournament is not completed, due to unforeseen circumstances, teams who have earned a finish at the point in time where the event is stopped will receive prize money and points appropriate for that finish.  Teams that are still remaining in active competition will receive prize money, points and finishes based on the team’s worst possible finish from the time the Competition Manager or BVA management determines that the event is no longer possible to complete under safe conditions.  If an entire event is cancelled or postponed, or is otherwise not officially played, no points or prize money will be awarded.  The safety of the athletes, staff and spectators are of the utmost priority.

Entry Fees
All participants, both Qualification Tournament and Main Draw Tournament competitors, will be required to pay a non-refundable entry fee of $50.00 per person. Participants in the Qualification Tournament who advance into the Main Draw will not be required to pay an additional Main Draw entry fee.

Entry fees must be paid upon confirmed entry into the tournament. Personal checks will not be accepted. Main Draw athletes only will have the option to have their entry fee deducted from their prize money checks.

Direct Deposit/IRS forms
The BVA will offer athletes the option of direct deposit service for prize money payout only.  Tournament prize money can be electronically deposited to the athlete’s personal bank account.  Direct deposit can be established for both a checking and/or savings account at the athlete’s discretion.  The BVA Finance Manager will handle all transactions, no monies will be paid out on site.  In the event an athlete prefers to have his or her entry fee deducted from prize money, the amount transferred will reflect a deduction of $50. 

All BVA athletes are considered to be independent contractors and will receive IRS form 1099 for the full amount of prize money earnings paid during a calendar year.  Athletes participating in BVA events will be required to complete and sign a BVA code of conduct, player commitment form, waiver of liability and IRS form W-9 for reported miscellaneous income earnings. 

Tour Championship
Beach Volleyball America will produce a Tour Championship, open to the top 16 teams per gender only, with no Qualification Tournament. Rankings will be based on an athlete’s total BVA points accumulated for the entire season. To qualify for the BVA Tour Championship, an athlete must participate in a minimum of 50% of the events offered in a single season. For the 2001 season, an athlete must play in at least 4 BVA tournaments to qualify for the Tour Championship. Seed value for a team will follow the standard BVA seeding format.

The BVA Tour Championship will be held in Honolulu, Hawaii.

BVA Men's Division
Qualification process for the first (4) BVA events

**This procedure is subject to revision at any time, at the discretion of Beach Volleyball America.

Clearwater

Teams will be ranked based on FIVB World Tour 2000 season points. Players will be able to use their (4) four best individual finishes from the FIVB World Tour 2000 season. BVA points will be allocated for the FIVB finishes. The point breakdown is listed in the 2001 Points and Seedings System document.

**The BVA Tour will recognize the Summer Olympic Games as an FIVB World Tour 2000 event.

A team’s seed value will be based on the combined average of the individual athlete’s top (4) four FIVB World Tour 2000 finishes.

If you do not have (4) four FIVB World Tour finishes, you will be given a 33^rd seed for each event that you are lacking to comprise 4 events. These 33^rd seeds will be used for determining your seed value only. You will not be given ranking points for these seeds.

Miami Beach

Ranking for the Miami Beach event will be based on a combination of FIVB points and BVA points.

The following equation computes your ranking points for Miami Beach: The points allocated for your 4 best finishes on the 2000 FIVB World Tour x (50%)

Plus

BVA points (Clearwater event) x (50%)

Seeding for the Miami event will be based on your Clearwater finish.

Oceanside

Ranking for Oceanside event will be based on a combination of FIVB points and BVA points.

The following equation computes your ranking points for Oceanside:

The points allocated for your 4 best finishes on the 2000 FIVB World Tour x (25%)

Plus

BVA points (Clearwater and Miami events) x (75%)

Seeding for the Oceanside event will be based on the combined average of both individual’s BVA Clearwater and Miami events.

Hermosa-Mervyn’s California Beach Bash

Both the ranking and seeding for the entered Main Draw teams at the Hermosa Beach Open/Mervyn’s CA Beach Bash will be based solely on 2001 Beach Volleyball America events. Exact seeding format will be announced prior to the Oceanside event.

After the Hermosa Beach Bash, BVA male athletes will be able to follow our standard 2001 Points and Seeding System to decide their ranking and seed for future tournaments.