Message from USAV CEO Jamie Davis

May 5, 2020 Update

As referenced in our communication on April 24, a “return to play” task force was established by USA Volleyball to create a comprehensive roadmap to safely restart USAV’s sanctioning of activities when it is appropriate. The task force has been meeting diligently and gathering information from United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee (USOPC), medical experts, government entities, volleyball clubs and other national governing bodies to help pave our course of action. At this point, the group believes that it is premature to safely commence play and thus USA Volleyball is extending the elimination of sanctions for all USA Volleyball activities (including but not limited to events, practices, team activities, individual training sessions or anything covered by USA Volleyball insurance) through May 22, 2020.

Virtual training/coaching/instruction/meetings are permitted during this period of sanction suspension. Any virtual training/coaching/instruction/meetings involving minors are subject to requirements of MAAPP, specifically the regulations on electronic communications and one-on-one interactions. These requirements include the following:

1. All virtual trainings/coaching/meetings must be “observable and interruptible,” able to be ended at any time, and have at least two applicable adults on each session, i.e., coach and assistant, coach and club director, etc.
2. All parents/guardians must be provided the code or link to join the virtual session.
3. All parents/guardians must sign a waiver in advance as these sessions could be viewed as individual training. A record of which clubs/coaches have been approved to conduct these sessions should be kept. USAV has created a standardized waiver form if you care to use it.
4. If a minor athlete ends up emailing a video to a coach for feedback or additional coaching, the coach needs to copy the parent/guardian and/or other applicable adult on all correspondences.

To be clear, virtual training/coaching/instruction/meetings will only be considered sanctioned so long as the above requirements are followed.

USA Volleyball has been asked by local clubs whether such ban applies to club activities covered under the club’s own (non-USA Volleyball) insurance. In these situations, USA Volleyball strongly encourages all member clubs and coaches to adhere to USA Volleyball’s policies. However, should a club decide to voluntarily disregard those policies and assume all risks associated therewith, we recommend that the club adhere to CDC; local, state and federal guidelines and recommendations when deciding whether or not to host practices or individual training sessions. If a club does host practice or individual training sessions, those activities would be considered a non-sanctioned activity by USA Volleyball and thus NOT covered by USA Volleyball insurance.

The health and welfare of our membership, volleyball families and fellow citizens is our primary concern in all decisions we are making during these uncharted times.

USA Volleyball is monitoring the situation daily and will continue to provide updates on a regular basis.

April 24, 2020 Update

Dear USA Volleyball Membership,

As parts of our nation have commenced plans for reopening, USA Volleyball CEO Jamie Davis and Board Chair Cecile Reynaud have established a task force to create a comprehensive roadmap to safely restart USAV’s sanctioning of activities when it is appropriate. The team is comprised of the following members:

• Jamie Davis: USAV Chief Executive Officer
• Chris Vadala: USAV Chief of Membership Services
• Stacie Kearns: USAV Chief Financial Officer
• Rachael Stafford: USAV General Counsel
• Cecile Reynaud: USAV Board Chair, Member of USAV Coaching Education CAP cadre
• Steve Bishop: USAV Board Member, President of the Florida Region of USA Volleyball, Member of the RVA insurance committee and the USAV Beach Assembly member
• Dave Peixoto: USAV Board Member, Commissioner of the New England Region Volleyball Association, Member of the RVA Assembly
• Steve Kenyon: USAV Board Member, Member of the RVA and Officials Assemblies
• Dave Gentile: USAV Board Member, Chair of the Junior Assembly

We believe that this joint staff and board task force provides for a broad representation of USAV’s membership constituency and is also comprised of members from regions with varying stages of COVID-19 severity and recovery.

This group will be collaborating with the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee, medical experts, government entities, volleyball clubs and other national governing bodies to adopt a phased reopening plan in accordance with federal, state and local guidelines and with the foremost goal of safeguarding USAV members and spectators. We will not be removing the suspension of USAV sanctioning activities until it is safe to do so.

Thank you in advance for your patience as we develop our roadmap forward.

Jamie Davis
Cecile Reynaud

April 22, 2020 Update - 3 p.m. Mountain

USA Volleyball is extending the elimination of sanctions for all USA Volleyball activities (including but not limited to events, practices, team activities, individual training sessions or anything covered by USA Volleyball insurance) through May 8, 2020.

Following several communications with the USOPC, the U.S. Center for SafeSport, and our insurance providers, USA Volleyball has received permission to sanction virtual training/coaching/instruction/meetings during this period of sanction suspension. Any virtual training/coaching/instruction/meetings involving minors are subject to requirements of MAAPP, specifically the regulations on electronic communications and one-on-one interactions. These requirements include the following:

1. All virtual trainings/coaching/meetings must be “observable and interruptible,” able to be ended at any time, and have at least two applicable adults on each session, i.e., coach and assistant, coach and club director, etc.
2. All parents/guardians must be provided the code or link to join the virtual session.
3. All parents/guardians must sign a waiver in advance as these sessions could be viewed as individual training. A record of which clubs/coaches have been approved to conduct these sessions should be kept. USAV has created a standardized waiver form if you care to use it.
4. If a minor athlete ends up emailing a video to a coach for feedback or additional coaching, the coach needs to copy the parent/guardian and/or other applicable adult on all correspondences.

To be clear, virtual training/coaching/instruction/meetings will only be considered sanctioned so long as the above requirements are followed.

USA Volleyball has been asked by local clubs whether such ban applies to club activities covered under the club’s own (non-USA Volleyball) insurance. In these situations, USA Volleyball strongly encourages all member clubs and coaches to adhere to USA Volleyball’s policies. However, should a club decide to voluntarily disregard those policies and assume all risks associated therewith, we recommend that the club adhere to CDC; local, state and federal guidelines and recommendations when deciding whether or not to host practices or individual training sessions. If a club does host practice or individual training sessions, those activities would be considered a non-sanctioned activity by USA Volleyball and thus NOT covered by USA Volleyball insurance.

The health and welfare of our membership, volleyball families and fellow citizens is our primary concern in all decisions we are making during these uncharted times.

USA Volleyball is monitoring the situation daily and will continue to provide updates on a regular basis.

April 22, 2020 Update - 8 a.m. Mountain

Dear USA Volleyball Members and Clubs,

First and foremost, I hope that you are staying safe and healthy as our nation and the world battles the COVID-19 pandemic.

Like you, we are eager to be back competing on the court and playing the game we love. That said, the safety of our members, spectators and staff is our top priority and thus we have been forced to make many decisions which have impacted the 2020 USA Volleyball tournament calendar. Regular real-time event-specific updates are available on our website.

As you are aware, a few of our qualifiers have been canceled with the majority of them being postponed. We are furthermore monitoring the feasibility of our championship events and exploring the postponement to later dates should the conditions not be safe to stage them as planned. It would be far easier for us to simply cancel all of these events, but the overwhelming feedback that we have received from you has been in favor of trying to salvage the season. You want to play and we want to provide you the competitions to do so. I am hopeful that we will be able to accomplish this common goal.

Again, safety is paramount and we are closely monitoring city, state and federal social distancing guidelines and recommendations. We are furthermore developing new processes, procedures and regulations that will be put in place to further enhance the safety of the events. Final decisions on whether to proceed will only be made once factoring in all of these factors.

Thank you for your patience as we work through this ever-changing situation.

March 31, 2020

ERVA Community,

USA Volleyball is extending the elimination of sanctions for all USA Volleyball activities (including but not limited to events, practices, team activities, individual training sessions or anything covered by USA Volleyball insurance) through April 30, 2020. USA Volleyball is monitoring the situation daily and will continue to provide updates on a regular basis.

The ERVA Board of Directors, in conjunction with the ERVA full-time staff, discussed the following upcoming ERVA sanctioned events, ERVA Regional Championships, HP Tryouts/Camp, Border Smackdown & outdoor sand leagues. Please see below for the updated status on each event, more details will be provided soon if any events are able to be rescheduled.

• HP Tryouts | April 17, 2020 |CANCELLED

• HP Camp | May 16-17, 2020 | POSTPONED

o Potential dates: May 29-31 or June 1-3, or June 8-10, 2020
o All athletes will be eligible to attend the camp regardless of attending a tryout

this season. Registration will open once we are able to confirm the event.

• ERVA Bid Tournaments | April 17, 2020 | CANCELLED

• ERVA Regional Championships | April 18-19, 2020 | CANCELLED

o Entry fees will be refunded to all clubs who paid.
o If restrictions lift in May/June the Region will offer a smaller scale event to

interested teams at the HUB Sports Center.

• Outdoor Adult & Junior Sand Leagues | START DATES POSTPONED

o TBA when we are able to host larger gatherings.

• Border Smackdown | May 17-20, 2020 | CANCELLED

o Refunds have been processed to all clubs who paid.

The safety, health, and well-being of all participants is a core principle in our region. It is the feeling of our Board and our office staff, that we must contribute to the fight against COVID-19 by adhering to local, state, and national guidelines regarding social distancing and mass gatherings. It is our hope that this decision, while difficult, will help to “flatten the curve” against a disease that has impacted so many.

Questions regarding refunds of club dues or other internal club logistics should be sent to club directors.

This is an incredibly difficult time for our world. Club volleyball pales in comparison to the very real hardships being faced by so many in our community and our country. We will get through this. Be kind to one another, check in on your family, talk to your neighbors, and look out for each other. If you know anybody who works in the medical field, or who is a first responder to this crisis or any other, take a moment to tell them “thanks” for their work and dedication in the fight against this outbreak. They have our heartfelt gratitude.

ERVA will continue to post the latest information on our website and social media channels, including a number of improvements and changes we are excited to be working on for the 2020-2021 season.

We look forward to seeing everybody back on the court in the very near future.

Thank you for your understanding, ERVA Board & Staff