Any schools playing sand volleyball?

[Dew]

I saw that the NCAA sanctioned sand volleyball for the spring. Are any of the C7 or Big East schools participating? I wonder how that impacts Title IX since it wouldn't technically require additional scholarships right? I'm all for us adding this for so many reasons.

[BillEsq]

I saw that the NCAA sanctioned sand volleyball for the spring. Are any of the C7 or Big East schools participating? I wonder how that impacts Title IX since it wouldn't technically require additional scholarships right? I'm all for us adding this for so many reasons.

I don't see many schools adding sand volleyball mainly because it does not do much to assist in title IX requirements. I have also read that many AD's share this opinion. I believe all the C7+5 schools already sponsor indoor volleyball. That leads the additional scholarships to be added at 4 (potentially increasing to 6) Title IX like it or not is a quota affirmative action program meaning that scholarships have to match the overall percentages of the school population. No AD is going to add a non-rev fringe sport unless its scholarships balance out another men's sport. With 4 scholarships Sand Volleyball is essentially useless.

Not to mention NCAA sand volleyball is pretty expensive- you actually need to play on a special type of sand and have separate facilities (we are not talking about playing at the sand pits by the dorms). Also with so few schools sponsoring it the travel expenses would be another negative.

Really with the structure of title IX i don't know why the NCAA even offers such sports its really impractical to see the sport take off. However, I assure you one of the heads of the NCAA committee on emerging women's sports is the AD for DePaul... and well just ask a DePaul fan on her expertise in running sports.

[yorost]

Look at the list of 2012 participating schools,6 in Florida and 4 in Los Angeles out of 15 total. It's not that bad of an add assuming it already had some traction in two hot spots. If you they have a couple of close knit groups that take it seriously then great for them.

[Eight Legger]

I am hopeful that women's oil wrestling will become a sanctioned NCAA sport soon. Keep me posted if you hear anything about this.

[ArmyVet]

I am hopeful that women's oil wrestling will become a sanctioned NCAA sport soon. Keep me posted if you hear anything about this.

funny. almost spit pop on my keyboard there.

[xu95]

I would go to every game.

[Bluejay]

I saw that the NCAA sanctioned sand volleyball for the spring. Are any of the C7 or Big East schools participating? I wonder how that impacts Title IX since it wouldn't technically require additional scholarships right? I'm all for us adding this for so many reasons.

I don't see many schools adding sand volleyball mainly because it does not do much to assist in title IX requirements. I have also read that many AD's share this opinion. I believe all the C7+5 schools already sponsor indoor volleyball. That leads the additional scholarships to be added at 4 (potentially increasing to 6) Title IX like it or not is a quota affirmative action program meaning that scholarships have to match the overall percentages of the school population. No AD is going to add a non-rev fringe sport unless its scholarships balance out another men's sport. With 4 scholarships Sand Volleyball is essentially useless.

Not to mention NCAA sand volleyball is pretty expensive- you actually need to play on a special type of sand and have separate facilities (we are not talking about playing at the sand pits by the dorms). Also with so few schools sponsoring it the travel expenses would be another negative.

Really with the structure of title IX i don't know why the NCAA even offers such sports its really impractical to see the sport take off. However, I assure you one of the heads of the NCAA committee on emerging women's sports is the AD for DePaul... and well just ask a DePaul fan on her expertise in running sports.

I don't know anything about the type of sand required, but outside of travel, I wouldn't think it would be that expensive. It doesn't take a lot of real estate to carve out a court or two and courtside bleachers are probably pretty affordable. The lion's share of the costs, scholarships, are already accounted for if you have indoor volleyball. Travel would certainly be an issue until more schools sponsor the sport.

For obvious reasons, I think this sport could end up extremely popular and actually be revenue positive (especially with the scholarships already accounted for as noted above). If that's the case, schools will offer it. One thing is for certain - If there's money to be made, they'll be all over it.

If it takes off, I imagine there might be some issues that arise on certain campuses about feminism and exploitation from left wing groups. That alone might keep some schools from giving it a go.

[BillEsq]

I don't think people really understand how expensive it is to maintain a sand volleyball court. Once again games are not played on the neglected sand pits that you find in front a a dorm. And special sand is used. A quick view on how much one costs is in this link... http://www.volleyballusa.com/How-To-Bui ... Court.html , remember this is not for a competition court but just a nice one that you build yourself. Notice Sand estimates are not given, but the article does identify why you need special sand and that you need 100 tons of it, sand also requires maintenance especially in colder wetter climates.

As far as the special type of sand (no you can't get this sand at Home Depot or Lowes) competition sand volley ball sand is regulated by the international volleyball association. (feel free to look it up, i was going to find a link to it but ended up clicking a chris chase article and and am now not feeling too well) and yes you must maintain it. It's a pain in the but to maintain a sand volleyball court they need daily maintenance, its like having a pool only sand volleyball courts actually cost more to put in and almost as much if not more to maintain.

Lets not kid ourselves sand volleyball is not a revenue producing sport. it will cost 4 scholarships, travel, coaches, insurance, facility maintenance, for essentially 0 benefit to the school. 4 women's scholarships does not allow you to add any men's programs.

And that brings us to title IX sand volleyball does nothing to assist an AD. In adding programs that could add some revenue and will do nothing but suck up costs. If you want to see girls in swimsuits look to womens water polo... you get more scholarships and you can use the pool that is already on campus. it also gives you more scholarships to work with and is already a confirmed NCAA sport... sand volleyball is a emerging sport there is no guarantee that it will not be dropped by the NCAA, in fact its being dropped is likely. So you build this nice new sand volleyball court. bring in 100 plus tons of sand for... nothing....

That said i'm sure the intramural sports would love it.