Eustis, FL (PRWEB) March 07, 2012
Today, the Florida Region of USA Volleyball (Eustis, FL) and Exclusive Sports Marketing (Boca Raton, FL) announce a change in tour management along with the 2012 tour schedule for the USAV Dig the Beach Series. Florida Region has assumed all management responsibilities for the longest running beach tour in Florida and will now be the only region in USA Volleyball to manage a large multi-stop tour. USAV Dig the Beach region tour stops in 2012 will take place at four of the most desirable beaches in Florida:
April 14-15: Ft. Lauderdale Tour Kickoff, Ft. Lauderdale Beach
May 12-13: Clearwater Classic & ROX Jr. Series Kickoff, Clearwater Beach
June 2-3: Ft. Myers Open & ROX Jr. Series Tour Stop, Ft. Myers Beach
June 9-10: Siesta Key Classic & ROX Jr. Series Tour Stop, Siesta Key Beach
June 30-July 1: Ft. Lauderdale Classic & ROX Jr. Series Tour Stop, Ft. Lauderdale Beach
July 14-15: Siesta Key Open & ROX Jr. Series Tour Stop, Siesta Key Beach
July 28-29: Ft. Lauderdale Open & ROX Jr. Series Tour Championships, Ft. Lauderdale Beach
August 4-5: Clearwater Open & DTB Tour Championships, Clearwater Beach
Our longstanding partnership with the Florida Region to grow the beach game and the Dig the Beach tour has proven successful over the past four years, said Matt Lorraine, CEO of Exclusive Sports Marketing. The decision to transition all management responsibilities to the Florida Region this year was a logical step to ensure that the tour would continue to grow and thrive going forward. Since the Florida Region is part of the USA Volleyball family and has clearly demonstrated expertise in running beach events, I believe that their leadership and staff will take what we have built so far and will grow it through their affiliation with the red, white, and blue. Since 2012 is an Olympic year, the anticipated interest in the sport should be at an all time high and all signs point to another very successful year of beach volleyball in Florida. I look forward to seeing the tour expand its position in the beach volleyball landscape, under the direction of the Florida Region management. I invite any companies that would like to be affiliated with the longest running beach tour in Florida to contact me directly to discuss partnership options.
Competition for both adults and juniors will be offered during the tour. Adult divisions will take place on Saturday, with junior and adult co-ed divisions playing on Sunday. Additionally, the tour will once again offer two stops as junior qualifiers for the USAV Junior Beach Tour. Those two dates will be June 10 in Siesta Key Beach (Siesta Key Classic) and July 1 in Ft. Lauderdale Beach (Ft. Lauderdale Classic). Top finishing teams in the Junior Open Division at each event will earn a bid to the USAV Junior Beach Tour Championships at a location to be announced very soon. Adults playing in the Open Division will be eligible to earn points towards the USA Volleyball beach ranking system with top finishing teams on the tour earning a wild card bid to the US Open of Beach Volleyball. Additionally, the Florida Region will sanction affiliate beach events during the season based on the requirements set by the Beach Advisory Committee. Affiliate beach events will take place throughout the season and will be listed on the USAV Dig the Beach tour page of the Florida Region website.
Dave Williams, Managing Director for USA Beach Volleyball commented, This is exciting news for beach volleyball enthusiasts in Florida! The Florida Region has been a trail blazer with regards to promoting beach volleyball and growing the beach game. Their longstanding partnership with Exclusive Sports Marketing to create the largest tour in the US has helped Florida become a model that other USA Volleyball regions can adopt. This transition of management responsibilities is a logical step and should allow for greater participation across the state as Steve and his staff take the reigns. I am also pleased to announce that the top finishing Open teams from the USAV Dig the Beach tour will be awarded an at-large bid to the US Open of Beach Volleyball. This is great news for beach volleyball and I encourage athletes from across the US to make a trip to Florida and experience the USAV Dig the Beach series.
The Florida Region leadership anticipates several tour enhancements in 2012 to help the Dig the Beach Tour maintain its position as the premier beach series in Florida:
New 8U & 10U divisions on Sunday with smaller courts and lower nets
New 21U & 26U divisions on Sunday for college age athletes
New 45 & Over (Masters) divisions for adults on Saturday
Lower cost Open Division entry fees
Credentials & photo opportunities for Open/Pro Players
Enhanced center court layout and awards podium sponsored by ROX Volleyball
Open/Pro player music play lists on Saturday
How well do you know the pros trivia
USAV officials on both center courts all day on Saturday
DTB Tour apparel featuring the latest styles
Player highlights for Open/Pro players and up-and-coming junior athletes
Junior National Beach Tour Qualifiers for junior athletes (x2)
ROX Beach Girls on Saturday for raffles, photos, and prize giveaways
We are pleased to announce this news, commented Steve Bishop, Executive Director for the Florida Region of USA Volleyball and Tour Director for the USAV Dig the Beach Tour. Our plan is simple, we intend to take a well respected (and well attended) beach tour and make it even better. With the various tour enhancements that we plan to implement in 2012, the look and feel of the tour should be similar, but the logistics, infrastructure, and the program offerings will be uniquely improved. Our mandate is to create playing opportunities for players of all ages and our relationships with the local cities and respective sports commissions is strong. Our hope is that beach athletes will continue to support this tour and let us know how we are doing along the way. We will do our very best to take this tour to the next level, in all aspects. I look forward to a great 2012 beach season here in Florida!
Anticipated attendance at Dig the Beach tour events in 2012 is estimated to be between 300 to 350 teams at each event. Divisions offered will be Open, AAA, AA, A, BB, Masters, Corporate, and Co-ed for adults. Juniors will be able to play in age divisions ranging from 8u to 18u and a new seniors division will be available for both 21u & 26u athletes. The Florida Region office will also sanction affiliate and private events during the season to allow junior athletes to accumulate points at approximately 20 events towards the USAV Junior Regional Beach Rankings.
About Florida Region of USA Volleyball:
The Florida Region of USA Volleyball was established in 1982 to promote the sport of volleyball and to create competitive playing opportunities for volleyball enthusiasts of all ages throughout the State of Florida. The Florida Region is a member of USA Volleyball and currently serves over 11,000 adult and junior members. Indoor and outdoor program offerings are available for adults, juniors, coaches, and officials. The Florida Region of USA Volleyball headquarters is located in Eustis, FL. Additional information on the Florida Region can be found at: http://www.FloridaVolleyball.org.
About Exclusive Sports Marketing:
Exclusive Sports Marketing was originally founded in 1986 to promote and manage a small three-race triathlon program. Today, Exclusive Sports Marketing and the events the company promotes and manages, fill a very important sports niche role catering to all types of athletes and sporting fans. Events include triathlons, marathons, stand up paddle board competitions, and beach volley
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