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for March 2001 |
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for March 2001 |
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Ron Sommer Tournament Scheduling Chair and Middle River VBC Sponsor It is well known to all of us that the Chesapeake Region, a member of United States of America Volleyball (USAV), is a growing and prosperous hot bed of volleyball enthusiasm. But, did you know that the Chesapeake Region is a direct descendent of the Old Region 3 in the former United States Volleyball Association (USVBA)? In those days, the “staff” of Region 3 was Joe Sharpless and his wife Nancy. Joe was Commissioner, President, Referee Assignor, Tournament Coordinator, Registrar, Eligibility Chair, Digs Editor, and anything else he needed to be to get the job done. When I joined the USVBA in 1970, Region 3 encompassed the states of Pennsylvania (nearly as far west as Pittsburgh), Delaware, Maryland (as far west as Cumberland), and Virginia. In those days, not only did you have to love volleyball, but you had to love to travel as well! Tournaments were held weekly, as is the case today, but it was no 15 minute drive to a playing site. The season was a little longer then, beginning the first week in December and ending with the Regional Championship in middle or late April or early May. Our season’s playing schedule was something, only varying depending on how many tournaments your team was accepted into. Normally, however, our “Northern swing” took us to Tunkhannock, Scranton, Allentown, Pottsville, York, and Haverton, Pennsylvania. Our “Southern swing” took us to Virginia Beach, Richmond, Charlottesville, Harrisonburg, and Lynchburg, Virginia. Our “in-house swing” took us to Newark and Dover in Delaware, and Baltimore and the University of Maryland in Maryland. And, if you could fit it in, you made the trip to New York City to play in the “Big Apple Tournament” or to Camden, New Jersey for the “Pop Idell.” We spent so much time with our teammates that they became family, and the friendships made then are still solid today. This is why some of us “old-timers” smile when we hear players complaining about a one-hour trip to a playing site. To us, one hour was a rest stop break!  Getting an invite and an acceptance into a tournament was also quite different. There were no Division Coordinators to handle invitations and acceptances–the tournament host did it all, to include setting up the pools. It came to be expected that the host team would be placed in the easiest pool. Talk about some “homer” playing schedules!! And, if you did not host a tournament and accept other teams that also hosted tournaments, you did not get invited to theirs. It was a true “good old boys” network. To cap a marvelous season, the Regional Championship was Open. I didn’t say Championships, I said Championship. Our Regional tournament was a two-day, double elimination event with teams from all divisions competing. I will never forget our first appearance at the Regional Championship. It was held in Williamsburg, Virginia, and our first two matches were against AA teams. We were a B team running a “Rec” 4-2 with the setter in the middle. I looked across the net and saw the biggest middles I have ever seen in my life! It was a long, long—but quick match, depending on which side of the net you were on! We played four games and went home. In those days, you also knew where teams were from. Since there were not that many USVBA teams in a community, the team usually took the community’s name. So, you played teams called Scranton, Lynchburg, Laurel, and Frederick. You didn’t need a Rand McNally Road Atlas to find out who was the “team with the least distance to travel” in assigning work teams for the playoffs. But, the Region had to change over the years to meet the needs and wishes of the players. First, Pennsylvania became its own Region (Keystone), followed by Virginia (Old Dominion). The smaller Regions made traveling to tournaments less of a hassle, but a lot of old rivalries were lost. The one I miss the most was Virginia Beach’s two-day tournament and Saturday night party. Play on Saturday—party Saturday night. Party Saturday night and play on Sunday. It didn’t matter. The important thing was the party! Although I sometimes wax nostalgic for the old days, the Region and volleyball is better now. In my opinion, the greatest change for the best was the formation of the Tournament Scheduling Program, which brought fairness and parity to the playing scene. As we move into the 21st Century, expect great things and programs from the Chesapeake Region, but never forget our roots. Region 3 was a great Region and led us to where we are today. ron.sommer@chrva.org |
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