A quick reminder that the first Mini-Vollleyball Grand Prix takes place on  Saturday 19^th October at the Christie Miller Sports Centre in Melksham, SN12 6QU.  It starts at 12 noon and expected to finish around 4 p.m.  The cost of entering is £15  per team.

Teams are generally made up with three players, but two can play together or you can have a team of four where players rotate in. It is also allowed to include one younger boy in a girls team or one girl up to one year older in a boys team.  The weight of balls should be appropriate to the age group playing and the team with the youngest player will always select the weight of the lightweight balls if there is a dispute.

I would like to make the closing date for entries Saturday 12^th October at 6 p.m.

Again, anyone who would like to help run any of the events, this would be appreciated (I have had offers for  December and January). The entry fees have been put up to £15 per team for the Grand Prix, this is in order to try and break even with our costs.  I hope you agree that this still provides good value for the competitions.

Can I remind you that your club should either be registered through Volleyball England or via British Colleges Sports.

David Walrond dc.walrond@ntlworld.com

Rule changes – There is not a tremendous amount of changes that will worry anyone – the main changes are in regards to sanctions which I will clarify below with the other minor rectifications – I expect these new rules to apply for the forthcoming SW League season:

• Shirt numbers are now allowed to be from 1-20 in National League matches (please refer to SW or Local leagues for their expectation son shirt numbers)
• The assistant coach can now assume the coaches full responsibilities if they are absent from the game and this is approved by the first referee via the game captain – this includes if the coach has been expelled, gone to the toilet, left the sports hall etc  – However, the one exemption is if they are a player coach and they are unavailable to perform coaching duties because they are on the court.
• The libero  redesignation rules have been amended so that it becomes extraordinarily difficult and complicated to deny a redesignation – if you know of a team using two liberos (who are particularly accident prone or erratic in performance!) please make time to look up the full explanation of the rules in the FIVB rule book online
• The misconduct rules are now aligned with the Beach rules in that there is an additional stage in warning the team to make it more visible that they have reached an unacceptable sanction level - however if it is bad enough to warranty a penalty, expulsion or disqualification, please proceed the necessary sanctions. The principle of the ruling is to eradicate any issues before sanctions are imposed and its visible to everyone present.
• Time delay warning signals have changed to incorporate the warning with a yellow card over your watch and a red card to signify a penalty (loss of rally and a point to the opposition).
  If you require clarification on any of these rulings, please let me know and I’ll do my best to explain – the summary of misconduct and the cards used are as below:

1.          Warning: no sanction – Stage 1: verbal warning  – Stage 2: symbol Yellow card

2.         Penalty: sanction – symbol Red card

3.          Expulsion: sanction – symbol Red + Yellow cards jointly

4.         Disqualification: sanction – symbol Red + Yellow card separately

Keep Whistling!

Andrew “Po” Potter, RRA for SWVA and National Grade Referee

Eight teams took part in round one of this years Ladies Development Tournament, the action started at mid day with teams playing a quick set of pool matches to determine the afternoon match session.

The Match sessions took the form of two sets matches with teams collecting one match point per set. In the top pool, it was Chitas who came out top, beating Academy of Beach Sports to the round one title and hence picking up maximum points.

Third and forth places went to Taunton Juniors and Torexe Ladies.

In the second pool, all four team tied with three match points each after the six matches had finished. Final placings came down to points scored.

The event also provided the opportunity for development of officials, with help and advice on hand throughout the day to the referees and scorers It was very encouraging to see people taking to the whistle for the first time or returning after an extended break. Even more learnt how to fill in full match scoresheets with impressive results.

Round Two takes place on 26th Jan 2014, more photos available via the Photos Menu above.

In the 2013/14 season, VE referee commission have decided to change the uniform as well as the badge on the approved shirts. These are available at www.kitlocker.com/ve-referees-clothing

Whilst everyone is encouraged to get the new shirt complete with the new logo, VE understand the financial commitment involved for all registered referees.

Therefore, for the 2013/14 season only, VE expect all Grade 2 and above referees to have the new shirt and referees officiating Division 1 and Super 8 games must have the new shirts.

In the 2014/15 season all referees active in the NVL must use the new shirt.

The full uniform should be:

• VE Dark Blue Polo Shirt with VE referee badge
• Dark Blue trousers or Errea Magic tracksuit bottoms (Cargo pants, Jeans and other types of tracksuit bottoms are not acceptable)
• White socks
• Predominantly white shoes

Andrew Potter

A few photos from the Plymouth Marjon 25 hour Volleython at the Plymouth Life Centre. A selection of guest teams and players from around the region came down to challenge the Marjon Players.

The UK School Games is a multi sport Olympic style event complete with opening and closing ceremonies, an athletes village and has all of the home nations competing for medals. It was formed in 2007 as part of the celebration of being awarded the Olympics in London for 2012 and in line with Sainsburys Get Active campaign – this is now an integral part of the 2012 Legacy for sports.

This year there was a lot of representation from the SW in terms of Athletes as well as officials and volunteers. Representing England South Boys were Harry Jones, Sam Walrond and Sam Allen from Wessex and representing the England South Girls were Milly Smith, Lois Chitticks and Holly Merrifield from Wessex, Yasmin Kaashoek from Devizes, Anaya Evans from Academy of Beach Sports, Edith Waterman from Team Bath and Ellie Cranch from Plymouth Marjon Volleyball Club.

Suffice to say that both the boys and girls played fantastically well and claimed Gold in two thrilling finals at the English Institute of Sport in Sheffield. England South Girls beat England North 2-0, 25-14, 25-23. England South Boys beat England North 2-1, 21-25, 29-27, 15-12.

In the 7 years since the UKSG’s inception, there has never been an athlete from Plymouth represented in the volleyball at the UKSG - Ellie’s selection to represent England South U16 Girls has been an inspiration to all of her fellow club members and her success is fully deserved.

This was my fourth consecutive year officiating at the UK School Games and by far the most memorable. The event is a fantastic showcase of talent not just in the athletes but the volunteers and officials who make the games run smoothly. The volunteers in attendance from the SW region were Alex Stallworthy and Ray Berry as court managers, Nicky Stallworthy and Paul Locke as statisticians, Sarah Devon as an NTO, myself and Richard Parkes as referees, Serena Morten as Safeguarding Officer and Richard Morten as NTO Manager.

Well done to all involved in what was a fantastic advertisement for our sport.

Report by Andrew Potter – Chairman of PMVC and National Grade Referee

October 2013

• 04 Oct Closing date for SW Vets Entries – SW Vets Entry Form 2013
• 05 Oct SWVA Meeting
• 12 th SW Boys Training Riverside Exeter 11.00 to 16.00 Sign In
  
• 18-20 Oct Guernsey Open Tournament volleyballguernsey.com
• 19th October Junior Grand Prix, Christie Miller, Melksham, SN12 6QU; 12 to 4 p.m. Registration
  
• 19/20 Oct SW Level 2 Coaching Course (Part 2/2) - Details
• 26 th Oct SW Girls training – Burnham on Sea – 13:30 to 17:30 Sign In
  
• 26/27 Oct SW Level 1 Coaching course (Part 1/2) – Bedminster, Bristol
• 26/27/28 Oct UKCC Level 1 Coaching course (Part 1/2/3) Barnstaple- Petroc College Email denise@beachvolleyballinc.com

November 2013

• 2 Nov SW Level 1 Coaching Course (Part 2/2)   – Bedminster, Bristol
• 10th Nov SW Vets Tournament – SW Vets Entry Form 2013
• 16th November Junior Grand Prix, Hutton Moor, Weston-Super-Mare, BS22 8LY, 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Registration
  
• 16 th Nov SW Boys Training Riverside Exeter  11.00 to 16.00 Sign In
  
• 23 rd Nov SW Girls training – Burnham on Sea – 11:00 to 16:00 Sign In

DECEMBER 2013

•  Sunday 8th December, Junior Grand Prix, Hutton Moor, Weston-Super-Mare, BS22 8LY, 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Registration
  
• 14th Dec SW Boys Training Riverside Exeter 11:00 to 16: 00 Sign In
  
• 14th Dec SW Girls training – Burnham on Sea – 11:00 to 16:00 Sign In