Like Detroit and $40 entrees, the fate of “sand” or “beach” volleyball at the college level has been put under serious strain by the recent economic turmoil. Approved as an emerging sport by the NCAA earlier this year, sand volleyball is now in serious trouble. In an unprecedented step, a vote will be held in January on rescinding that approval. Schools are pondering the costs of adding a new sport—as well as the regional politics of scholarships and recruiting—and quite a few are balking.

A survey of some of the top collegiate coaches in the country reveals uncertainty on the future of sand volleyball. All of them acknowledge the appeal of the game, which has gained in popularity over the past few years through high-profile appearances in the Olympics and the success of the pro tour. But most also acknowledge that the cost of extra coaches and extra scholarships might be bit much to swallow in a tough climate where sports and staff are more likely to be axed than added.

Under the current guidelines established by the NCAA, sand would be played in the spring. Schools would be allowed to add a new coach and, eventually, six scholarships for sand players. Special attention has been paid to addressing the concern that coaches will use those sand scholarships to stockpile indoor players (if you play indoor, you count towards indoor scholarship numbers).

But even under the guidelines, there is still a healthy amount of concern. Schools that implement the sand game might have a competitive advantage when it comes to recruiting. Universities in colder climates will be forced to shoulder the financial burden of constructing indoor facilities. There is also the worry that some West Coast schools might eventually cut their indoor teams and keep sand, which costs significantly less to fund.

There are ideas out there for addressing these issues. One option would be to play both sand and indoor in the fall, forcing players to specialize and limiting the recruiting advantage of schools that host both sports. Another is to follow the “track model,” keeping the sport united and making it a two-season sport, with the fall season indoors and the spring on the sand. Under that system, the issue of extra coaches and scholarships would fall by the wayside.

Despite all the logistical hurdles, there is still underlying enthusiasm for welcoming sand volleyball into the NCAA fold. It’s hard not be charmed by the image of a top match, under the sun on warm spring day, enlivening a college campus. Unfortunately, this just might not be the right time.

 

 

Nebraska Coach John Cook’s preferred solution is the “Track Model,” in which volleyball remains one sport, with fall and spring seasons. “Playing on sand gives these kids’ bodies a break and also helps develop more well-rounded players, he says. “The indoor game has become increasingly specialized, which has hurt us on an international level.”

Colorado State’s Tom Hilbert’s preferred solution is to delay the implementation of sand volleyball for four or five years so the sport can be nurtured in the correct way. “It became evident, as soon as I started talking to 2011 recruits, that beach volleyball was going to be an issue, says he. “They’re going to choose places that are going to pick up beach. It’s not going to be optional for programs. If they want to be good, it’s going to be a necessity.”

Coach Russ Rose of Penn State doesn’t think sand volleyball is viable nationally in the current economic climate, but that West Coast schools with the resources should go ahead and offer it. “If somebody said to me, ‘We need to have sand volleyball. What’s your position on it?’ I would say the schools in California that have the perfect venues and opportunities to offer sand volleyball should go ahead and start that. It’s not different from lacrosse being a predominantly East Coast sport.”

Kathy DeBoer, executive director of the AVCA, hopes that schools will maintain sand volleyball as an emerging sport under the current guidelines, but delay implementation until 2011. “There has never before been a women’s sport that was killed because it was too popular. The anxiety with sand volleyball is that everyone is going to want to play it. So, if your school doesn’t have the money because of the economy or isn’t going to add it because of location, then they’re going to be at a disadvantage. But looking at the big picture—larger interest in volleyball, larger investment in volleyball—this is such a great opportunity.”