Central Zone Invite: Convention Tourney In The Time Of COVID
We have entered the convention center portion of the club season here in Indiana, and there are a few things to know. After coming off of my Zoom call last night for all referees, we have a modified, but more…
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Continue ReadingWe have entered the convention center portion of the club season here in Indiana, and there are a few things to know. After coming off of my Zoom call last night for all referees, we have a modified, but more streamlined, method for running a major tournament. Things will look different, and I will take some time below to mention how. This guide should help in understanding what to look for in our high-end athletes, how to recruit them, and what to expect in each match.
Every Hall Has A Pod; Every Pod Has A Group Of Teams
To cut down on the “funneling” effect of one entrance to the Indiana Convention Center, all of the halls have a group of courts ranging from five to twelve playing at the same time. This prevents all of the spectators from entering only one entrance for all 78 courts. All of the four-team pools will be separated into two courts. All six matches in 0800 pool play will completed around noon, instead of the standard six hours that it usually takes. The next wave starts at 1230, and so on. Matches will be played all the way up through the 2000 hour.
For example, if you wanted to watch Taylor Lauri Taylor Lauri 5'8" | DS/L Hamilton Southeastern | 2021 State IN , the top uncommitted defensive specialist from Indiana from the ’21 class, you would see that her schedule is to play at 0800, on Court ICC 7B. This means she’ll be in Hall B of the Indiana Convention Center, on court 7 in 18 Open.
Every Four-Team Pool Is Played On Two Courts Simultaneously, And The Playing Teams Are Also The Work Teams
This is where it gets interesting. In order to minimize the sheer number of teams from different parts of the country congregating, two fan bases and two teams will be on each court, instead of the standard three (two playing, one working). Each playing team is responsible for providing two of the following: scorekeeper, score “flipper” and two line judges. Yes, you read that right. There will be no second official, meaning everything goes through the first official, including whistling for time outs, substitutions, and any other duties your second official might have.
Another way of looking at this—our top available setter in Indiana in the class of ’22 is Emily Weber Emily Weber 6'0" | S Hamilton Southeastern | 2022 State #139 Nation IN , who plays for Academy 18E Rage in 18 Open, will be playing against Elite VBTC 18 Black on Court 3A. Each of those teams must provide two adults to work two of the four positions listed above.
Not All Waves Start At The Same Time, And The Format From Previous CZ’s Is Different
In past Central Zone Invites, pools of three would play their three matches, and then repool to play in a separate three-team pool later in the day. In other words, 0800, 0900 and 1000 would play their matches, then repool to start again at 1400, 1500 and 1600. The same goes for the later start; 1100, 1200 and 1300 would repool at 1700, 1800 and 1900. Of course, this would cause massive delays and possible fatigue depending on how each team warmed up again for the later repool. In this year’s scenario, you could watch all three of Chloe Chicoine Chloe Chicoine 5'9" | OH McCutcheon | 2023 State #1 Nation IN ‘s matches (Prep Dig #1 recruit for the class of 2023) on Court 13C at 0800, 0900 and 1045, and leave the convention center by lunchtime. She would not play again until the following day. The next wave begins at 1230, then plays at 1330 and finally 1515. The final wave begins around 1600, with the other matches at 1700 and finally at approximately 1845. Some do start before and after the times listed above, so read your schedules carefully.
As Always, Be Patient
This pandemic has tested the patience of even the most die hard of volleyball fans, including this author. What I’ve said all along is this; WE ARE PLAYING. I am super thankful that we get to play high level ball in a part of the country central enough that we see multiple kids from multiple areas play. Be patient about the format, be vigilant with your own mask, and above all, enjoy the volleyball. You know I will. I’ll finally get to see Morgan Gaerte Morgan Gaerte 6'4" | OH Angola | 2024 State #26 Nation IN (’24, 6-4, MB) play live! She’ll be on Team Pineapple 15O Black, playing in the 15 Open division, on Court 42H at 0800 on Saturday.