2017-18 BIG WEST CONFERENCE MANUAL SECTION 9 WOMEN S BEACH VOLLEYBALL REGULATIONS February 2018 TABLE OF CONTENTS SECTION I Big West Conference Bylaws Awards... 9-2 All-Conference Teams/Selection... 9-2 Players of the Week... 9-2 Academic All-Conference... 9-2 Championship Awards... 9-2 Coaches Meetings... 9-2 Conference Championship... 9-3 Air Quality Protocol... 9-3 Awards... 9-3 Court Assignments... 9-3 Expenses... 9-3 Games Committee... 9-3 Lineups/Participants... 9-3 Lodging... 9-4 NCAA Automatic Qualification... 9-4 Official Ball... 9-4 Officials... 9-4 Participant Gifts... 9-4 Practice... 9-4 Scoring... 9-4 Seeding... 9-4 Sports Medicine... 9-4 Tournament Schedule... 9-5 Warmup Procedures... 9-5 Conference Signage... 9-5 Suspended Coaches... 9-5 Uniforms... 9-6 Unsportsmanlike Conduct and Penalties... 9-7 APPENDICES 1-Air Quality Protocol... 9-8 2-Heat Index... 9-9 3-Lineup Protocol..9-10 SECTION II Championship Host Guidelines Host Timeline... 9-10 SECTION III 2018 Big West Conference Beach Volleyball Championship Championship Timeline... 9-11 Championship Schedule... 9-11 Venue Location... 9-11 Tournament Staff... 9-12 Lodging... 9-12 Section 9-1 Beach Volleyball
9.1 Awards All-Conference 9.1.1 The Conference coaches shall select recipients for the All-Conference first and and second teams, as well as the Pairs Team of the Year and Coach of the Year. 9.1.2 Coaches shall not vote for themselves or for their own student-athletes for any of the awards except for Pairs Team of the Year and Freshman of the Year. 9.1.3 Student-athletes named to an All-Conference first team shall be awarded a plaque from the Conference. Plaques shall be awarded to individuals named Pairs Team of the Year, Freshman of the Year, and Coach of the Year. 9.1.4 The All-Conference teams shall consist of 12 players on the first team, including five pairs and the Pairs Team of the Year. The second team shall consist of 10 players. 9.1.5 Student-athletes will be named honorable mention if they receive votes on two or more ballots but are not named to the first or second team. They shall be awarded a certificate from the Conference. All-Conference Team Selections 9.1.6 The following process shall be used in selecting the All-Conference team: 1. Coaches may nominate an unlimited number of players for Conference awards. 2. The Conference Office shall distribute to the coaches a voting ballot containing all nominations and statistics. 3. The voting ballot shall be emailed to the Conference Office by no later than noon PST the Monday following the Big West Championship. 4. The Pairs Team of the Year, Freshman of the Year and Coach of the Year shall be write-in votes. Players of the Week 9.1.7 The Conference shall select a Pairs Team of the Week" using the following process: Sports Information personnel shall submit nominations by no later than 10:00 a.m. PT every Monday. Institutional votes must be recorded by no later than noon PT Monday. A sports information director may not vote for his/her own nominees. In case of a tie, Conference Office personnel may also vote. A sports information director who misses the voting deadline shall incur a letter of admonishment from the Commissioner with a copy to the director of athletics. Academic All-Conference 9.1.8 The Conference shall sponsor annual Academic All-Conference teams in each Conference sport. Student-athletes shall be named to the Academic All- Conference Teams for their respective sports if the following standards are met: 1. Student-athlete must carry a minimum 3.00 cumulative institutional grade point average (no rounding); 2. Student-athlete must have completed one full academic year at the member institution prior to the season for which the award is being received (at least a sophomore academically); 3. Student-athlete must have competed in at least 50 percent of the institution's contests in the student-athlete's respective sport. Academic All-Conference forms shall be supplied to each institution and a submission date shall be determined by the Conference Office. All students so honored shall receive a certificate appropriate for framing, as well as recognition in the form of a media release. Championship Awards 9.1.9 The Conference Championship team shall receive a trophy. The Conference Championship team shall also receive 14 individual medallions (for studentathletes only) and 16 Champions shirts, with the opportunity to purchase Section 9-2 Beach Volleyball
additional medallions and shirts. The two student-athletes on the winning team in the pairs competition will each receive a trophy. 9.2 Coaches Meetings Head coaches are required to participate in the coaches' teleconference call that is hosted in conjunction with the Big West Beach Volleyball Championship. Lineup confirmation will take place on this call. An annual business meeting of the women's beach volleyball coaches shall also be conducted via a telephone conference call following the season if issues warrant. The Big West Council Liaison for beach volleyball, in consultation with the Commissioner, shall determine if a meeting is to be scheduled. 9.2.1 All excused absences must be granted by the Conference Office prior to the meeting. In the event of an excused absence or a head coach vacancy, the institution must be represented by an athletics department staff member. All substitutes must be approved in advance by the Conference Office. 9.2.2 Institutions that are represented by an assistant coach, rather than the head coach (unless he or she is excused per 9.2.1), lose their voting privileges at the meeting of head coaches. 9.2.3 Institutions that are either not represented or do not receive prior approval for a head coach s absence at a Conference meeting are subject to an institutional private reprimand and a $500 penalty to be paid to the Conference Office. 9.3 Conference Championship The Conference Beach Volleyball Championship shall take place on dates set by the Conference Office in consultation annually with the host venue. A one-day pairs championship shall also be conducted on the day after the conclusion of the team Championship with the number of teams participating dependent on the court availability at the championship site. (Revised: 12/8/16) Air Quality Protocol 9.3.1 For the Big West Conference's policy on cancellation or postponement of conference events due to poor air quality, see Appendix 1. Awards 9.3.2 In a presentation following the championship match, the winning team shall receive a team trophy, individual medallions (competing student- athletes only) and championship tee shirts. The championship team shall have the opportunity to purchase additional medallions and championship tee shirts. An awards presentation will also take place following the pairs competition, with the student-athletes on the winning pair each receiving a trophy. Court Assignments 9.3.3 Each dual match will be allotted three to five courts. Courts shall be preassigned by the Conference Office. Expenses 9.3.4 There are no entry fees for the Big West Beach Volleyball Championship. All event net expenses and revenue shall be divided equally among the member institutions participating in the championship. Actual transportation costs up to the budgeted maximum will be included to determine net expenses. The budgeted maximum will be communicated to each institution s business manager. Each participating institution is responsible for any lodging and per diem expenses. Games Committee 9.3.5 The Games Committee shall include the head official, one representative of the Conference Office (who will serve as chair), and the sport liaison to Big West Council. Section 9-3 Beach Volleyball
Lineups/Participants 9.3.6 Each coach must submit his/her team's lineup for the conference Championship to the Conference Office by 9:00 a.m. (PT) the Monday before the Championship. The Conference Office will then send all lineups out to all head coaches by 5:00 p.m. that day. A telephone conference call shall take place on the Tuesday prior to the Championship. All lineups are subject to challenge from other coaches on the conference call. Votes related to lineup challenges shall be conducted via roll call. Lineup challenges may be accepted during the Championship if new information (e.g., injury update) becomes available. Once the Championship begins, substitutes will be permitted in accordance with NCAA Championship rules. For more details on lineup protocol, see Appendix 3. 9.3.6.1 Failure to comply with the lineup deadline in 9.3.6 will result in a $100 penalty to be paid to the Conference Office. Lodging 9.3.7 The host institution shall work with the Conference Office to secure a room block at a local hotel for traveling teams. Information on the hotel for this year's Championship shall be sent out no later than six months before the Championship. NCAA Automatic Qualification 9.3.8 If the NCAA grants Automatic Qualification to the Big West, the winner of the Conference Beach Volleyball Tournament shall be the Conference's automatic qualifier to the NCAA Championship. In the event the championship cannot be played, the No. 1 seed shall be the Conference's automatic qualifier to the NCAA Championship. In the event a postseason Conference Beach Volleyball Championship cannot be concluded, the highest remaining seed shall be the automatic qualifier. Official Ball 9.3.9 The official ball for the Big West Conference Tournament is currently the Wilson Official Beach. The Conference Office will supply balls for the tournament through Wilson. Officials 9.3.10 A Championship referee must be appointed for the Big West Beach Volleyball Championship. One official shall be assigned to each court. Participant Gifts 9.3.11 The Conference Office will provide each team 16 participant gifts (14 for competing student-athletes and two for coaches). Practice 9.3.12 Each team will receive one hour of practice the day before the tournament starts. The host Championship director, in consultation with the Conference Office, will organize practice times for participating teams. Scoring 9.3.13 The Conference Championship shall be played using a team dual match format, consisting of five best-of-three set pairs matches. 9.3.14 Each pairs match shall be decided by the winner of two out of three sets. Seeding 9.3.15 The Conference Championship shall be seeded by the Conference Office, which will use the following criteria: head-to-head results, common opponents, AVCA national poll, overall records. Sports Medicine 9.3.16 The host institution of the Big West Beach Volleyball Championship must have at least one certified athletic trainer on site. The host is not required to provide a team physician. Participating teams are not required to bring any athletic training personnel. Section 9-4 Beach Volleyball
9.3.16.1 The NCAA Heat Index shall be used to determine the safe playing conditions of a conference championship. When the Heat Index reaches 90, conditions are of a concern and the Games Committee and host certified athletic trainer will confer. When the Heat Index reaches 105, the event is subject to delay, postponement or cancellation by the Games Committee and host ATC. A heat index chart may be found in Appendix 2. Tournament Schedule 9.3.17 The schedule for the Big West Beach Volleyball Championship shall be determined by the Conference Office and sent to the participating institutions one month prior to the Championship. 9.3.18 The Championship shall be a double-elimination dual-match tournament including all six teams. Warm-up Procedures 9.3.20 NCAA protocol shall be followed for warm-ups. 9.4 Conference Signage Each member institution is required to display the Conference logo in its facility. 9.5 Suspended Coaches A coach who has been suspended from a match by the Big West Conference, the NCAA or as a result of a violation of Playing Rules shall not be within sight and sound of the match. Additionally, a suspended coach shall be precluded from communicating with any team personnel or officials, from participating in any official pre-game activities at the site of the contest directly preceding the competition and from being in the facility once pre-game activities have started through the end of the contest. 9.6 Uniforms 9.6.1 All team members shall wear uniforms that prominently display the Big West logo. A single competition exemption of the rule shall be permitted annually for special occasion uniforms. 9.6.1.1 Failure to adhere to the stipulation in 9.6.1 shall result in a $250 fine. An additional fine shall be levied if conference logos are not displayed at the next available opportunity. 9.7 Unsportsmanlike Conduct and Subsequent Penalties All student-athletes and coaches participating in Big West Conference sports are required to read and sign a letter of sportsmanship prior to the start of their respective seasons. Each member institution must submit a certification letter for each Conference sport to the Conference Office that states all student-athletes have signed the letter. 9.7.1 Acts of unsportsmanlike conduct shall include, but not be limited to: 1. Striking or physically abusing an official, opposing coach, or player. 2. Intentionally inciting participants or spectators to violent or abusive action. 3. Using obscene gestures or profane or unduly provocative language or action toward officials, opponents, or spectators. 4. Being critical publicly of any game official, Conference personnel, another university, or its personnel. Any person who, after an investigation by the Conference Office, is found to have committed one of the listed acts or any other act of unsportsmanlike conduct, shall be subject to appropriate penalty. The penalties may include a private or public reprimand, ejection from the contest, and/or suspension for one or more contests. 9.7.2 Bench personnel, other than the head coach, are prohibited from leaving the confines of the bench area when a fight may break out or has broken out on the Section 9-5 Beach Volleyball
court. Persons violating this rule shall be disqualified from participating in the contest and shall go to the team s locker room until the contest has ended. 9.7.3 Under no condition may a player, coach, or other team bench personnel proceed into any area where spectators are present to retaliate for, or to initiate, any verbal or physical abuse. Bench personnel may not throw objects into areas containing spectators. Violations will result in the offenders' disqualification from participating and the offenders must go to the team's locker room until the contest has ended. 9.7.4 The decision of the commissioner is binding on the parties unless it is overruled by an appeal to the Conference Executive Committee. The decision of the Conference Executive Committee is binding on the parties unless it is overruled by an appeal to the Board of Directors. Section 9-6 Beach Volleyball
APPENDIX 1 - Air Quality Protocol Chain of Command The decision to cancel, postpone or suspend a Big West Conference Championship intercollegiate athletic activity in the event of poor air quality will be made by the Big West Conference Games Committee and the host Certified Athletic Trainer present at the practice or competition site. Criteria For Cancellation / Postponement of Activities Due to Poor Air Quality- The policy for Big West Conference Championship events included in each handbook will be as follows: 1. Big West Conference Games Committee and host ATC will inform each team s coach and game official(s) / umpire(s) of the conference policy with regards to poor air quality during the pre-event meeting and will provide condition updates throughout the championship. 2. The Big West Conference Games Committee and host Certified Athletic Trainer will monitor one or more of the following for up to date Air Quality Index (AQI) readings and statistics. www.airnow.gov National Weather Service and/or National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) local weather radar (www.noaa.gov or www.weather.com); 3. The Big West Conference Games Committee and host ATC will utilize the following table as a guideline with regards to the Air Quality Index and recommendations for activity restrictions. Air Quality Index (AQI) 0-50 51-100 101 150 150 200 201 300 > 300 Color Description Practice/Competition Restriction Recommendations Green Yellow Orange Red Purple Maroon Good Moderate Unhealthy for sensitive groups Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Air quality is satisfactory and air pollution poses little or no risk. Air quality is acceptable, however studentathletes with respiratory illnesses should be closely monitored. Those student-athletes with respiratory illnesses should be removed from outside activity. Those student-athletes with respiratory illnesses should be removed from outside activity. All other student-athletes should be closely monitored. ALL student-athletes should be removed from outside activity. ALL student-athletes should be removed from outside activity. 4. Big West Conference Games Committee and host ATC will continually update the following people with regards to the air quality and recommendations for outside activity. Game officials / umpires (if applicable); and Participating Team Head Coaches and Athletic Trainers (if applicable) 5. If the Host Institution has cancelled classes at the university due to poor air quality, the Big West Conference Games Committee and host Certified Athletic Trainer will consider this Section 9-7 Beach Volleyball
strongly when recommending the cancellation, postponement or suspension of all games, practices, and other activities. 6. Safety decisions made on site by the Big West Conference Games Committee and the host Certified Athletic Trainer are not subject to appeal. The Air Quality Index (AQI) The Air Quality Index (AQI) is an index for reporting daily air quality. It tells how clean or polluted outdoor air is, and what associated health effects might be a concern. The AQI focuses on health effects that may be experienced within a few hours or days after breathing polluted air. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) calculates the AQI for five major air pollutants regulated by the Clean Air Act: ground-level ozone, particle pollution (also known as particulate matter), carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, and nitrogen dioxide. For each of these pollutants, EPA has established national air quality standards to protect public health. How the Air Quality Index (AQI) Works Think of the AQI as a yardstick that runs from 0 to 500. The higher the AQI value, the greater the level of air pollution and the greater the health-concern. For example, an AQI value of 50 represents good air quality with little potential to affect public health, while an AQI value over 200 represents very unhealthy air quality. An AQI value of 100 generally corresponds to the national air quality standard for the pollutant, which is the level EPA has set to protect public health. AQI values below 100 are generally thought of as satisfactory. When AQI values are above 100, air quality is considered to be unhealthy - at first for certain sensitive groups of people, then for everyone as AQI values get higher. Source: www.airnow.gov Section 9-8 Beach Volleyball
APPENDIX 2 - Heat Index Heat Index General Effect of Heat Index on People in Higher Risk Groups 80 to 89 - Caution Fatigue possible with prolonged exposure and/or physical activity. 90 to 104 - Sunstroke, heat cramps, and heat exhaustion possible with prolonged exposure Extreme Caution and/or physical activity. 105 to 129 - Danger Sunstroke, heat cramps or heat exhaustion likely, and heatstroke possible with prolonged exposure and/or physical activity. Heat/sunstroke highly likely with continued exposure. 130 or higher - Extreme Danger Relative Humidity (in percent) 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 60 65 70 75 80 85 90 95 100 140 125 135 120 128 130 117 122 131 125 111 116 123 131 141 120 107 111 116 123 130 139 148 Air 115 103 107 111 115 120 127 135 143 151 Temp 110 99 102 105 108 112 117 123 130 137 143 150 (in F) 105 95 97 100 102 105 109 113 118 123 129 135 142 149 100 91 93 95 97 99 101 104 107 110 115 120 126 132 138 144 95 87 88 90 91 93 94 96 98 101 104 107 110 114 119 12411130 136 90 83 84 85 86 87 88 90 91 93 95 96 98 100 102 106 109 113 117 122 85 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 93 95 97 99 102 105 108 80 73 74 75 76 77 77 78 79 79 80 81 81 82 83 85 86 86 87 88 89 91 75 69 69 70 71 72 72 73 73 74 74 75 75 76 76 77 77 78 78 79 79 80 70 64 64 65 65 66 66 67 67 68 68 69 69 70 70 70 70 71 71 71 71 72 Section 9-9 Beach Volleyball
APPENDIX 3 Lineup Protocol 1. Lineups shall always be in order of strength, with the best pair playing at No. 1, the second best at No. 2, and so on through all positions. During the season, pairs may be moved up or down no more than one position from match to match, and the lineup must still stay in order of strength. 2. Coaches must submit lineups for the Big West Championship by 9am PT on Monday before the championship. The Conference Office will email all lineups to all head coaches by 5pm that day. 3. On the organizational conference call on Tuesday morning, the submitted lineups will be reviewed and are subject to challenge from other coaches on the call. To challenge a lineup, a coach must make a motion stating the particular change that he/she believes needs to take place. If the motion is seconded by another coach, a roll call vote of all six coaches will be conducted. The change will be made if the motion passes. 4. Once the lineups for the championship have been reviewed and approved, changes over the duration of the tournament may be made only for injury/illness. In this case, a coach may remove a student-athlete from a pair and make a direct line substitution. The lineup must still be in order of strength, and will be determined using the following formula: Replaced player's pairs number (1, 2, 3, 4 or 5) + 6. Total sum is divided by 2, and the result is the number of the revised pair. Fractions will be rounded down to the nearest whole number, and other pairs will move up as necessary. NOTE: The formula produces the following results: A No. 1 pair with a replacement player moves to No. 3. A No. 2 pair with a replacement player moves to No. 4. A No. 3 pair with a replacement player moves to No. 4. A No. 4 pair with a replacement player moves to No. 5. 5. If a pair is removed from the lineup, an alternate pair shall be inserted into the No. 5 position and all pairs behind the removed pair must move up one position. 6. The Games Committee will review any changes and may ask to see a team's past lineups if there is any question regarding order of strength. 7. Any lineup changes during the Big West Tournament must be submitted to the Games Committee at least 30 minutes prior to a team's scheduled match. Section 9-10 Beach Volleyball
SECTION II Championship Host Guidelines Host Timeline 9 months prior to Championship In consultation with Conference Office, secure team hotel. At least 6 weeks prior Receive host/budget form from Conference Office. 4 weeks prior Submit to Conference Office completed host/budget form. 1 week prior Submit completed tournament handbook to Conference Office. Receive game balls from Wilson. Monday prior Receive final seeds and bracket from Conference Office. Tuesday prior Organizational conference call with Conference Office and participating teams; host should confirm the following: Facility information Parking for teams and fans, team areas Provisions for teams towels, water, shade for participating and nonparticipating student-athletes Sports medicine staffing, hours Practice times; balls provided Day before tournament Have game facility available to Conference Office staff for decorating (banners, etc.). Section 9-11 Beach Volleyball
SECTION III 2018 Big West Conference Beach Volleyball Championship Championship Timeline 1 month prior Participant shirt sizes due to Conference Office 2 weeks prior Receive lineup form from Conference Office Receive All-Conference Nominations Form from Conference Office 1 week prior Lineup due by 12pm PT to Conference Office Receive all teams' lineups from Conference Office by 5pm PT All-Conference Nominations Form due to Conference Office 2 days prior Receive brackets/seeds/championship schedule/court assignments from Conference Office Organizational conference call Receive All-Conference ballots from Conference Office 2018 Big West Beach Volleyball Tournament Schedule Thursday, April 26 Noon 6 pm Assigned practice times on competition courts Friday, April 27 Team Championship 10:00 am Match 1 - No. 4 v. No. 5 11:00 am Match 2 - No. 2 v. No. 3 Noon Match 3 - No. 1 v. Match 1 Winner 1:00 pm Match 4 - No. 2 v. Match 2 Winner 2:00 pm Match 5 - Match 2 Loser v. Match 3 Loser 3:00 pm Match 6 - Match 1 Loser v. Match 4 Loser Saturday, April 28 Team Championship 10:00 am Match 7 - Match 3 Winner v. Match 4 Winner 11:00 am Match 8 - Match 5 Winner v. Match 6 Winner Noon Match 9 - Match 7 Loser v. Match 8 Winner 1:00 pm Match 10 Match 7 Winner v. Match 9 Winner 2:00 pm Match 11 Match 10 Winner v. Match 10 Loser (if necessary) Sunday, April 29 Pairs Championship (Times TBA) Match 1 - #1 v. #16 Match 2 - #8 v. #9 Match 3 - #4 v. #13 Match 4 - #5 v. #12 Match 5 - #2 v. #15 Match 6 - #7 v. #10 Match 7 - #3 v. #14 Match 8 - #6 v. #11 Match 9 - Quarterfinals: Match 1 Winner v. Match 2 Winner Match 10 - Quarterfinals: Match 3 Winner v. Match 4 Winner Match 11 - Quarterfinals: Match 5 Winner v. Match 6 Winner Section 9-12 Beach Volleyball
Match 12 - Quarterfinals: Match 7 Winner v. Match 8 Winner Match 13 - Semifinals: Match 9 Winner v. Match 10 Winner Match 14 - Semifinals: Match 11 Winner v. Match 12 Winner Match 15 - Championship: Match 13 Winner v. Match 14 Winner 2 days following tournament All-Conference ballots due to Conference Office Courts Location: TBA Tournament Staff Big West Liaison: Alex Penewell (949) 261-2525 x.118 (o) Asst. Director, Institutional Services (949) 933-9362 (c) apenewell@bigwest.org Council Liaison Lois Manin (808) 956-4499 Assistant Athletics Director, UH manin@hawaii.edu Head Officials: Head Athletic Trainer: Games Committee: Suzanne Lowery Team Championship Rick Olmstead Pairs Championship TBA Alex Penewell (Chair), Lois Manin, Suzanne Lowery (for Team Championship), Rick Olmstead (for Pairs Championship) Lodging A select number of rooms are blocked for teams at the Holiday Inn Resort Waikiki Beachcomber. Teams have been asked to send rooming lists to the hotel by January 31, 2018. Teams must pay their lodging expenses upon checkout. Section 9-13 Beach Volleyball
Tournament Staff Big West Liaisons: Jody McRoberts (949) 261-2525 x.114 (o) Senior Associate Commissioner (949) 202-9997 (c) jmcroberts@bigwest.org Alex Penewell (949) 261-2525 x.118 (o) Asst. Director of Institutional Services (949) 933-9362 (c) apenewell@bigwest.org Council Liaison Lois Manin (808) 956-6520 (o) Asst. Athletics Director/SWA (808) 554-0440 (c) Event Manager Head Athletic Trainer: Games Committee: TBA TBA Alex Penewell Big West Staff Lois Manin Big West Council Liaison Suzanne Lowery Head Official (Team Championship) Rick Olmstead Head Official (Pairs Championship) Lodging Rooms have been blocked for all visiting teams at the following property: Holiday Inn Resort Waikiki Beachcomber 2300 Kalakaua Avenue Honolulu HI 96815 Rate: $160 Contact: Lauren Yamamoto, lauren.yamamoto@hibeachcomber.com, 808-931-3018 Section 9-14 Beach Volleyball