NOTE FROM THE CAROLINA REGION:
December 17, 2020 Update: The Carolina Region has made the difficult and disappointing decision to cancel all one-day CR-sanctioned tournaments in January, 2021 on our regular season schedule. The Region received notice recently that several large facilities that had already requested to host would not be able to hold events in January after all. The state’s recent tightening of indoor gathering restrictions also played a large role in this decision. The safety of all our participants must come first, and we felt it was in the best interest of our state and community to cancel our one day events. The City of Oaks is still currently scheduled to be held. Any updates about that event will come from their Tournament Administration (and we will edit our schedule with any future updates). The schedule will be updated with the cancellation notices shortly. Teams will also be notified today, and we will begin processing refunds over the next couple weeks. We are hopeful that the release of a vaccine will see restrictions begin to ease and that we will be able to hold the rest of the scheduled events. We will also discuss whether to add additional playing opportunities after March. We will announce any of those opportunities at a later time.
September 30 Update: In response to the NC Governor’s latest Executive Order on Sept 29 to move to a Phase 3 re-opening plan on Oct 2 5 pm, the Carolina Region will continue sanctioning indoor activities for clubs that agree to meet the Executive Order’s requirement of maximum 30% capacity indoors as well as all other safety recommendations of the CDC and USAV Return to Play documents. We will also continue to sanction Individual Outdoor training activities with an increased maximum of 50 people outdoors or 12 people per 1000 square feet of space used. Clubs may submit their Sanction Requests here. We will continue to monitor federal, state, and local guidance on the COVID-19 pandemic and post updates as needed. Safety plans for tournaments will be announced as we approach the tournament season as we see how much more the state allows after this current Executive Order ends on Oct 23, 2020.
September 4 Update: In response to the NC Governor’s latest Executive Order on Sept 1 to move to a Phase 2.5 re-opening plan, the Carolina Region will begin sanctioning indoor activities for clubs that agree to meet the Executive Order’s requirement of maximum 30% capacity indoors as well as all other safety recommendations of the CDC and USAV Return to Play documents. We will also continue to sanction Individual Outdoor training activities with an increased maximum of 50 people outdoors. Clubs may submit their Sanction Requests here (One time $15 request per club/facility for the Phase 2.5 period through October 2). We will continue to monitor federal, state, and local guidance on the COVID-19 pandemic and post updates as needed.
August 6 Update: In response to the NC Governor’s latest Executive Order on August 5 to maintain the limited Phase 2 re-opening plan for another five weeks through September 11, 2020, the Carolina Region will also maintain its current USAV-sanctioning restrictions as outlined below in the May 27 update through September 11, 2020: No indoor activities will be authorized for USAV sanctioning and limited Individual Outdoor training activities can be submitted for sanctioning. We will continue to monitor federal, state, and local guidance on the COVID-19 pandemic and post updates as needed.
July 15 Update: In response to the NC Governor’s latest guidance on July 14 to maintain the limited Phase 2 re-opening plan for another three weeks through August 7, 2020, the Carolina Region will also maintain its current USAV-sanctioning restrictions as outlined below in the May 27 update through August 7, 2020: No indoor activities will be authorized for USAV sanctioning and limited Individual Outdoor training activities can be submitted for sanctioning. We will continue to monitor federal, state, and local guidance on the COVID-19 pandemic and post updates as needed.
June 25 Update: In response to the NC Governor’s latest Executive order to maintain the limited Phase 2 re-opening plan through July 17, 2020, the Carolina Region will also maintain its current USAV-sanctioning restrictions as outlined below in the May 27 update through July 17, 2020: No indoor activities will be authorized for USAV sanctioning and limited Individual Outdoor training activities can be submitted for sanctioning. We will continue to monitor federal, state, and local guidance on the COVID-19 pandemic and post updates as needed.
May 27 Update: In response to the NC Governor’s Executive Order to move the state into a limited Phase 2 re-opening, the Carolina Region Board of Directors has updated the Region’s response regarding USAV-sanctioned activities. The ban on USAV-sanctioned INDOOR activities has been extended to June 26. The Carolina Region will issue USAV sanctioning for INDIVIDUAL Outdoor training that adheres to the state and CDC safety precautions of no more than 25 people for outdoor mass gatherings. Clubs or coaches that wish to have their individual training sessions sanctioned will need to submit a new Event Sanction agreement for each session that acknowledges the dangers of the COVID-19 pandemic and safety precautions needed to be in place to minimize those dangers. The new Event Sanction Request for Outdoor Individual training is here for those that are interested.
NOTE: We understand there are some facilities, clubs, and tournament hosts that have begun indoor training opportunities and/or beach tournament events. These activities are NOT USAV-sanctioned so would be outside our organization’s oversight/authority. We acknowledge that some may have differing opinions on whether certain activities are approved or not. We acknowledge that we may be “re-opening” slower than some may prefer. Our concern is with USAV-sanctioned events and proceeding with caution to the best extent possible for the safety of our members. Anyone with questions about the state’s plans for re-opening the state and approved activities should contact the state or local government authorities for more information.
We will continue to monitor federal, state, and local guidance on the COVID-19 pandemic and post updates as needed. We hope everyone will continue to follow all safety guidelines so we can return to play quicker.
May 14 Update: USA Volleyball has released a “Return to Play” documents with guidelines the Clubs/Teams/Tournament Directors should follow as we begin transitioning back to playing volleyball in groups. Please note this important statement from the document: “All USAV sanctioned activities will be required to adhere to the most stringent federal, state or local guideline for their respective areas. USAV insurance coverage will only be provided for activities that are allowed under such government directives.” Since North Carolina is still under pretty strict guidelines issued by the Governor’s Executive Order through May 22 and the Region Board has decided not to sanction any events through May 31, our status has not changed in regards to approving any sanction requests through May 31. We are waiting for the next update from the State before deciding whether to begin sanctioning some activities again. You can review the USAV Return to Play Guidelines here. Once we do begin sanctioning events again, clubs, teams, and tournament hosts will be required to follow the guidelines for the safety and protection of all participants.
May 4 Update: The Carolina Region has extended the ban on USAV sanctioned events (including but not limited to events, practices, team activities, individual training sessions (exception virtual training sessions per the previous announcement below) or anything covered by USA Volleyball insurance) in North Carolina through May 31, 2020. The state of North Carolina has not currently lifted their Stay at Home order, and we anticipate being in Phase 1 and possibly 2 of the CDC “reopening” guidelines through at least the end of May. We will continue to monitor the guidance released by the state and federal government and will post updates as new information is known.
April 22 Update: USA Volleyball has posted the following on their Coronavirus update page:
USA Volleyball is extending the elimination of sanctions for all USA Volleyball activities (including but not limited to events, practices, team activities, individual training sessions or anything covered by USA Volleyball insurance) through May 8, 2020.
Following several communications with the USOPC, the U.S. Center for SafeSport, and our insurance providers, USA Volleyball has received permission to sanction virtual training/coaching/instruction/meetings during this period of sanction suspension. Any virtual training/coaching/instruction/meetings involving minors are subject to requirements of MAAPP, specifically the regulations on electronic communications and one-on-one interactions. These requirements include the following:
- All virtual trainings/coaching/meetings must be “observable and interruptible,” able to be ended at any time, and have at least two applicable adults on each session, i.e., coach and assistant, coach and club director, etc.
- All parents/guardians must be provided the code or link to join the virtual session.
- All parents/guardians must sign a waiver in advance as these sessions could be viewed as individual training. A record of which clubs/coaches have been approved to conduct these sessions should be kept. USAV has created a standardized waiver form if you care to use it.
- If a minor athlete ends up emailing a video to a coach for feedback or additional coaching, the coach needs to copy the parent/guardian and/or other applicable adult on all correspondences.
To be clear, virtual training/coaching/instruction/meetings will only be considered sanctioned so long as the above requirements are followed.
USA Volleyball has been asked by local clubs whether such ban applies to club activities covered under the club’s own (non-USA Volleyball) insurance. In these situations, USA Volleyball strongly encourages all member clubs and coaches to adhere to USA Volleyball’s policies. However, should a club decide to voluntarily disregard those policies and assume all risks associated therewith, we recommend that the club adhere to CDC; local, state and federal guidelines and recommendations when deciding whether or not to host practices or individual training sessions. If a club does host practice or individual training sessions, those activities would be considered a non-sanctioned activity by USA Volleyball and thus NOT covered by USA Volleyball insurance.
The health and welfare of our membership, volleyball families and fellow citizens is our primary concern in all decisions we are making during these uncharted times.
USA Volleyball is monitoring the situation daily and will continue to provide updates on a regular basis.
March 31 Update: USA Volleyball has announced the following:
USA Volleyball is extending the elimination of sanctions for all USA Volleyball activities (including but not limited to events, practices, team activities, individual training sessions or anything covered by USA Volleyball insurance) through April 30, 2020. USA Volleyball is monitoring the situation daily and will continue to provide updates on a regular basis.
March 19 Update: USA Volleyball has posted the following on their website:
USA Volleyball is announcing the elimination of sanctions for all USA Volleyball activities (including but not limited to events, practices, team activities, individual training sessions or anything covered by USA Volleyball insurance) through April 15, 2020. USA Volleyball is monitoring the situation daily and will continue to provide updates on a regular basis.
USA Volleyball has been asked by local clubs whether such ban applies to club activities covered under the club’s own (non-USA Volleyball) insurance. In these situations, USA Volleyball strongly encourages all member clubs and coaches to adhere to USA Volleyball’s policies. However, should a club decide to voluntarily disregard those policies and assume all risks associated therewith, we recommend that the club adhere to CDC; local, state and federal guidelines and recommendations when deciding whether or not to host practices or individual training sessions. If a club does host practice or individual training sessions, those activities would be considered a non-sanctioned activity by USA Volleyball and thus NOT covered by USA Volleyball insurance.
The health and welfare of our membership, volleyball families and fellow citizens is our primary concern in all decisions we are making during these uncharted times.
As a reminder USA Volleyball has a page on its website solely devoted to COVID-19 which is updated with the latest information at https://www.teamusa.org/usa-volleyball/features/usa-volleyball-response-on-coronavirus.
March 14 Update: USA Volleyball has just posted the following:
We are continuing to monitor the status of COVID-19 coronavirus. In the interest of welfare and safety of our membership, USA Volleyball is eliminating the sanctioning for all USA Volleyball activities (including but not limited to events, practices, individual training sessions or anything covered by USA Volleyball insurance) effective 11:59pm, Friday, March 13th. This ban on all USA Volleyball sanctioned activities extends through March 31st. We are monitoring the situation on a daily basis and will provide periodic updates as information becomes more apparent. Please refer to (https://www.teamusa.org/usa-volleyball/features/usa-volleyball-response-on-coronavirus) for the latest updated information.
March 13 Update: All Regional Championship weekends have been cancelled. See this page for full Announcement.
March 12 update: All Carolina Region tournaments this weekend (March 14 and 15) have been cancelled. This info has been posted to our Tournament System and all teams have been emailed. A note to all Club Directors will also go out shortly. All Regional Championship Events are still scheduled to play. We will continue to monitor the situation in our state and will post updates as decisions are made. We ask all to check both the Tournament System and/or this page for all updates. We will post at both of these sites.
Future Tournaments: We are advising all tournaments to suspend the handshake protocols pre- and post-match through the end of the season. We have also requested TD’s to have hand sanitizer at score tables where possible (hand sanitizer may be in short supply in some parts of the state). We encourage players and spectators to bring their own if they have it. March 21/22 and 28/29 Regional Championship events are still scheduled to play as of now (updates will follow above). As with the inclement weather policy, each family/team must make their own decisions on whether to attend an event regardless of whether the Region decides to hold the event or not.
Message from Jamie Davis, CEO, USA Volleyball:
The safety of our members, spectators and staff is our paramount concern.
As we head into the heart of our tournament season with many people on the move, I want to share what we know right now and our plans going forward. In analyzing all of the data, USA Volleyball has determined that it would be premature to cancel our tournaments at this time as the risk is still very low in the United States. That being said, we are monitoring the situation on a daily basis and may alter our decision should the need arise.
USA Volleyball has this page dedicated to this situation where we will be posting the latest information on the outbreak, USAV event updates, recommended health precautionary measures and any event specific protocols that will be adjusted as a result of the virus. Given the fluidity of this matter, decisions regarding each event will be determined independently as factors affecting one may not affect another and we are working with each of the local authorities and event venues to increase safety measures.
Finally, we have established a mailbox at healthinfo@usav.org where you can send any inquiries related to this issue.
– Jamie Davis, CEO, USA Volleyball
March 9, 2020 update
In recent days, we have received several inquiries from individuals asking the status of USA Volleyball-organized and -sanctioned events as a result of the coronavirus. We are monitoring the situation very closely and are in contact with local authorities regarding each event. At this time, we have elected not to make any sweeping decisions regarding USA Volleyball-sanctioned events but rather address each according to the individual circumstances. We will follow and comply with any cancellation instructions levied by such local authorities.
Until further notice we are asking that all team handshakes/high fives/etc. be suspended and that teams and organizers follow all recommended precautionary measures.
Go HERE for the main page on USAV dedicated to the Coronavirus updates. The above, tips for cleaning volleyballs, and more is available at this page.