LEXINGTON, Ky. (April 21, 2009) - The NCAA Division I Legislative
Council added sand volleyball to the list of emerging sports for women,
it was announced today, clearing the way for schools to use the sport
toward minimum sponsorship requirements and minimum financial aid
awards. NCAA Division II had already voted to add sand volleyball to the
emerging sports list at the 2009 NCAA Convention in January.

Capitalizing on the recent success of USA Volleyball’s beach teams in
the Olympics and the growth in grassroots programs, the NCAA’s Committee
on Women’s Athletics made the recommendation to add the sport to the
emerging sports list last summer.

The NCAA will call the new sport “sand” volleyball, rather than “beach”
volleyball, in hopes that the sport will have broad appeal across the
country and not be confined to coastal areas.

“The addition of sand volleyball to the list of collegiate options is
significant for our sport,” said Kathy DeBoer, Executive Director of the
American Volleyball Coaches Association. “With more than 400,000 girls
playing high school volleyball, we welcome the addition of collegiate
roster spots.”

The NCAA will spend the next year developing the rules that will govern
sand volleyball as a collegiate sport, including regulations on
financial aid, playing dates and recruiting. Institutions will be able
to sponsor varsity programs starting in the 2010-2011 academic year.

www.AVCA.org