2020
2019: PLAYOFFS:
2019
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Tee Minus 5 days until RBVL Liftoff
By Joe McGivney
5/20/16
Is the calendar
correct? Can beach volleyball
really be starting in five days?
Yes and yes! The Rockaway Beach
Volleyball League will hold their first night of beach volleyball this coming
Wednesday at 6:30 PM at Riis Park.
Excitement is building for this season, which is the 27th year for
the RBVL. Wow!
5/25
is an optional night for teams to get out for the first time and work off some
of the rust that has built up over the fall and winter months.
A large can of WD-40 may have to be sprayed on the bumps, sets and spikes
for them to travel smoothly. When
the weather is good 55 teams have showed up and had fun playing non-league
matches with friends and colleagues.
This year promises to be bigger and better.
If you are not on a team and you are looking to play, you can come to the
beach and try to hook up with a needy team.
When they see you in action, captains have a better picture of your
ability and how it meshes with their team than they do from a phone
conversation. It is not easy
hooking onto veteran teams but it happens.
Sometimes teams find out that they need a few live bodies.
Good luck. 78 teams will
prepare to battle this summer in 10 divisions, which span many levels of
expertise. There are beginners like
Rocky and experts like Murph or is it beginners like Murph and experts like
Rocky. Or mailmen like Murph and
retirees like Rocky? Or retirees
like Murph and Rocky? Or is it none
of the above? The 2016 Divisional
layout is published here in the Wave so teams can see where they were placed and
can plan their game strategies accordingly.
Welcome back to all
of the returning sponsors and to the newest sponsors of RBVL teams.
The league would not flourish without your financial support and is very
grateful for your help. RBVL
players should consider using some of the many league sponsors for personal
items. After all, these businesses
supported you when you needed them; why not return the favor and support them if
you need services they provide.
Your RBVL Committee members will be around each and every week to help out on
any matters and ensure that the league
continues to run smoothly and efficiently.
Due to
the very large population of players in the RBVL more equipment must be
purchased and more referees must be found each season.
Players always assure President Patty Moule that they will do whatever it
takes to help the season run smoothly.
And, so far, it has
worked year after year. That same
spirit will be needed in 2016 as well.
Your league has become the place to be during the summer in Rockaway.
Remember that has happened primarily because of great camaraderie and
sportsmanship more than great bumps, sets and spikes, although they are nice,
too.
Prospective new referees are always
welcome. You do not need to
be a certified ref to work in the RBVL.
In fact, many refs have been quite successful with a strong playing
background (college and high school) and limited referee experience.
Come to the beach on 5/25 and introduce yourself to one of the Committee
members if you would like to be worked into our rotation.
Rosters are also
waivers and must be signed by players the first week of the season. (Or the
practice week if you really want to be good boys and girls.)
For this reason and reasons of fair play, teams are not permitted to pick
up players from the sidelines on nights they are shorthanded, not even if the
opposing captain approves it. If
you need players for your roster, let us know what you need; there are many
individual players looking to join the RBVL.
President Patty Moule and her Committee members have one major complaint
with league players. It is a
problem that has persisted over the years and there is no reason for it at all.
Each and every week, a handful of teams return their nets to the
equipment room late. That means Equipment Manager Extraordinaire, Steve, and
several other Committee members cannot leave for the after-party and must
needlessly sit around and wait. And
don’t just wait for the deadline time; bring your net back immediately after
your game. Then go back and finish
your beverages and chit-chat. Steve
does inventory every week. That
helps keep the equipment coming back.
Have some consideration.
It’s the least you can do.
Captains are reminded that they can have team items
entered in the weekly Wave article by showing up at the sponsor bar or by
e-mailing Joe at jmcgivney2@nyc.rr.com
by 11 PM on Wednesday night. The RBVL has a
Facebook page and, if you like it, you will receive timely updates, whoever you
are, captain or not.
Remember, Wednesday, 5/25 will be our first
night of volleyball at the beach. It will be a practice night for all and
uniforms and schedules will be given out at that time.
Hopefully the weather will cooperate as it did
last year.
Wednesday, 6/1 will be opening day and play
will continue every Wednesday until 8/13.
On Saturday, 8/13, the league championships
will be played – keep your schedules clear.
Every year it’s a blast!
So get ready to have some fun as the ultimate
“Survivor” battle is about to begin on the tropical shores of Riis Park.
See you on the beach on 5/25 for RBVL season #27! |