Championships still set for June in Orlando
Gov. Ron DeSantis said Florida will gradually reopen its economy beginning Monday. The Amateur Athletic Union hopes that will include holding one of the world’s biggest annual volleyball tournaments in Orlando.
The AAU announced that its Junior National Volleyball Championships are still slated to be played as scheduled from June 16-28 at the Orange County Conference Center, but it will be contested minus spectators and international teams. The AAU stated there will be temperature testing and other coronavirus safeguards in place for all participants entering the Orange County Convention Center.
“Right now, it’s a go. We’re going to try with a lot of precautions in place,” said Sindee Snow, a cofounder of the Orlando Tampa Volleyball Academy club program who also has long served as a tournament director for the AAU.
Some in the volleyball community already have expressed doubts the tournament will play out as planned, given that DeSantis said during his Friday news conferences that people should continue to practice social distancing and not socialize in groups larger than 10.
Last year’s championships, with age groups from 10-and-under through 18s, drew 2,805 teams from 47 states and international-division teams from Australia, Brazil, China, Colombia, Dominican Republic, Germany, Puerto Rico and Slovenia.
“We know it won’t be as many teams this year,” Snow said.
The 2019 tournament also attracted 600 college coaches. That showcase element might not be available for 2020. The NCAA has prohibited all in-person recruiting by its Division I and Division II coaches through at least May 31.
“To limit the number of people in the facility, spectators will not be allowed,” AAU President and CEO Roger Goudy stated in his announcement. “Due to travel concerns, there will be no international teams. We encourage some type of face covering being worn whenever possible.”
The tournament entry deadline was extended to May 14.
“In the unfortunate event it is deemed unsafe to hold the tournament, we will abide by state or federal guidelines, cancel the event and refund fees to participating teams,” Goudy wrote.