Regional semi-pro/pro volleyball league

StealthSpiker · **Regional semi-pro/pro volleyball league -** 01-08-2007, 10:05 PM

I need the glass half-empty people to put their heads together:

What would be the impediments to setting up a regional semi-pro/pro volleyball league using existing USA Volleyball infrastructure and similar in concept to the American Basketball Association? By using existing USAV infrastructure, I mean that such a league would be an outgrowth of the current USAV system. All players would be registered with USAV and would be sanctioned by USAV, but would play within a league structure.

I envision a season from November to April. The league would have several divisions:

Women - Open
Men - Open
Co-Ed - 6'2 and under

Each team would also have an AA and A team as a "farm team". The teams would be clustered to minimize travel costs.

Known impediments:
Insurance
Pay Scales
Co-ed play (related to insurance)
Start-up costs
Marketing

Ideas?

strazzere · 01-08-2007, 10:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by StealthSpiker

I need the glass half-empty people to put their heads together:

What would be the impediments to setting up a regional semi-pro/pro volleyball league using existing USA Volleyball infrastructure and similar in concept to the American Basketball Association? By using existing USAV infrastructure, I mean that such a league would be an outgrowth of the current USAV system. All players would be registered with USAV and would be sanctioned by USAV, but would play within a league structure.

I envision a season from November to April. The league would have several divisions:

Women - Open
Men - Open
Co-Ed - 6'2 and under

Each team would also have an AA and A team as a "farm team". The teams would be clustered to minimize travel costs.

Known impediments:
Insurance
Pay Scales
Co-ed play (related to insurance)
Start-up costs
Marketing

Ideas?

Biggest things in your way;

Fundraising
Gym Time

Gym time in massachusetts/new hampshire is NOT cheap at all. I'm assuming the city sucks even more. Fundraising is easily done, but a lot of work. It's hard to find people who will do it, do it well, get it done - and actually earn money without costing a ton.

StealthSpiker · **Ah...fundraising -** 01-09-2007, 08:38 PM

Gym time can be done with some work. The gyms can be found, but they need to hold enough people at a low rate (say $10/head) to get it done. Anything higher than $10/person and you will need established pros to get a draw.

The fundraising is a lot harder, especially since the bigger companies have unpublished submission deadlines. They also prefer to get on something in motion already.

strazzere · 01-09-2007, 11:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by StealthSpiker

Gym time can be done with some work. The gyms can be found, but they need to hold enough people at a low rate (say $10/head) to get it done. Anything higher than $10/person and you will need established pros to get a draw.

The fundraising is a lot harder, especially since the bigger companies have unpublished submission deadlines. They also prefer to get on something in motion already.

While it's awesome to only pay $10 a head... It can also depend on the quality of players you get.

I know I've played some open gyms that are essentialy invite only, and usually 25$ a head. However the competition is awesome.

mycena · 01-11-2007, 09:10 AM

Seems to me that on the East Coast at least, it would be tough to actually draw a crowd to watch. I don't know much about the whole basketball league but I am assuming by pro league you mean like paying players full time salaries and stuff. Definitely would need a lot of organization and some folks with some cash and interest to get it started.