AVP Pro Beach Volleyball Tour, USA Volleyball Announce Pact
Thu Apr 3, 2003 
MANHATTAN BEACH, Calif. - The AVP Pro Beach Volleyball Tour and USA
Volleyball announced a new working arrangement meant to further
increase the
popularity of the outdoor game.
The two organizations have formed a working committee comprised of
four
members from the AVP and four members from USA Volleyball meeting by
conference call every two weeks.

The AVP component is represented by Bruce Binkow (Chief Marketing
Officer),
Andy Reif (Chief Operating Officer), Jeffrey R. David (Director of
Grassroots Marketing) and Al Lau (Director of Player Relations). USA
Volleyball representatives to the committee include Rebecca Howard
(Chief
Executive Officer), Kerry Klostermann (Secretary General), John Kessel
(Director, Coaching Education, Disabled, Grassroots and Beach
Programs) and
Margie Mara (Associate Executive Director).

Entering its 20th season, the AVP is comprised of over 150 of the
best men's
and women's pro beach volleyball players in the U.S., and arguably,
the
world.

The AVP's goal is to further develop the beach volleyball fan base and
increase participation in beach volleyball within the U.S. by
providing the
premiere destination for professional beach volleyball at its highest
level.

AVP Commissioner Leonard Armato said that USA Volleyball, with its 39
regional associations and nearly 140,000 members forms a tremendous
base of
volleyball enthusiasts and in many cases, offers players the first
outlet to
the game.

"The momentum associated with the AVP Pro Beach Volleyball Tour is
only
furthered by the cooperative agreement with USAV Volleyball," Armato
said.
"This relationship is another step in building a productive outreach
to all
volleyball factions continuing to unify the sport."

The USA Volleyball national office, located in Colorado Springs,
Colo., is
the national governing body for the sport of volleyball in the U.S.
and is
recognized by the Federation International de Volleyball and the
United
States Olympic Committee.

The vision of USA Volleyball is acknowledgment as the world leader in
volleyball. USA Volleyball is committed to and works toward
opportunity for
all to participate. It is an advocate for all Americans - endeavoring
to
assure universal access to opportunities at all levels of the game.

"USA Volleyball and the AVP have entered into a working agreement
that we
feel is going to be a win-win for both organizations and for the
sport of
beach volleyball," Howard said. "It is not news that USA Volleyball
has not
been very successful in promoting this well loved discipline of our
sport,
and we feel lucky that the AVP has offered a connection to their
already
established program."

Through the arrangement, USA Volleyball recognizes (in an official
capacity)
that the AVP is the nationwide leader in beach volleyball. The AVP's
developmental programs are to be supported by USA Volleyball and its
member
regions.

The efforts also ease and streamline the process for American
athletes to
compete in international events including the Olympics. In the past,
a lack
of communication and understanding between the two groups has caused
misunderstanding among the sport in the U.S. but under the new working
guidelines the confusion is remedied.

~Paul Soriano
Manager, Media Relations & Publications
USA Volleyball
715 South Circle Drive
Colorado Springs, CO 80910
Tel: (719) 228-6800
Fax: (719) 228-6899
paul.soriano@usav.org
www.usavolleyball.org