SCHEDULE

INTRODUCTION
The Florida Grass Court Volleyball Series returns for its twelve season with exciting Olympic style volleyball competition for amateur and semi-pro players. The Florida Grass Court Series will once again offer the best competition, prizes, and tournaments for 4-player teams in Florida. All this and more begins May 17 in Orlando.

NEW for 2008: Father-Daughter Division
This division is for parents who want to play with their kids in a less competitive MORE FUN division.

• Minimum of two kids (14 & under boys or girls) and a maximum of two adults (any age).
• Kids must play the ball at least once before the ball goes over the net if the ball is played more than once.
• Adults must serve underhand.
• Adults may not hit or block the ball. Adults may only over hand pass or bump the ball over the net.
• Kids may play the ball as best they are able.
• More Rules as necessary.

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4-PLAYER VOLLEYBALL
4-Player volleyball is the perfect mix of the traditional indoor and the outdoor doubles / triples game. For the indoor player , the game allows for specialization in position and multiple offenses. For the outdoor player it provides the relaxing atmosphere of playing outdoors and allowing more touches on the ball. Whatever your skill level or passion you will find the 4-player an exciting and competitive game.

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YOUR VOLLEYBALL DOLLARS AT WORK

• Guaranteed 3 matches
• Tournament t-shirt -- Tournamet t-shirt discountinued until further notice July 12, 2008
• Secondary medical insurance policy
• Best Tournaments, competition and prizes in Florida
• Discounted Lunches
  

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PLAYING DIVISIONS

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OPEN DIVISION CASH PRIZE
The Open division cash prize payout has been restructured to promote increased participation. A minimum of two teams with a minimum roster size of 4 players is required for the cash prize to be awarded. The following chart will used to award pay outs to qualifying teams in 2008:

The formula for the first place prize is
(Number of Teams - 2) * $50 + Entry Fee + $20

The formula for second place prize is
(Number of Teams - 3) * $10 + Entry Fee

For example for a 5-team division the pay would be
1st Place (5 - 2) * $50 + $100 + $20 = $270
2nd Place (5 - 3) * $10 + $100 = $120

For example for a 6-team division the pay would be
1st Place (6 - 2) * $50 + $100 + $20= $320
2nd Place (6 - 3) * $10 + $100 = $130

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CASH PRIZE FOR ALL DIVISIONS except JUNIOR DIVISIONS
Cash prizes will be offered for all divisions except the junior divisions. Merchandize or gift certificates will be available for junior winners. Multiple 1st place prizes maybe offered per division based on participation levels.

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RULES
The Florida Grass Court Series will play by USA Volleyball Rules for 4-player teams with modifications as noted. Click here for a complete list of 4-player highlights of the rules and Grass Court modifications.

Notable Florida Grass Court modification: All first balls over the net may be doubled in one attempt to play the ball. This is the indoor rule. The first ball need not be hard driven. The serve is considered to be the first ball over the net.

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TOURNAMENT FORMAT
The tournament format will vary depending on number of teams and will be announced the day of the event. Typically, top teams in pool play will advance to the single elimination championship bracket.

Matches will be the best 2 of 3 games to 21 (deciding game to 15) or one game to 25.
Rally scoring will be used and all games must be won by 2 points with no cap in any game.

Play-off Formats:

4 team division - pool play followed by 4 team single elimination play off

5 team division - pool play followed by 3 team single elimination play off

6 team division - pool play (one game to 25) followed by 4 team single elimination play off

7 team division - pool play (one game to 25) followed by 4 team single elimination play off

8 - 10 team division - 2 pools with top 3 teams advancing to single elimination play off

11 or more team division - top 2 teams from each pool advance to single elimination play off

Junior division match formats will be one game to 25 win by 2 with no cap for pool play and single elimination play offs.

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HOW TO REGISTER
Teams may register one of two ways.

Onsite registration. Show up Saturday morning at the tournament site with your team, register and pay your fees. Cash or check. Sorry we are unable to accept credit cards onsite. The only drawbacks to this approach is if for some reason the tournament is canceled I will not know to call you ahead of time. Tournaments have been canceled in the past due to hurricanes, rain, and muddy fields. In the unlikely event there are more players than tournament t-shirts, on site registration does not guarantee you a t-shirt.

Online registration. Register your team online. Complete the online registration form and sign a waiver on the morning of the tourney. Fees maybe paid on site. Benefits to registering online: you are doing your part to help the tournament be more organized, you will be notified of any changes to the tournament, and you are guaranteed to receive a t-shirt in the size requested.

Pre-payment Option. Receive a 10% discount on your entry fee by paying for your entire team online with Google checkout. There is no convenience fee added .

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REGISTRATION GIFT
The Florida Grass Court Series will continue to offer players the most exciting tournament t-shirt of any volleyball tournament in Florida. Open division player's will have the choice of a t-shirts at each event. Open division players will receive a premium t-shirt with entry fee and all other divisions will receive the standard registration gift. The Open Division registration gift may be purchased for an additional $5 per player. Extra tournament t-shirts will be available for purchase. .

REFUND POLICY
Once tournament fees are collected there will be no refund of tournament entry fees for any reason. Refunds may be given under unusual circumstances but will be given only as credit toward the next FloridaVolleyball.com / Dave Crowder event. Should a refund be given it is not precedent setting and does not alter this refund policy of NO REFUND once fees are paid.

I apologize for this austere refund policy but many costs such as field rental, liability insurance, and registration gift costs are not refundable to me.

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SAND BAGGING POLICY
The official policy of the Florida Grass Court Series is to allow teams and players to choose the division they wish to play. Teams or players will not be forced to move up a division for winning a division one or multiple times.

A team's and or player's level of play will be decided by themselves, but once a team or player wins a prize in a division he/she will be classified as a player in that division and will not be eligible to win prizes in a lower division. A player's and teams classification will remain etched in stone for a period of one calendar year.

For example, a team comprised of a team of 2 or more players who win a prize in the Open division will be classified as an Open level team and may not win a prize in the "A" division or the "BB" division. A team of 1 Open player and 3 "A" level players may compete and .receive a prize in the "A" division.

Please note should a team classified as a higher level team play in a lower division they are still eligible to advance from pool and win the title of tournament champion but will not receive any tournament prizes. Tournament prizes will be awarded by the tournament director to the highest finishing teams eligible for a prize.

This policy goes into effect as of the July 12, 2008 tourney. Which of course means that no player or team is currently classified for any division.

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