the History of the florida region of usa volleyball
The Florida Region is a member of USA Volleyball (USAV), which is the National Governing Body of volleyball and a member of the United States Olympic Committee. The Junior Division of the Florida Region began in 1983 with one club, Tampa Bay Juniors, and one registered 10-member team (AAU affiliated). Then in 1984, Florida Gold Coast was organized and the junior membership of the Florida region grew to about 30 members. The intra-regional schedule for these programs was limited to playing in adult USAV events, as well as spring collegiate tournaments. Both clubs attended AAU Nationals and the United States Junior Olympic Volleyball Championships.
In 1985, the membership grew once again with the addition of South Florida VBC and Southwest VBC. These two new clubs, along with growth within existing clubs, allowed juniors competition for the first time within the Florida Region. Every year, the Florida Region has seen considerable growth in the junior community with membership being 2800+ strong.
With numerous dedicated clubs and an increasing population, it became apparent that the juniors needed their own forum. In 1986, the first Juniors Board was organized and was comprised of one member representing each of the junior club programs. This board was not a formal arm of the Region and had no representation on the Regional Board. It would be a couple of years before the juniors had a "voice" on the Regional Board. However, the Junior Board was the beginning of inter-club support and organization for the club format, as well as the foundation for the current Juniors General Assembly, now known as the Junior Forum (JF).
Since 1984, the Florida Region has had teams attend the United States Junior Olympic National Volleyball Championships. More times than not, the Florida Region has had more than one team in an age group from various club programs attend this prestigious event. The goal of the Junior Division and the BOD is to maintain this standard by improving the level of competition within our Region, as well as developing more grass roots programs.
In 2005, the Florida Region Board of Directors added the organization’s first Executive Director with a goal of formalizing the corporation and transitioning to a staff run model for operations. In 2006 the corporation’s first office was established and a part-time Registrar was added to the team.
In 2007, the Florida Region surpassed the 5,000 member mark and added a 3rd region office staff member to assist with administrative tasks and help manage the increasing number of phone calls and e-mails from the members.
In 2008, the Florida Region signed up more than 6,500 members and the third member of staff was changed to Web & Events Coordinator.
In 2009, the Florida Region exceeded 7,500 members and added a Marketing Coordinator to the staff.
In 2010, the Florida Region membership count exceeded 8,500 members and two more staff members were added, a bookkeeper and an Official’s Coordinator.
In 2011, the Florida Region reached 11,000 members and added an Events Manager position. We continue to grow at a rapid pace and are the fastest growing region in USA Volleyball.
In 1985, the membership grew once again with the addition of South Florida VBC and Southwest VBC. These two new clubs, along with growth within existing clubs, allowed juniors competition for the first time within the Florida Region. Every year, the Florida Region has seen considerable growth in the junior community with membership being 2800+ strong.
With numerous dedicated clubs and an increasing population, it became apparent that the juniors needed their own forum. In 1986, the first Juniors Board was organized and was comprised of one member representing each of the junior club programs. This board was not a formal arm of the Region and had no representation on the Regional Board. It would be a couple of years before the juniors had a "voice" on the Regional Board. However, the Junior Board was the beginning of inter-club support and organization for the club format, as well as the foundation for the current Juniors General Assembly, now known as the Junior Forum (JF).
Since 1984, the Florida Region has had teams attend the United States Junior Olympic National Volleyball Championships. More times than not, the Florida Region has had more than one team in an age group from various club programs attend this prestigious event. The goal of the Junior Division and the BOD is to maintain this standard by improving the level of competition within our Region, as well as developing more grass roots programs.
In 2005, the Florida Region Board of Directors added the organization’s first Executive Director with a goal of formalizing the corporation and transitioning to a staff run model for operations. In 2006 the corporation’s first office was established and a part-time Registrar was added to the team.
In 2007, the Florida Region surpassed the 5,000 member mark and added a 3rd region office staff member to assist with administrative tasks and help manage the increasing number of phone calls and e-mails from the members.
In 2008, the Florida Region signed up more than 6,500 members and the third member of staff was changed to Web & Events Coordinator.
In 2009, the Florida Region exceeded 7,500 members and added a Marketing Coordinator to the staff.
In 2010, the Florida Region membership count exceeded 8,500 members and two more staff members were added, a bookkeeper and an Official’s Coordinator.
In 2011, the Florida Region reached 11,000 members and added an Events Manager position. We continue to grow at a rapid pace and are the fastest growing region in USA Volleyball.
historical timeline
- 1982 - Incorporated in Florida as a non-profit corporation under the name United States Volleyball Association, Florida Region, Inc. (October 20th)
- 2001 - Fielded the first Indoor High-Performance Girls Team & completed at the HP Championships at the USOC in Colorado Springs, CO.
- 2005 - Hired Steve Bishop as the first Executive Director of the Corporation (December 5th)
- 2006 - Opened the first Region Office in Tavares, FL. The Corporation had two full-time employees.
- 2007 - Implemented a scholarship program for high school seniors that are members of the organization.
- 2007 - Fielded the first Indoor High-Performance Boys Team and competed at the USA HP Championships.
- 2008 - Changed the corporate name from United States Volleyball Association, Florida Region, Inc. to Florida Region of USA Volleyball, Inc.
- 2010 - Fielded the first Team Florida Beach High-Performance All-Star delegation with five girls teams and competed at the USA Beach HP Championships in Hermosa Beach, CA
- 2012 - Fielded the first Team Florida Wave Semi-Pro Women's delegation at the PVL Championships in Salt Lake City, UT.
- 2013 - Fielded the first Team Florida Wave Semi-Pro Men's delegation and won the Gold Medal at the PVL Championships in Louisville, KY.
- 2014 - Grand opening of Hickory Point Beach Sand Volleyball Complex in Tavares, FL, a $400,000 grant from Lake County, FL funded the project (July 5th)
- 2015 - Fielded the first Team Florida Sitting All-Star delegation and won the Gold Medal at the Sitting National Championships in Detroit, MI
- 2015 - Florida Region hosted a NORCECA Continental Tour stop at Hickory Point Beach with 32 teams, 16 men and 16 women (September 11-13)
- 2016 - Florida Region partners with Sunshine State Athletics to launch high school beach volleyball for girls across the state of Florida, making it the second state in the U.S behind Arizona.
- 2016 - Florida Region Executive Director (Steve Bishop) elected as Board President for the International Volleyball Hall of Fame in Holyoke, MA
- 2019 - Grand opening of the 4,000sf Hickory Point Beach Athletics Center at the sand volleyball complex in Tavares, FL (February 23rd)
- 2020 - Florida Region hosted the inaugural Florida Pro Best of the Beach event at Hickory Point Beach with a prize purse of $60,000, 56 pro beach athletes attended, 28 men and 28 women (November 6-8)
- 2021 - Florida Region
indoor & beach event history
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Indoor
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beach
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