The Australian 2002 / 2003 Pro Tour should be a cracker. The AVF have announced the dates for the upcoming 2002/03 Australian Beach Volleyball Tour. The official launch of the Tour, with a new naming rights sponsor, is a few weeks away. So Start your plans now.

TOUR DATES

This season's Tour will also feature five hours of television via 5 x 1 hour highlights packages on Network Ten as follows:

Coffs Harbour Sunday Dec 22 4 - 5 pm
Geelong Sunday Jan 5 2 - 3 pm
Manly Sunday Jan 12 2 - 3 pm
Adelaide Sunday Jan 26 2 - 3 pm
Surfers Paradise Sunday Feb 2 2 - 3 pm

Information concerning qualification for events follows with additional information available on the Volleyball Australia website (www.avf.org.au) in the coming weeks.

2002/03 Australian Beach Volleyball Tour Entry & Qualification Guidelines

Tour: Five events (including Australian Championships)
Period: As above
Format: 16-team pool play (4 pools)
Top team in each pool progress to the semi finals
How to get into 16 team draw for each event?

The following will apply to the first 4 events (NOT the Australian Champs)

1. Eight (8) automatic entries for each event based on results from 2001/02 ABV Tour. (Team points based on individuals' points)
a. Teams must apply to Sporting Frontiers Australia (SFA) for one of these positions prior to COB Friday, October 4th 2002 on fax (02) 8907 9499.
b. The 8 teams will then be announced on the AVF Website on Tuesday, October 8th 2002.
2. Two (2) International Teams:
a. These will be allocated by SFA and AVF, at their sole discretion.
b. International teams will be capped at 2 per event
c. An "International" team may comprise two internationals OR one international and one local player.
d. Teams will be allocated at least two weeks prior to the event.
e. Any unused spots will revert to AVF/SFA wildcards
3. Two (2) AVF/SFA Wildcards:
a. These will be allocated by SFA and AVF, at their sole discretion
b. Consideration will be given to teams/players returning from injury and junior or development players.
c. Teams must apply for a wildcard at least three weeks prior to the event.
d. All wildcards will be allocated at least two weeks prior to the event.
4. Four (4) teams through Qualification event on the Friday afternoon prior to the 16 team draw:
a. The qualifier will be single elimination.
b. A maximum of sixteen (16) teams can play in the qualifier
c. Qualifier will be seeded based on previous Tour results or State Tour results at the discretion of the Tournament Director
d. Teams must nominate, including payment for qualifier, two (2) weeks before the event. NO nominations will be accepted after COB two (2) weeks prior to each event
e. If more than 16 nominations then teams will be selected based on previous participation in the Tour.

For the National Championships entries will be determined as follows:

1. Top 12 teams from 2002/03 Tour based on points over previous 4 events
2. 2 International teams (as per above)
3. 2 AVF/SFA Wildcards (as per above)

Note: There will be no qualifier for this event. Any unused places based on the above criteria will be allocated as AVF/SFA wildcards. Application for AVF/SFA wildcards open once the Top 12 teams are determined and will be advised ASAP.

Other considerations:
1. Team changes
a. Should an "automatic" team change after initial allocation then the position will become vacant and subject to a wildcard for the next event.
b. Based on results in the current or previous Tour then another team may be offered that "automatic" position for the remaining events.

2. Injury
Should a team change prior to an event as a result of injury then it will be resolved on a case by case basis by SFA and AVF.

All entries for the 2002/3 ABVT must be forwarded to Sporting Frontiers on the official entry forms. All events, including qualifiers, will be run by the Tournament staff of the Australian Beach Volleyball Tour.