RULES, POINTS & PAYOUT

Online Method for Amateur and Pro Registration / Pro Season Dues
Online event registration and PRO dues at www.mpva.com to pay for TEAM entry fee for each event.

MPVA/MBVT Pro Season Dues: Men and Women

1. Pro Men & Women Cost: $85 per player plus $15 for USAV beach membership (www.lakeshorevolleyball.org)
   
   • Includes: Wilson AVP Beach Ball OR Quiksilver or Roxy long sleeve shirt
   • Entrance into tour food tent during each event (anyone caught abusing these privileges will be banned from the tent for the duration of the 2011 season)
2. Deadline: Men and Women Pro Season Dues must be paid by tournament day of the first MPVA tournament you play in to receive prize money and points.
3. Any player participating in 2 or fewer events may pay a fee of $25 each time in lieu of paying the $100 Player Dues. The $25 fee does not include USAV membership which must be purchased separately prior to playing. Paying this fee allows player into event and gives access to player’s food tent. It does not entitle player to receive a ball or long sleeve shirt. If player wishes to play in a 3rd event they must then pay an additional $100 to cover their MPVA/MBVT player dues minus the cost of USAV membership.

MPVA Registration & Eligibility Rules

1. Top 20 players as determined by USAV national beach rankings on Monday prior to event are not allowed to play MPVA.
2. Players not ranked in the top 20 are eligible to play providing they can get into event based on their MPVA points.

Registration

1. Team entry fee is $120 per team. You may sign up early but teams are accepted into the event based on their MPVA point totals. Any payment received after 9:00 am EDT on Thursday will be assessed a $30 late fee. No exceptions.
2. On Wednesday at 5:00 pm EDT prior to the event the top 32 teams based on current MPVA points are accepted into the event.
3. If the event is not full teams are then accepted on a first come first serve basis up until 9:00 am EDT on Thursday.
4. Registration closes at 9:00 am EDT on Thursday. After that time the field is frozen and teams may not sign up to play or change partners.

Day of Event Rules

1. One member of each team MUST CHECK IN 30 minutes prior to EVENT START TIME.
2. Player meeting starts 15 minutes prior to Event Start Time.
3. Play begins at SCHEDULED Event Start Time with a 10-minute warm-up (first match only).
4. No-shows and/or late arrivals lose 2 point per minute from announced start time.

 Point System & Seeding

1. One year worth of points at all times
2. Using the USA National Point System
3. Seeding for 2011 will be a combination of MPVA points and USA points. Final determination on seeding will be at the tournament directors discretion.

Championship Event Format and Eligibility Requirements
Championship Event is open to anyone, regardless if they have played in any MPVA events this year or not.

Playing Rules
FIVB Rules will be used. Click here for site rules http://www.fivb.org/en/BeachVolleyball/Rules/Rules.htm

Tournament Format
Double elimination with Olympic crossover. Depending on the number of teams entered it is possible that the bracket will include an additional playoff for 5th, 7th and 9th place.

Scoring System

1. Rally score, no cap. Winners bracket will be best 2 out of 3 games with 1st two games to 21 and deciding game to 15. Consolation bracket will be a single game to 25.
2. Side switches will be as follows:
   
   • Game to 15, switch at 5 and break at 15
   • Game to 21 or 25, switch at 7 and break at 21

Time Outs
Each team is allowed one time out per game. Time outs last for 30 seconds. No sand time outs. Please do not leave the court during the match to brush off the sand.

Tour Etiquette
There will be fines assessed for certain inappropriate conduct, which includes but is not limited to the following:

1. Profanity-excessive, loud use of profanity will result in a $10 fine to be assessed by a game referee, Rick Rykse or any other MPVA official. The player would also be assessed a red card which will result in loss of possession and point.
2. Any inappropriate conduct, both on and off the court, that could be damaging to the reputation and integrity of the tour will result in a suspension from the tour. The MPVA staff will determine the length of the suspension.
3. Abuse of equipment - players who misuse MPVA equipment will be assessed a fine which represents replacement cost of the equipment plus $20.
4. All fines are due and payable before the player will be allowed to play in another MPVA event.
5. Referees are expected to take charge of the match they are officiating. They will have access to and will be expected to use yellow and red cards while officiating and settle all disputes.
6. Player suspension for any reason will require a letter of apology and drug test before being considered for reinstatement.

Individual Sponsorships
Players may pursue individual sponsorship as long as it follows the following guidelines:

1. Is not a direct competitor of any MPVA tour sponsors
2. Does not promote an item or business that is considered inappropriate for the MPVA tour
3. Sponsors exposure is limited to clothing, bags, P.A. mentions as player sponsor, listed as players sponsor in media book. Umbrellas, banners, etc. are not permitted on the MPVA Tour site. Item sampling is also not allowed!

For more details contact Rick Rykse.

Official Ball
The official ball of the MPVA Pro Beach Tour is the Wilson AVP beach ball. No other ball may be used during a match.