The latest news about USAU's Beach Division.
December 13, 2016 by Charlie Eisenhood in News
USA Ultimate continues to recap its Competition Working Group meetings that help set the agenda for the upcoming year in each division. Here is a summary of the changes and suggestions from the Beach Working Group.
- The 2017 Beach Championships will be held on May 20-21, 2017, in Virginia Beach, VA. This will mark the third year of the Beach Championships and the third year in Virginia Beach. The event will host seven divisions: men’s, mixed, women’s, men’s masters, mixed masters, women’s masters and grand masters.
- USAU will add a second beach event in 2017: Beach Westerns, to be held on April 22-23, 2017, in Santa Monica, CA. The tournament will not serve as a qualifier, but is instead intended to offer a “playing opportunity for teams on the west coast to help build interest in the beach division.” The event will host seven divisions: men’s, mixed, women’s, men’s masters, mixed masters, women’s masters and grand masters.
- There are new outreach initiatives planned, including “beach-specific content” on USAU’s website (including video), a new marketing plan encouraging beach competition even for inland players, and more connections with youth and college players.
- The addition of qualifiers for the Beach Championships could come as early as 2018.
- This fall’s US Beach Open sported a 4v4, gender balanced format that “received positive feedback.” The format could be used at other events. The US Beach Open will return in 2017 with a college division.
