[Update 1st June 2011 and again 19 Jan 2012]

Entries are now closed. Follow this for tracking team entry status (log-in required).

Copies of various communications and announcements are archived here ...

Original article text published 3rd March 2011

Entries for the season starting in October 2011 will be accepted from early June and close on July 31st.

Clubs with teams competing during the 2010-2011 season will be informed of the procedures nearer the time. New clubs are invited to add their details at the end of this article.

Announcement sent 3rd March 2011

Subject: Entering London Volleyball League next season?

To: All club representatives of London Volleyball Association member clubs

Hi,
This message concerns the deadline for entering teams into the London Volleyball League next season (2011-2012). There is much to organize and the volunteers need quite a bit of time to set things up for matches to start in October. So next season the entry deadline will be July 31st, 10 days earlier than last year.

For many clubs this won't make any difference, as they usually complete all the formalities during July. However, some have relied on a little more time and these entrants will need to work out how to meet the earlier date. Please think about how your organization works - general meetings, appointing volunteers, organizing payment, writing cheques etc - and ensure you have enough time make your decisions and complete your entry by the end of July.

For our part, the forms should be available in early June and we intend to carry on offering on-line payment. If there are other specific things we can do to help you meet the deadline please let us know.

If you are not the right person to receive this message please forward it to whoever is best placed to act on it, or simply return it to me and I'll try to find another contact at your club.

Kind regards,

Secretary - London Volleyball Association

News article on front page 13th March 2011

Title: London League gets organized

The critical time plan has been set out for next season's London Volleyball League with the most important date - the closing date for next season's entries - being set for 31st July. This is 10 days earlier than last year and comes from thinking through what needs doing and what time period is reasonable for volunteers to attempt it in. For many clubs the ealier date won't make any difference, as they usually complete all the formalities during July anyway. However, some have relied on a little more time and these will need to work out how to get it all done.

The league organizers know some entrants handle this task more easily than others and some will have to do things earlier to complete all the formalities by the deadline. For instance those who make team entry decisions at general meetings may need to bring their AGM forward. Then there are things like appointing volunteers, organizing payment, writing cheques etc all need doing by 31st July.

For their part, the Association has written to all clubs telling them of the new closing date, will make the entry forms available in early June and they intend to carry on offering on-line payment. More details as they appear will be in the London League section.

News article on divisional pages 29th March 2011

Articles were pre-dated in some divisions to prevent the 'latest news' block on the front page filling up with 8 identical articles.

Title: London League Plans 2011-12

Arrangements for next season's league are already under way. A key date for clubs will be the closing date for entries - 31st July. This is 10 days earlier than last year so this is an early warning for clubs and teams to put the date in their diaries. The move results from thinking through what needs doing and how long it takes your league organizers to get it all done. Many clubs usually complete all the formalities during July so they are in good shape but some have relied on a little more time and this latter group will need to work out how to get it all done.

History shows some entrants handle this task better than others and a few will have to get started much earlier to complete all the formalities by the deadline. For instance those clubs who make team entry decisions at general meetings may need to have their meeting earlier. Then there are things like appointing volunteers, organizing payment, writing cheques etc all need doing by 31st July.

The Association will make the entry forms available in early June and they intend to carry on offering on-line payment. More details as they appear will be in the London League section.

Announcement to team contacts (via Divisional Administrators) sent 29th March 2011

Subject: London Volleyball League - Entry Deadline 31st July 2011

To: All Team Contacts - London Volleyball League

This message concerns entering teams into the London Volleyball League next season (2011-2012). There is much to organize and the league organizers need quite a bit of time to set things up for matches to start in October. So next season the entry deadline will be July 31st, 10 days earlier than last year.

For those of you who usually complete all the formalities during July it won't make any difference. However, some have relied on a little more time and if you are in that category you will need to work out how to meet the earlier date. Please think about how your organization works - general meetings, appointing volunteers, organizing payment, writing cheques etc - and ensure you have enough time make your decisions and complete all your entry requirements by the end of July.

The Association plans to make the forms available in early June and we intend to carry on offering on-line payment. If there are other specific things we can do to help you meet the deadline please let me know and I'll pass it on.

If you don't expect to be involved with entries for your club next season please forward it to whoever is best placed to act on it, or simply return it to me and I'll try to find another contact at your club.

Thanks for your cooperation.

News article on front page 4th April 2011

Title: London League 2011-12

Scoop: With everyone's mind on the final matches of this season some clubs may miss out on next season altogether by slipping passed the entry deadline. To find out what it is, why it is so early and what's involved we asked LVA Secretary Darryl Collins to explain.

Q: What is the deadline for next season's entries?
A: Sunday 31st July

Q: Why is it earlier than last year?
A: You're right it's 10 days earlier, and it's all about giving people enough time to set up the league. We haven't always got this right and those who remember the start of last season will want to be assured that the organizers avoid the sort of problems that occurred then. This season was much better but they still struggled to get through all the tasks comfortably.

Q: What takes so long; matches don't start until October?
A: Yes nine weeks must look a long time. However sorting the entrants into divisions, making up the fixture list, composing and printing the handbook and then distributing are all complicated tasks and have to be done one after the other. It is important to get the right input for sorting teams into divisions and that involves a number of people working together. Only when that's done can the fixture list be started. Then we're talking about over 60 teams and about 500 matches where some teams share venues and time-slots, some only play 'at home' and some know in advance of dates they cannot play. So working up the fixture list can be a lengthy process. Finally producing the handbook and getting it out to the teams takes time.

Q: Could it be done quicker?
A: Probably but remember all this is being done by volunteers in their 'spare' time. When they take on a volunteering task it's not like a piece of contract work where the task is at the top of their 'to do' list. Other things like earning a living, spending time with their family and many other things come first. So although a job might only take a day you have to give a volunteer much longer because you can't predict when they will be able do it.

Q: Why are you telling people now with four months to go?
A: There are several reasons. Most clubs are run by volunteers so they have the same issues of needing quite a lot of time simply because the tasks will be done by several people in their 'spare' time. Some clubs need a general meeting to make decisions about league entry, so announcing the deadline this early allows them bring their meeting forward if necessary. Then there are the teams from public sector bodies who rely on payment departments to send us cheques. These teams need to start the process early to make sure their money arrives in time.

Q: What constitutes an entry?
A: There will be a minimum set of information required and this will be spelt out on the entry form. The form will include the club's application for LVA membership, needed for playing in the league, so that will be dealt with in parallel. The entry fee must be with us, either showing as transferred into the LVA bank account or a cheque in the treasurer's hand. Also the Goodwill Deposit must be complete and entrants must show their Volleyball England affiliation is complete or in progress. All this will be clearly detailed on the forms which should be available in early June.

Q: What will happen to entries that arrive late?
A: A good question. As things stand at the moment if we don't have with us by the 31st July a team's completed forms and fees along with evidence that their Volleyball England affiliation is being processed then they won't be included in the competition.

Q: Why so strict?
A: For two reasons. Firstly we believe the overwhelming majority of teams in the league would be upset if any others in the competition hadn't fully complied with the same entry requirements that they had. This has happened in the past because the organizers have accepted entries with the promise of fees or affiliations 'to follow' and they never arrived. It's not fair and it's not right.

Q: And the other reason?
A: This comes from the organizers' viewpoint. It's never easy to find volunteers to do the drudge work like processing entries, fixture lists and handbook production but at least when it's over they can take the satisfaction of seeing more than 60 teams setting out on a season's volleyball, and they know the clubs appreciate it. However spending over four months up to Christmas repeatedly sending reminders, dealing with broken promises, chasing money and affiliations out of two or three clubs who just can't be bothered to get their act together - although quite happy to play matches! - is not a task we should waste valuable volunteering time on. Neither do we believe many clubs wish the organizers to be spending their time like this.

So there you have it. Entry forms for next season will be available on-line in early June. I'm assured they will be similar to last year (still viewable here) and the big message is the earlier closing date of Sunday 31st July.

New clubs can add their details, like 'Women's team playing at Bromley High School' using the Post Comment box below. We don't need any contact details as site registration is required and we will then use your registration email address to try and remind you when you need to enter.

New teams are normally accepted only in the bottom divisions. In exceptional circumstances they may be placed in higher divisions after Rule 7.2 has been applied and if the organizers consider the team is at a comparable standard to the other teams in the division with respect to:

• squad numbers
• access to suitable home venue
• administration competence
• playing strength
• financial ability to maintain a team at London League Level

New teams wishing to explore starting in a higher-than-bottom division should discuss their situation with the organizers at the earliest opportunity but not expect a decision until after entries have closed.