New season entries (London Volleyball League) Volleyball in London at an all-time high When entries closed this week for the 2018/19 season almost ninety teams, 42 women and 45 men, had applied to join the regional league. That's up from last year's 82 (42 women and 40 men) itself a surge from 2016/17 when there were 77 (38 women and 39 men). With recreational volleyball growing quickly it looks as though the numbers playing competitively are increasing well also.
Last year the competition took place in five divisions for each group but the increase of over 10% in men's teams persuaded the London Volleyball Association's executive committee to introduce an additional men's division rather than ask clubs to compete in a larger competition with the resulting worries from the longer fixture list. The league has been running since early 1960s and has a achieved a competitive standard close to that of the English National League. It now attracts 1300+ players to register, players from many different backgrounds and countries. The League requires that the games are refereed by properly trained and registered referees, so maintaining the standards the players expect.
Announcing the entries, Association chair Charlie Orton said, “I am pleased to see another significant increase in numbers demonstrating how well our league has been administered by the willing group of volunteers. It also demonstrates a desire to play competitive volleyball in London. We do need to be aware though that we cannot continue to grow in this manner without considering if there is a need to change the structure of the league to continue to accommodate all the teams/players who want to compete with our limited resources.
"There are many more people playing recreationally in London, some 8000+ recorded with the recreational groups. During the summer players also take full advantage of the Beach Courts built as a legacy from the 2012 Olympics, and others play on the grass in the many parks across London.
"With London's youth players winning several national trophies last season, we can look forward to more growth in the future and to improving standards". Volleyball in London is at an all-time high . The draw was made yesterday evening (6th August) to decide who plays in divisions A, B and C so the league and its divisions will read:
Men's Premier Flaming Six Aces Inter Premier London Lynx 1 Onyx Richmond Spikers ULU Wapping Wildcats 1
Women's Premier Inter Premier Lionhearts East Lionhearts Jamme-Ja London QKX London Rebels London White Bears Onyx Polonia IMKA
Men's Division 1 A Flaming Six Blackjacks K S Osemka 1 Lionhearts Predators Lionhearts Pride Malory Eagles 1 Onyx B Powerball Willesden
Men's Division 1 B Giants 1 Inter One K S Osemka 2 Lionhearts Alpha London Black Bears Bald Eagles SQUAD Waltham Forest
Women's Division 1 A Flaming Six Angels Giants Inter One Lionhearts Cats Malory Eagles 1 Polonia Sideout Academy SQUAD Wapping Wildcats
Women's Division 1 B Flaming Six Blaze IVA Homa K S Osemka London Lynx Malory Eagles 2 ULU Wapping Tigers Wimbledon Wildkats
Men's Division 2 A AVC London Baks Blockbusters Flaming Six Crusaders IVA Persia London Lynx 2 London Red Rebels
Men's Division 2 B Ernest Bevin College A Giants 2 Pin Lon Spikers SGSS Southall Thunderball VPS Galaxy Wapping Cheetahs
Men's Division 2 C Baks 2 Besty Boys Ernest Bevin College B Fireball SQUAD 2 Tuskers Wimbledon Wolves
Women's Division 2 A Besty Girls Dynamo Divas Flaming Six Comets Giants 2 Lionhearts Cubs Pin Lon Lady Spikers Richmond SQUAD 2 VPS Stars
Women's Division 2 B Dynamo Dykes Daredevils Flaming Six Dragons Imperial College Lionhearts Beats Onyx B Tuskers Waltham Forest Westminster Willesden Divas
Some team names vary slightly or substantially from their club name so all not familiar with them may want to know that Inter teams represent International VC, London Spikers reserve teams play as Powerball, Fireball and Thunderball, London Bears appear in various colours - but not yet a Kermode, never modest, Little Giants VC play as Giants, Malory Eagles seconds want to be known as Bald Eagles, Volleyprofs call themselves VPS and will introduce a men's team: Galaxy to compete alongside the women, Stars as do Pin Lon Spikers, Ernest Bevin College are entering two boys' teams to replace EBC Greenhouse,
Newcomers to the league include AVC London, Bexley VC who will play as Besty Boys and Girls and London Blockbusters. Welcome all.
The coming league season will be filled with a record number of London League teams. It's going to be some competition. As a result, preparing the fixture list will be as time-consuming a work as ever and it will probably take almost to the end of August to get a draft to team secretaries.
Contributor, Douglas Barr-Hamilton
Source, Competitions Committee
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