For each tournament date that your team is scheduled to play, please be sure to reserve the entire day for competition. Tournament dates are published at the beginning of the season. However, the start times for each tournament are not announced until the Monday prior to the event.
Playing Sites and Driving Directions
Go to the Arizona Region web site. This page will allow you view the tournament information, including playing sites and start times. For driving directions to any of the sites, click on the site name.
The Arizona Region, who is in charge of all scheduling, will announce the exact playing sites and starting times for each division on the Monday before the competition date. We understand that everyone wants this information as early as possible to make travel arrangements, however Zona has no control over when this information is released each week.
Getting There
All athletes must be at the scheduled playing site at least 45 minutes prior to the scheduled tournament start time. Even if your team is not scheduled for the first match of the day, athletes must be on site (per Arizona Region rules) at least 30 minutes prior to the scheduled start time for the first matches. Teams must be ready to play in case of last minute schedule changes.
Please be sure to download your driving directions, check ADOT for road closures, and schedule ample time for your trip. We want to make sure that all athletes arrive at their site safely and with enough time to prepare for competition.
General Tournament Information
General Site Rules
Most of the clubs in the state of Arizona rent facilities for team practices. Gym space if very difficult to obtain. Many clubs do not like to host power tournaments for several reasons. First, hosting is a large commitment of time and manpower to run the tournament and maintain the facility. Second, many facilities will not allow clubs to host tournaments. Third, hosting a tournament may not be cost effective for some clubs due to the high cost of renting the facility. And finally, and most importantly, many clubs do not want to risk losing a facility or damaging a relationship with their facility management as a result of hosting a tournament.
For clubs that do open up their facilities for tournaments, conditions are usually attached to the rental. These conditions are usually translated into Site Rules. Zona expects all members and spectators to follow all posted gym rules at all facilities. If you do not know the rules, please ask the site director. All sites have one site rule in common: No Food Or Drink In the Gym. Please keep in mind that you are a guest at a facility and that the site rules are outlined for a reason. Ignoring the site rules is wrong even if someone else (or everyone else) is doing it. Ignoring the site rules is wrong even if you don't get caught. Please set a positive example and be accountable for your actions.
As you are leaving a site after a tournament, please make sure that you leave your area clean. Please pick up all of your trash, including water bottles.
What You Should Bring to a Tournament
Food and Drinks: Because tournaments take a minimum of 6 hours to complete, all athletes should bring plenty of water (in closeable containers) and healthy snacks. While there is no scheduled lunch break, there are times that the athletes are off and can grab a quick bite to eat. Teams will typically find a spot outside the gym (remember, food and drinks are not allowed in the gym) where all athletes can store their coolers and team bags. This spot will serve as a team picnic/meeting area during the day. Some facilities have snack bars, but the availability and selection vary by site.
Uniforms: Athletes should make sure that they have all of their volleyball equipment with team at a tournament. Double check prior to leaving the house to ensure that shoes, socks, kneepads, extra uniform tops, hair ties, and personal hygiene products are in the gym bag. Athletes should always bring all uniform tops to a tournament so the team can utilize the Libero, who must wear a different color uniform top than the rest of the players. Also, having all sets of uniforms allows the team to change jerseys if necessary.
Chairs: Because tournaments are set up to allow the best possible playing area for the athletes, most facilities do not have seating available for spectators. We recommend bringing a chair for each spectator. Additionally, we recommend bringing a towel or blanket to place under the chair, as some facilities request that spectators place a buffer between the chair and the playing surface.
Great Attitude: All athletes, parents, and spectators should bring a great attitude to the gym. Please realize that it is a long day of play and that the tournament should be a time of working hard, working together, learning volleyball, and having fun. We encourage athletes, coaches, and parents to be competitive and play fair. Please set a good example for all of our young ladies and treat all participants as you expect to be treated (or as you would want your daughter to be treated). If you cannot act appropriately, please remove yourself from the playing area.
What You Should NOT Bring to a Tournament
Cigarettes: Cigarette smoking is not allowed in any facility hosting a tournament. Additionally, if the tournament is at a school, smoking is not allowed anywhere on campus, including the parking lots.
Alcohol and Illegal Drugs: Under no circumstance should a parent, athlete, or spectator bring alcohol or any illegal drug to a tournament. All of our members have signed the USA Volleyball Code of Conduct. By signing the document, members have agreed to abide by the USA Volleyball policy regarding alcohol and illegal drugs during USA Volleyball sanctioned events (this is a no tolerance policy).
Pets: Do not bring pets of any kind into host facilities. The only exception to this rule is for certified working dogs.
What to Expect at Region Competitions
Background Information
All Zona teams compete in Arizona Region Power League, which encompasses the entire state of Arizona. Although teams hail from all over the state, the vast majority of teams are from the Phoenix metro area. Tournament dates, locations, and sites are scheduled by the Arizona Region.
Start Times and Playing Sites
There are several tournament divisions available in which teams can compete. Within each tournament division, teams are grouped into 5-8 team pools for each competition date. All of the competition dates are available on our Master Schedule. However, we will not know the location or start time for each Division until the Monday prior to the competition date. Please understand that Zona does not control the scheduling of the events and, therefore, cannot influence when the information is released. Additionally, Zona does not control the gym assignments for each division/pool. The Arizona Region must re-configure divisions/pools after each competition date and then determine where to put each pool based on available sites and driving distances. The best advice we can give our members is to set aside the entire day for each competition date. Make final travel plans after the sites and start times have been announced.
Transportation
Zona does not provide transportation to or from region competitions. Zona coaches are not allowed to transport athletes to any competition (or practice). Each athlete is responsible for her own transportation to and from each tournament. Please plan ahead.
Competition Schedule
Athletes are expected to participate in all aspects of the tournament. At every tournament, each team will compete in a minimum of three matches. The general schedule of play will be posted at the tournament desk at each playing site. Typically, the opponent and start time for the first matches of the day are scheduled. All subsequent matches will begin approximately 20 minutes after the completion of the prior match. All subsequent opponents will be determined by each teams' match results.
In addition to competition, all teams will have officiating responsibilities throughout the day. Many times, teams must complete an officiating assignment before leaving the gym for the day. Athletes will not be allowed to leave the playing site to go get food during a tournament. Athletes will not be allowed to leave the playing site until all team responsibilities are fulfilled and the coach dismisses the team for the day.
Officiating
As stated above, all teams will have officiating responsibilities throughout the day. Generally, the region will provide an R1 (official on the stand) for each court. The officiating team must provide an R2, score keeper, Libero tracker, score flipper, and lines judges. Please do not distract any of our athletes as they are performing their officiating duties. We want to ensure that our athletes are attentive and focused while officiating.
Please keep in mind that young women (the same age as your daughter) will be officiating the matches in which we compete. Officiating a match is tough. The athletes must know the rules and must be able to make split second decisions when officiating. They are all learning. They will make mistakes. Please be patient and kind to the officiating team and treat each young lady as you would want another parent to treat your daughter. Let us all work together to keep the learning fun and the competition in perspective.
When athletes are officiating a match, they are not allowed to have any electronic devices (cell phone, iPod, etc) in their possession.
The Power Structure
The Arizona Region Power League
There are over 65 girl's clubs in Arizona. Within each club, athletes are placed onto teams based on their USA Volleyball age. For each age division, the Arizona Region provides tournament divisions in which teams can compete. Teams compete only within the age and division in which they are entered. There are 4 age divisions in which teams can compete: U12, U14, U16, and U18. There are 3 competition divisions in which clubs can compete: Club, Championship Club, and Open.
Power Format
Both the Club and Open Divisions use a Power Format for moving teams up and down a continuum. In the Club Division, the continuum is by age (U12, U14, U16, U18). In the Open Division, the continuum includes all of the teams registered to play. Regardless of how the continuum is comprised, all of the teams are broken down into 5-8 team pools. Each teams' final seed of each competition will determine the pool they will play in at the next tournament. Generally, teams that finish 1-3 will move up one pool; teams that finish 4-5 will remain in the same pool; and teams that finish 6-8 will move down one pool.
Please keep in mind that the format may vary if divisions are missing teams on a particular play date. Regardless of the format, teams will move up or down based on their ranking at the end of the play date.
The power format and the movement on the continuum allows teams to eventually compete against teams that they are similar to, creating competitive match play for all. Ultimately, the final power ranking will seed each team into the Region Championship Tournament.
The Club Division
The Club Division has three age groups: U12, U14, and U16. For each age group, there is a distinct tournament schedule and teams do not intermix with other age groups. A majority of the teams in the Arizona Region compete in the Club Division. Teams in the Club Division will compete in 7 tournaments throughout the course of the season.
Each competition date in the Club Division is a half-day affair. Tournaments are always held on Saturdays. Tournaments will either run 8am-2pm or 2pm-8pm (approximately 6 hours long). Within each age group, teams are grouped into 8-team pools. At each tournament, each division will compete in a modified 8-team bracket. Each team will play a minimum of three matches per tournament. At the end of the tournament play, each team will have a final seed (1-8). That final seed will determine the pool for the next competition date.
The Championship Club Division
The Championship Club division is the Arizona Region's answer to creating a more competitive division for the teams who are at the top of their age groups that are not travel teams. The format of the Championship Club is exactly like the Club Division. The only difference is that the all teams are in the same continuum, which means that teams of different age groups will compete.
The Open Division
The Open Division accepts teams in the U15, U16, U17, and U18 age groups. Teams in the Open Division compete in 5 tournaments over the course of the season.
Each competition in the Open Division is an all-day affair. Tournaments will start in the morning with pool play and finish the day with bracket play. Pool results will determine bracket seeding. Tournaments will take approximately 9 hours to complete. Each team will play a minimum of 5 matches per tournament. At the end of the bracket play, each team will have a final seed (1-8). That final seed will determine the pool for the next competition date.
The Region Championships
What Are the Region Championships?
The Region Championships are the final competitions of the season for the Arizona Power League. Each division (Club, Championship Club, and Open) will have a championship for each age division (U12, U14, U16, and U18).
The Region Championship is the final event of the season for all of our Region teams.
Tournament Format
Each Region Championship is a full-day tournament. Each team is seeded into the Championship based on their finish at the last power tournament. Based on the number of teams in each age group, the Championship may be divided into smaller divisions (A, AA, AAA, etc). For each division, teams are snake-seeded into 3-team pools for morning competition. Following pool play, teams will compete in a cross-pool match to determine championship division bracket placement. Bracket play is single elimination with consolation games for place.
Important Information About Region Championships
Lunch: There are no lunch breaks built into the tournament. Please bring food with you or send someone (not the athlete) for food. Neither the coaches nor the athletes should leave the site for food.
Morning Sites: As with all of the Power Tournaments throughout the season, the morning sites will not be available from the region until the Monday prior to the tournament. Please count on an 8am start time and set aside the entire day for the tournament.
Afternoon Sites:There is a high probability that teams will have to change sites for the afternoon bracket. Please do not leave the morning site until the coach has directed you to do so (the coach will be responsible for confirming afternoon sites). Typically, the morning site director will have directions from their site to the site you are traveling to. Once you have been released from your morning site, go directly to your afternoon site. Do not stop for food.
Parent Behavior: Zona Volleyball Club and the Arizona Region value sportsmanship and the enjoyment of the game of volleyball. We ask for your help in fostering a positive competitive environment for all by refraining from using negative commentary directed at the opposing teams, the site directors, and the officials.
