RBVL Storms the Beach

The Rockaway Beach Volleyball League played under perfect conditions for the second week in a row and Riis Park was packed with players both during and after the matches. The weekly party was held on the boardwalk at Riis Park and virtually the entire league remained on the boardwalk or on the beach until late in the evening. Bugsy and the Gray Riders rocked the beach with great live music from 7:30 PM on and everyone congregated at the Riis Park Bazaar or across the way at Whit’s End to enjoy the festivities. For most of the tenure of the RBVL there were exactly zero vendors on the boardwalk and now the league is lucky enough to have two. Enjoy it, people.

EZ Company was lucky to take one game against Serves 'Em Right. Lady Half a Game gave 100% but one wonders if you give 100% for half a game does it mean you only gave 50%? Old Dan thought he was at the driving range, except he kept teeing the ball up for the other team. Greg the Keg carried the team for stretches and his play generated excitement up and down the beach. Young Dan was busy advancing his budding acting career playing the role made famous by Claude Raines in the Invisible Man. Jill learned that when you're calling the old people off the ball you have to speak LOUDLY. TJ pulled his Ferris Bueller act again, but swears he was working on the family vacation home in Upper Gerritsen Terrace. Poor Ann was left to explain what it means to get BamBoobZeld, not that anyone understood. The Tralee Alumni Society Lass was missed by all again---friends are concerned about some new concrete work that suddenly pooped up in the backyard. CE will be all set in the new gig when she learns the magic words "EZ Company drinks are on the house!" MM showed up, drank and relaxed, a shining example to many teammates. And he did it despite a Cookie Flashback that would have driven lesser men to switch to pound cake.

Youth shall be served. Hyper Athletics sits atop the Ocean Division, a point ahead of perennial frontrunner Freedhand’s. The Ocean Breeze Division fields four teams within two points of each other – The Mighty Boosh, JG Electric, Casino Auto Body and Jameson’s. The Breakaways, Kiss My Ace and Wharf Rats are starting to pull away from the rest of the Beach teams but the season is still young. It’s All Good Tees reigns in the Beach Breeze and isn’t that appropriate with Bugsy reigning on the sound stage at the same time. Parts Are Us Sharks and the White Horse Tavern Beach Posse share the lead in the Sun while ServPro NW Brooklyn, Chicks to Go (Island) and BILLY MACS are ahead in the Sun Ray, Moon and Star. The Stanii lost a tight match to the Atlantic Service Sandstorm 3-2. The night was filled with good solid play and great sportsmanship and that’s what the RBVL is all about. Pappy, we miss having you on the court because of your knee problems but we really love your new wheels. Patty and the entire RBVL Committee appreciate everyone’s kind comments tonight and every Wednesday regarding our hard work. Thanks. That said, any nets brought in after 8:30 PM will no longer be tolerated. Fines will be given.

As a reminder, the RBVL has gone “green” and the Rules and 2016 Schedules are posted on the website. This saves the printing of thousands of pages of copies. Captains should take ten minutes and read over the rules. Forfeit times and legal teams are all explained, including, “Teams consist of 6 players with a minimum of 2 female players. (Exception - Game 1 may be played with 5 players with a minimum of 2 female players.)” Also, if game 1 has been forfeited: Game 2 will have a forfeit time of 7:00 p.m.; Game 3 will have a forfeit time of 7:15 p.m.; Game 4 will have a forfeit time of 7:30 p.m.; Game 5 will have a forfeit time of 7:45 p.m. However, if a legal game has been played, the next game shall be deemed to start immediately following. (There is no additional 15-minute waiting period once play has begun.)

The RBVL has many new and returning sponsors. The league would not flourish without their financial support and is very grateful for their help. RBVL players should consider using some of the many league sponsors for personal items. After all, these businesses supported you when you needed them; why not return the favor and support them if you need services they provide. Your league has become the place to be during the summer in Rockaway. Remember that has happened primarily because of great camaraderie and sportsmanship more than great athletic play, although there is quite a bit of that, too.

President Patty Moule and her Committee members still have one major complaint with league players. It is a problem that has persisted over the years and there is no reason for it at all. Each and every week, a handful of teams return their nets to the equipment room late. So 70 teams are doing the right thing but 5 to 8 teams are not. That means Equipment Manager Extraordinaire, Steve, and several other Committee members cannot leave for the after-party and must needlessly sit around and wait. And don’t just wait for the deadline time; bring your net back immediately after your game. Then go back and finish your beverages and chit-chat. Steve does inventory every week. That helps keep the equipment coming back. Have some consideration. It’s the least you can do.

Each year we try to accommodate as many people as we can in the RBVL. We have many new refs, some of whom are learning on the job. Some are young and some are not as young but they all are trying their best to call the games fairly. Believe me, they do not have an ax to grind with any of our teams and we need you to treat them with respect. (There has been occasional slippage in this department the last two seasons.) However, we want them to improve their performance, too. To that end, please send us an e-mail (jmcgivney2@nyc.rr.com) on Thursdays with a quick summary of the previous night’s ref. We’ll know who it was because we keep track of that stuff. It can be simply, “Ref was great.” Or give us some detail, “Ref called no net violations,” Ref called too many carries,” or “He called the game tighter than any ref this year.” You get the idea – brief and to the point, both good and bad. So far this season we have played 780 volleyball games and we have received one e-mail evaluating the ref. And it was all positive.

Captains are reminded that they can have team items entered in the weekly Wave article by showing up at the sponsor bar or by e-mailing Joe at jmcgivney2@nyc.rr.com by midnight on Wednesday night. The RBVL has a Facebook page and, if you like it, you will receive timely updates, whoever you are, captain or not. Your RBVL Committee members will be around each and every week to help out on any matters and answer your questions.

See you on the beach!