COVID:
Due to the pandemic, we expect that we can handle no more than 250 teams total this year. That may change for better or worse as we get closer to the event. Teams that are accepted into the event may not be able to play if we have to lower our capacity. We will keep waitlists for each division. Teams are accepted once payment is received and we have hotel confirmations.
With the lower numbers of teams that we can accommodate, we expect that the event will loose money. We do still not intend to charge an admission fee, but have to cut some expenses. For one, we will not run a shuttle between the 2 sites (Convention Center and HyVee Arena). Teams will have to arrange for their own transportation to get to either site.
At this point we think it will be likely that the playoffs for the 18’s divisions on Monday will be played at the HyVee arena. All other playoffs will be played as much as possible in waves and teams have to be prepared to possibly play 3 matches in a row during playoffs. That way we can better control the number of people in the convention center.
We plan on allowing access to 25 people per team total. That includes all players, coaches and parents. We will have some ticketing system ready in January to control access. BallerTV will broadcast all matches. If occupancy requirements change, we may not allow any audience.
At this point, everybody will need to wear masks while in the facility, except for players, when on the court during competition. That may change and teams should be prepared to play while wearing masks.
The (nowadays) standards will be in place: temperature checks upon entry, hand sanitizers etc.
All of these are based on the conditions late October. We may have to change things as we get closer.