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Post by floridavbdad on May 8, 2020 22:25:05 GMT -5
OTVA just announced closing of south facility (12 courts) and north facility (4 courts) May 30, combining into Longwood with 5 courts.
Case study of how to destroy a powerhouse program in 6 years or less:
OVA birthed 2 players of year in Lindsey Owens and Savannah Vach.
Central Florida won largest class state volleyball championship past 3 years off the back of ova players. (Winter Garden, oviedo high school and hagerty).
Stephanie Samedy (MN) comes out of central Florida benefitting from OVA influence.
Naomi Cabello - Texas setter same as Samedy
Rileigh Powers - premier beach player (UCLA) grew up in this program.
Matti Mckisssock ACC setter and server of year 2019 with majority of club resume at ova.
The duo Bob Greis and Tanya Starrett crashed the OVA powerhouse program into the Florida sand in under 5 years.
Unclear what Gries was thinking when he gobbled up every club in Florida he could and no one would come to his tourney or play his teams.
Sad for central Florida Volleyball and the legacy built by pioneers of Sindee Snow and Yvonne Devlin.
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Post by floridavbdad on May 8, 2020 22:34:35 GMT -5
Dear Families,
As always, we hope this email finds you safe and in good health.
By the end of next week, we will have further information from the tournament directors of the Florida Region, AAU’s, and Big South as to the status of their tournaments. Their decisions will determine our ability to resume the season. Obviously, they are working diligently to evaluate whether they can hold the tournaments in a safe environment and consistent with national, state and local guidelines. It has been a long and frustrating wait but the safety of everyone certainly comes first. We continue to be pleased to report that we know of no positive cases of anyone from the OT family of players and coaches.
Regardless of whether we resume or not, we will be offering some portion of refunds to all members. We are waiting to make this determination once we know the final status of the season. Refunds will be cash refunds and not credits toward next season. We understand that is what many other clubs are doing. We do not think that is fair and is just a ploy to force members to return to the same club next year. Although the COVID-19 has created a devastating financial impact to nearly all youth sports organizations, including ours, we are prepared to accept the financial loss in order to do what is right for our members.
For those teams that practice in the South facility and at Lawton Chiles, we will not be returning to either next year. The lease costs and costs of operation at the South facility have become significantly too expensive and an agreement could not be reached with the building owner. The building is better suited as an industrial warehouse as are the rest of the buildings in the area. We have had many fine memories at South and our North locations, but sometimes change is inevitable. If we are able to resume practice, all South teams will continue at South until the end of May and then resume at the Longwood facility. For our North teams, if Lawton is not an option, practices can be held at South or Longwood. We have an outstanding facility in Longwood and look forward to hosting all families there in the future. After many years of maintaining several different facilities, we are looking forward to having all of our players, families and coaches in one Orlando location.
Sincerely,
Bob Gries and Tanya Starrett
OTVA
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Post by floridavbdad on May 8, 2020 22:56:45 GMT -5
For those teams that practice in the South facility and at Lawton Chiles, we will not be returning to either next year. The lease costs and costs of operation at the South facility have become significantly too expensive and an agreement could not be reached with the building owner. The building is better suited as an industrial warehouse as are the rest of the buildings in the area. We have had many fine memories at South and our North locations, but sometimes change is inevitable. If we are able to resume practice, all South teams will continue at South until the end of May and then resume at the Longwood facility. For our North teams, if Lawton is not an option, practices can be held at South or Longwood. We have an outstanding facility in Longwood and look forward to hosting all families there in the future. After many years of maintaining several different facilities, we are looking forward to having all of our players, families and coaches in one Orlando location.
Sincerely,
Bob Gries and Tanya Starrett
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Post by eazy on May 8, 2020 23:05:21 GMT -5
OTVA just announced closing of south facility (12 courts) and north facility (4 courts) May 30, combining into Longwood with 5 courts. Case study of how to destroy a powerhouse program in 6 years or less: . You sound a bit bitter considering the information you provided.. They are not renewing leases at two facilities because they have become too expensive. This would be disappointment under normal circumstances but not unheard of. In today’s economy, this is simply to be expected. They are offering cash refunds instead of credits. What more do you want from them? To continue to rent facilities they cannot afford? OTVA is still very much a national powerhouse in the club volleyball scene. Everyone is feeling the hurt of this crisis equally. In Florida, as I Understand, there is OTVA and there is Top Select. That’s it. Those are the good clubs. OTVA will survive and continue to produce great players, I’m sure. No need to throw insults unless you can provide a better option. |
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Post by floridavbdad on May 8, 2020 23:11:30 GMT -5
They went from 21 courts to 5 in a month.
No abilty to host tourneys.
No way to accommodate all players and family’s.
See the economics.
Going to leave many dee dees with no home come next season.
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Post by jackson5vb on May 8, 2020 23:15:03 GMT -5
OTVA just announced closing of south facility (12 courts) and north facility (4 courts) May 30, combining into Longwood with 5 courts. Case study of how to destroy a powerhouse program in 6 years or less: OVA birthed 2 players of year in Lindsey Owens and Savannah Vach. Central Florida won largest class state volleyball championship past 3 years off the back of ova players. (Winter Garden, oviedo high school and hagerty). Stephanie Samedy (MN) comes out of central Florida benefitting from OVA influence. Naomi Cabello - Texas setter same as Samedy Rileigh Powers - premier beach player (UCLA) grew up in this program. Matti Mckisssock ACC setter and server of year 2019 with majority of club resume at ova. The duo Bob Greis and Tanya Starrett crashed the OVA powerhouse program into the Florida sand in under 5 years. Unclear what Gries was thinking when he gobbled up every club in Florida he could and no one would come to his tourney or play his teams. Sad for central Florida Volleyball and the legacy built by pioneers of Sindee Snow and Yvonne Devlin. I think it's pretty common for clubs to try to buy out every other club in their area. If it results in a raise in an allowable fees/ dues then why wouldn't that be a good idea for the club owners? Then they can also poach players from other clubs and contend at the Nationals level. Look at the airline industry. They all merged and got bought out and they were able to raise rates of flights. |
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Post by eazy on May 8, 2020 23:34:11 GMT -5
They went from 21 courts to 5 in a month. No abilty to host tourneys. No way to accommodate all players and family’s. See the economics. Going to leave many dee dees with no home come next season. Right, because this month is no different from any other month? No other part of the economy is shrinking? Try harder. You do not need to own facilities to host tourneys. Look at USAV, JVA, AAU, Triple Crown, etc. None of them own facilities. You think because they are not renewing leases for this year, they will be unable to add any new leases/courts for next season? They’ve only talked about the rest of this season. I will admit, I do not know them personally. But the idea that a club the size of OTVA is going to lose 16 courts and not replace any of them the next year is simply insane. You must think very, very little of them. Just for the sake of argument, let’s say they are as incompetent as you insinuate. You don’t think any other clubs with take their place next year? You think those players will simply be incapable of playing club volleyball? Do you see how crazy you sound? I understand it is a tough time and everyone is hurting and looking for answers. Just give it time. If they don’t make it right, then complain. As of now, they seem to be handling this better than 90% of clubs out there. |
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Post by saywhatnow on May 9, 2020 1:40:18 GMT -5
I don’t understand. How is reducing their real estate cost for the rest of the season a negative? The season is in limbo. Kill the leases on the other courts, reduce costs and get money back in the hands of parents. The only issue I have is with them calling out clubs who aren’t giving refunds. Stay in your lane and only discuss what your club is doing.
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Post by floridavbdad on May 9, 2020 8:17:06 GMT -5
Letters say not returning to either facility next season. I read this as much more than reducing footprint this year. See what happens, I don’t see this as a positive for orlando or the players.
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Post by crug68 on May 9, 2020 8:23:45 GMT -5
I think we are going to see a lot of reorganization in the club ranks. All the clubs that I am familiar with lease space for practice and training. Since these leases are in industrial areas, they are not cheap, and the shutdown has really hurt. With my DD graduating club this year, I have only been watching the club scene for the past 4 years; in that time, I have seen more than my fair share of clubs come and go.
I do feel bad for the kids at OTVA in the areas that have been abandoned. My DD has played against them on several occasions and they seemed like a classy organization with great kids and parents. With the kids having such a short window in club, I hope that the vacuum is filled fast.
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Post by reader on May 9, 2020 11:17:35 GMT -5
Longer drive is a bummer, loss of "home" and its community is a bummer, but the cash back is a pretty stand-up move by the club.
And if they go looking for new space in August there's a good chance landlords will have different expectations for rent after half a year of economic hammering. If the club has a pile of flooring on hand it shouldn't take that long to open a new space once they have a handle on how large the club needs to be this fall. They could probably rent school space somewhere for a couple months while it gets assembled. Lots of change coming.
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Post by sevb on May 9, 2020 13:24:37 GMT -5
Top Select just won the lotto...
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Post by vbnerd on May 9, 2020 15:30:23 GMT -5
Business struggles do to COVID.
Dog bites man.
Red light follows yellow.
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Post by silverchloride on May 9, 2020 15:34:18 GMT -5
I don't know the OTVA Admin, but in my DDs age group have played them many times at tournaments. Have also been lodged in the same hotels a couple times. The parents, players, and coaches that we have met were very pleasant and I hope that they fare well.
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Post by silverchloride on May 9, 2020 15:38:31 GMT -5
Business struggles do to COVID. Dog bites man. Red light follows yellow. Not a poetry buff, but is this Haiku? |
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