The Power League Qualifier (PLQ) and Pre-Qualifying tournaments will be seeded based on last season’s results/rankings, when possible. For example, an 18U team registering for the PLQ will use the ‘same’ team’s 17U results/rankings from the previous season. These results/rankings will be used by the HOA seeding committee. Teams from new clubs or teams who had no equivalent in the same club in the previous year are seeded at the bottom.

The top 11 or 16 finishers in each age division of the PLQ will qualify for Power League 1. For the 14, 15, 16 and 17 divisions, the next 9 finishers will qualify for Power League 2. The order of finish in the PLQ will determine where each team is seeded in Power League. Teams that qualify in the same round of playoffs, will be seeded in the following order: match record, set record, and then point percentage of pool matches played in the PLQ. For example, 4 teams qualify for Power League by making it into the quarterfinals of the PLQ. The team with the best match record of these teams will get the highest seed. If match record does not seed all 4 teams, we will go to set percentage, then to point percentage. If still tied, a coin flip will determine the seed.

The Qualifying (PLQ) and Pre-Qualifying tournaments will be standard pool play followed by single-elimination bracket play, designed to narrow down the field to 11, 16 teams or 11 and 9 teams. Playoff matches that are played for seeding purposes only (not for qualifying for Power League), may be one set to 25 points.

Power League formats:
12’s division: A single round robin with 11 teams. Each team will play 5 matches on each playing date, with the exception of the 11th seeded team (4 & 6 matches).
13’s, and 18’s divisions: 16 teams play 3 rounds of pool play with pools of 4 teams over 2 playing dates. The last round is comprised of a Gold pool playing for places 1 thru 4, a Silver pool playing for places 5 thru 8, etc. Teams will play 5 matches on the first day and 4 matches on the 2nd day.
14’s, 15’s, 16’s and 17’s divisions: For Power League 1: A single round robin with 11 teams. Each team will play 5 matches on each playing date, with the exception of the 11th seeded team (4 & 6 matches). Power League 2: A single round robin with 9 teams. Each team will play 4 matches on each playing date.

All matches will be best two out of three sets, starting at 4-4. All sets, except the third, will be to 25 points. The third, if needed, will be to 15 points starting at 0-0.

One certified adult referee will be provided for all matches as the R1. When teams are not playing, they may be assigned to help officiate matches. A rostered coach must be the R2 or Scorer for all age divisions.

The winner of Power League (except for 13’s and 18’s divisions) will be the team that wins the most matches. In case of a two-way tie, the result of the match between the tied teams will be used to determine the winner. The 13’s and 18’s divisions will play 3 rounds of pool play with the winner of the Gold pool in the third round as the winner of Power League.

The winner of each age division of Power League will be offered a National bid to USAV Girls Junior National Volleyball Championships (GJNC’s). Runners up may also receive a National bid to GJNC’s.

A team which has been formally offered a bid for GJNC’s must either accept or decline such offer on or before 12 pm of the first Tuesday following the conclusion of the last round of Power League. Notice to accept or decline must be made in writing, signed by the team’s coach or club director and delivered to the HOA office by the above deadline. If such notice is not received by the above deadline, the bid will be offered to the next finisher. If such occurs, the next finisher will have 24 hours to either decline or accept the bid.

A team that accepts a GJNC bid thru Power League is required to prepare and submit all appropriate forms and fees that may be required by the GJNC registration process. It is highly recommended that each team make itself aware, in a timely manner, of all requirements. Any team allowing a bid to ‘drop’ and be lost for use by a HOA team, will be subject to sanctions, including but not limited to: being denied entry into the following season’s HOA Power League and/or the HOA Region Bid Tournament. It is imperative that a team that has accepted a bid for GJNC’s, notifies the HOA office immediately if unable to attend. This increases the likelihood that another HOA team can attend. Teams who have received a National bid through their Power League finish cannot participate in the HOA Region Bid Event since they can not improve the level of their bid at this event.

The tie-breaking procedure for the Qualifying Tournament (PLQ): Ties will be broken on pool competition results. No tie-breaking sets will be played. In 5 team pools, teams may be eliminated from playoffs based on points.

Tie breaking for Power League: All ties will be broken based on Match, Set and Point results. The only time a tie-breaking set will be played in Power League is when all tie-breaking criteria are exhausted and a tie still exists. Instead of a coin flip, one 25 point set will be played to break the tie.

2 way tie: Head to head match result will determine the tie
3 or more teams are tied in match record:

1. Head to Head Match record between the tied teams, if still tied:
2. Head to Head Set record between the tied teams, if still tied:
3. Head to Head Point differential between the tied teams, if still tied:
4. Overall Set record between the tied teams, if still tied:
5. Overall Point differential between the tied teams, if still tied:
6. Tie-breaker set

If a team is eliminated from the tie following these procedures, but 2 or more teams are still tied, the next step on the list will apply (keep moving down the list, do not go back to the top with one team less in the tie).

Power League is one single event, played over multiple playing dates. Teams will verify and sign their roster before play starts on the first playing date. No player can be added to the roster after the roster has been signed. This means, no player can play on a subsequent playing date who is not on the original roster. This applies to Power League only and does NOT include the Power League Qualifying (PLQ) tournament.

No individual can play for more than one team in any of the age divisions of the PLQ (including Pre-Qualifying Tournament). No player can play for more than one team in any of the Power League age divisions. A player can play for a different team in the PLQ than in Power League. Clubs are allowed to add a certified coach to the roster for the subsequent playing dates.

In the unlikely case one of the Power League playing dates is cancelled due to inclement weather, the following procedures will be followed:

Pre-Qualifying Tournament:

Power League Qualifying (PLQ) Tournament gets cancelled and cannot be rescheduled: Highest ranked 11 or 16 teams from the previous years final rankings will be selected. Teams who have changed to a different club as a whole cannot claim a spot. New clubs cannot claim a spot.

1^st Playing date gets cancelled: A one or two-day tournament format will be used on the 2^nd playing date to determine the winner.

2^nd Playing date gets cancelled for 12’s, 13’s, 14’s or 18’s division: Power League will be considered incomplete and all bids will default to regional championships.

2^nd Playing date gets cancelled for 15’s 16’s or 17’s division: A one day tournament will be played on the third playing date with 16 teams (4 pools of 4, followed by single elimination playoffs). Results from the first playing date will not be taken into account for the Power League finishes.

3rd Playing date gets cancelled: Power League will be considered incomplete and all bids will default to regional championships

• Teams who qualify for Power League will be required to participate or they will lose their full entry fee. Teams who register for other tournaments on Power League playing dates for their age division, prior to completion of the Power League Qualifying (PLQ) Tournament, are automatically disqualified from playing in Power League and lose their full entry fee.
• If a team misses a round or day of play, that team will be listed as losing all sets and matches in all Power League playing dates. Wins will be recorded to the appropriate teams’ records.
• Teams that qualify for USAV Girls Junior National Championships (GJNC’s) before the completion of Power League will remain in the event and have to compete in all playing dates.
• Under extenuating circumstances, the HOA Regional Commissioner or designated person (i.e. Tournament Site Director) may modify set or match formats. However, every reasonable effort will be made to follow the event’s intended playing format.
• Teams have the opportunity to claim their guaranteed spot for the Power League Qualifying (PLQ) Tournament if playing under the same club name as the previous season or when 2 clubs completely merge (this notice must be provided from both club directors to the HOA Office acknowledging the complete merger of said clubs). Single teams merging or joining another club are not considered to be a full merger of clubs. The protected status is earned for the club from the previous season.
• Teams that qualify for either Power League 1 or Power League 2, cannot participate in the Freedom division of the Region Bid event for their age group i.e. they have to play in the American division if they want to participate in the Region Bid event.