Heart Challenge
2025 will be the 31st year for the (Gold) Heart Challenge
When: March 1 & 2, 2025
Schedules: Schedules will be posted on AES, about 10 days before the event
Format: 3 rounds of pool play, followed by single elimination playoffs. We will run all 4-team pools (as much as possible). Play starts Saturday morning at 8 am with the first round of pool play. The second round of pool play is Saturday afternoon (complete around 7 pm). On Sunday morning we start the third round of pool play and we wrap on Sunday afternoon with single elimination playoffs. The tournament will finish between 4 and 5 pm on Sunday. Typically teams play 10 or 11 matches.
Match format: In 4-team pools, all pool play is 2 sets to 25 points, starting at 4-4. Playoff matches are best 2 out of 3 sets format. First 2 sets to 25 points, starting at 4-4. Third set, if needed, is to 15 points, starting at 0-0.
Ties: All ties are broken on paper. No tie-breaking sets are played.
Tie Breaking procedures Heart Challenge Cup
All matches in pool play are automatic 2 sets or automatic 3 sets. There is NO match play. In AES, teams will show a win-loss record for matches. We ignore the match records shows as we do not play full matches. Ties will NOT be broken on the match percentages. The records that will be considered, are SET percentages to determine if there are ties.
Ties within Pools:
2 teams have the same record in SETS after pool play:
- Head to Head Set record in the match
- Overall Point percentage
- Point differential between tied teams (points won minus points lost)
- Overall Points won
- Flip a coin
3 teams have the same record in SETS after pool play:
- Head to Head Set record between the tied teams
- Overall Point percentage
- Point differential between tied teams (points won minus points lost)
- Overall Points won
- Flip a coin
4 teams have the same record in SETS after pool play:
- Overall Point percentage
- Overall Points won
- Flip a coin
Ties between Pools:
To determine best 2nds, 3rds or 4ths:
- Overall Set percentage
- Overall Point percentage
- Overall Points Won
- Flip a Coin
It is possible that a team that won 2 matches in pool and lost one (2-1), will have a better match record than the team that beat them (and split their two other matches (1-0), as no credit is given in the system for the ties. The teams have the same SET record (4-4) which is what counts and what creates the tie. In this scenario, the team with the 1-0 match record is going to win the tie. The head-to-head match breaks the tie.
Re-seeds: In several rounds, we have to re-seed teams after pool play to advance the correct number of teams. Re-seeds cannot be completed until all pools have finished play. For round 2 of pool play, all re-seeds are placed as 4th team in the pool so the teams that are already known in each pool can start play for the next round.
We may make some adjustments to the re-seeds to avoid replay matches. Going into the playoffs, no adjustments will be made for re-plays and teams will just play according to their seed.
Officiating: R1’s are provided for all matches. Teams will be responsible to provide the rest of the work team. A rostered coach (head or assistant) has to be the R2 or the Scorer for the match.
Credentials: All coaches are to wear their HOA credentials visible at all times. Coaches who do not have a picture on their credentials will have to check in and show a picture ID, to get a wristband to prove that their identity is checked. Coaches from other regions will have to show their membership card and a picture ID at check in. These coaches will receive credentials and wristbands for the event.
Locations: Exact playing locations will be announced about 4-6 weeks before the event. Once we know how many courts we need for each division, we can assign the divisions to the different size facilities and minimize the chance that teams will have to drive to different locations in between rounds.
We are pleased to announce the playing locations for the Heart Challenge Cup:
12’s Division:
13’s Division:
14’s Division:
15’s Division:
16’s Division:
17’s Division:
18’s Division:
Sports Pavilion in Lawrence (100 Rock Chalk Ln, Lawrence, KS 66049)
OKUN Fieldhouse (20200 Johnson Dr. Shawnee, KS 66218)
Davies Volleyball Complex (548 South Coy Street, Kansas City, KS 66105)
New Century Fieldhouse (551 New Century Pkwy, New Century, KS 66031)
MAVS facility (16501 W 116th St, Lenexa, KS 66219)
Hotels: You can find hotel information on the HOA website. These are hotels that work with HOA and have special rates for us. You do not need to stay in any of these hotels if you prefer other opportunities.
Out-of-region teams: Teams that are not registered with the Heart of America region of USA Volleyball, but are registered with another region, can sign up for this event, by mailing their Webpoint roster, together with their entry fee and a note with the tournament and division to sign up for to the HOA office: 548 South Coy Street, Kansas City, KS 66105. Make your check out to HOA.
Entry Fee: The entry fee for this event is $ 400. There is no charge for spectator admission.