2024 Keeper of the Plains Classic
The Keeper of the Pains event in Wichita was started in 2016 with about 100 teams. The first annual two-day tournament in Wichita grew quickly to 200 teams in 2019. Thanks to the great facilities that are available in Wichita, we are able to keep growing the event. Many clubs from neighboring regions have discovered the event and travel down to join.
The event has been named after the famous “Keeper of the Plains” statue by Kowa -Comache artist Blackbear Bosin. The sculpture stands at the confluence of the Arkansas and Little Arkansas rivers in Wichita, adjacent to the Mid-America All-Indian Center.

Update: We have been informed that Wichita Hoops has shut down, effectively on August 18, 2023. We had contracted the site for 2024 Keeper of the Plains. We may not be able to fully replace the 12 courts at that location and may have to limit the number of teams that can participate this year.

Dates: February 24 & 25, 2024

Schedules: Click on this link to view the 2024 Schedule

Combine: Championship Combines will be hosting a college coaches combine in conjunction with the event. The combine will be held on Friday evening, February 23th from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at Farha South in Wichita. You do not have to play in the tournament to sign up for the Combine. Click on this link to register for the Combine.

Format: We try to get as much as possible pools of 5 teams. The teams play a round robin in their pool on Saturday. We play from 8 am till about 5 pm. On Sunday there is a challenge round followed by single elimination playoffs. Play is scheduled to complete around 4 pm on Sunday. If we end up with 4 team pools, there may be some cross matches on Saturday afternoon to give teams 4 matches on Saturday.

Match format: In 5-team pools, the challenge round and playoffs, play is 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. Teams that are tied after pool play will be seeded as follows: 2-way ties: head to head match result will determine the higher seed. Three or Four way ties will be broken in the following order: Overall set percentage, overall point percentage, head-to-head set percentage, head-to-head point percentage. It still tied, a coin flip will determine the highest seed. For pools where automatic 3 sets are played, the final finishes will be based on MATCH records in the first place. If teams are tied in MATCH record, the procedures above apply.

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:

Due to space issues, we have to make an adjustment to the playing locations for the Keeper of the Plains tournament.

We have to switch the locations for the 14’s and the 17’s divisions. All others stay the same:

We are pleased to announce the playing locations for the Keeper of the Plain event in Wichita on February 24 & 25

18’s, 14’s and 16’s Divisions: Farha Andover
15’s Division: Farha South and Newman University
17’s and 13’s Divisions: Farha South
12’s Division: Heskett Center

Farha Andover, 640 YMCA Dr, Andover, KS 67002
Farha South, 3405 S. Meridian Avenue, Wichita, KS 67217
Newman University: 3100 W. McCormick, Wichita, Kansas 67213
Heskett Center: 1845 Fairmount St, Wichita, KS

Outside food and coolers are not allowed at these locations.

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 $ 300. No spectator admission is charged.