City of Oaks Challenge: Jan 18-20, 2020

12 Diamond: 13s	12 Crystal: 12s
13 Diamond: 13s	13 Crystal: 13s
14 Diamond: 14s	14 Crystal: 14s
15 Diamond: 15s	15 Crystal: 15s
16 Diamond: 16s	16 Crystal: 16s	16 Boys: 16s Boys
17 Diamond: 18s	17 Crystal: 17s	17 Jade: 17s
18 Diamond: 18s	18 Crystal: 18s

Website	Locations	Schedule /Results	Spectator Admission	Absence Excuse Letter	Jerseys
					Day 1: Black/White(L) Day 2: White/Blue(L) Day 3: Blue/Black(L)	No club bus is offered for this event. All players travel with their parents.

Latest Event Update

The City of Oaks Challenge is just a few days away!

We are excited to host your team at the 5th annual City of Oaks Challenge! Our preparations for the tournament are almost complete and we are looking forward to moving into the Raleigh Convention Center this Thursday. This email is lengthy but contains important tournament details, so please be sure to read through it in its entirety.

Seeding/Pools

First round pools have been posted in AES! We feel our seeding committee has done an excellent job this early, with limited results, in seeding our event from our largest and most competitive field yet!

Doors open daily at 7am for teams/spectators. Please don’t arrive earlier planning to get in.

Tournament Format

Division wave schedules and times are posted on the website.

An important note: The 13s and the 17s Division size dictated that there are 3^rd place teams that will advance to Group 1 [still in Gold contention] on Day 2. The teams advancing will be determined by Day 1 pool play results exclusively (set-point percentage). Please reference the Flow File in AES for more information.

Awards information is available on our website. All first-place Age Division winners will receive a trophy and medals.

College Recruiters

The MLK, Jr. weekend occurs in a newly defined “quiet” period for D1 coaches meaning they are unable to be on the road recruiting. However, D2, D3, and NAIA coaches are allowed to recruit at City of Oaks Challenge. We had over 20 collegiate recruiters attend in 2019 and are expecting a similar number to attend in 2020. Below is the current list but keep in mind most college coaches either don’t register or do so in the day prior to the event.

We use the University Athlete service so please be sure your athlete’s account is updated (recommended for some 15s and all 16s and up)

Colleges Attending in 2020

Belmont Abbey College
Bridgewater College
Chowan University
Fayetteville State University
Greensboro College
Guilford College
Pfeiffer University
Pitt Community College
Randolph-Macon College
Randolph College
Salem College
Surry Community College
University of North Carolina at Pembroke
University of Virgnia’s College at Wise
Virginia Wesleyan University

Team Check In

Team check in for 12s, 12s–1 Day/Winter Classic, 14s, 15s, 16s, 17s, and 18s will take place at the Raleigh Convention Center in Room 204 [mezzanine level] during the times listed below.

Friday, January 17, 7-9 PM and Saturday, January 18, 7 AM-2 PM

Team check in for 13s and 16s-18s Boys will take place at Triangle Volleyball Club during the times below.

Friday, January 17, 6-8 PM and Saturday, January 18, 7 AM – 2 PM

The 14u Boys Division can check in before their matches on Sunday, January 19 starting at 7am at the RCC.

Coaches and players will receive competition venue entrance credentials at check in. Club Directors attending but not on a team roster can receive free entry. Please email info@trianglevolleyball.org and we will add them to a VIP list. Note: we are unfortunately unable to offer practice space on Friday night.

Each team will receive a $10 Starbucks gift card at team check-in as a welcome gift from the Greater Raleigh Sports Alliance.

Spectator Admission

Admission Costs: $10 per day or $20 for a 3-day pass. Children under 10 are FREE and they must be supervised at all times by a parent. Open play and ball handling by non-participants is not allowed.

Spectator seating is provided at the City of Oaks Challenge, therefore stadium and pop up chairs are not allowed. Please be courteous and give up your seat to those watching the current match.

Both Triangle and the RCC offers free WiFi to all attendees. Triangle Guest PW=123triangle. At the RCC select “RCC-Guest” simply “Click” to agree.

Admission bands are available for purchase at the following times/locations:

Friday, January 18, 6-9 PM in front of the entrance to Hall B on the mezzanine level of the RCC.
Saturday, Sunday and Monday beginning at 7 AM on the mezzanine level of the RCC.
At the RCC: CASH ONLY is accepted; there is an ATM available onsite at the RCC. Online ticket sales are not available.

Athletic Trainers

Certified athletic trainers will be located in both the Exhibit Hall and Ballroom at the Raleigh Convention Center, and in the Training Room at Triangle Volleyball Club. All supplies used to treat injuries are free but athlete’s requiring pre-competition taping must provide their own tape or will be charged a fee.

Our event is USAV Sanctioned – thereby all participants and spectators are covered by USAV’s Secondary Sport Accident coverage. For details, visit our website or check with championship desk.

Camping, Coolers, Large Baggage and Stadium Chairs

The Raleigh Convention Center [RCC] does not allow coolers and large baggage inside the convention center. Additionally, ‘tailgating’ in the area surrounding the convention center [sidewalks, etc] is not allow. Athlete ‘camping’ is not permitted in public areas. Room 201 on the mezzanine level of the RCC will remain open for teams to relax between matches. Items left in this room are at the individual’s own risk.

Triangle Volleyball Club does not allow food tables or coolers inside the facility. Tents are allowed on the property provided they follow the following guidelines:

Tents cannot be located in the front of the building.
Tents CANNOT occupy any parking spaces or block sidewalk traffic.
Tents must be secured. Any damage (cars, etc) or injuries suffered due to tents will be the responsibility of the owner.

Food and Concessions Information

No outside food is permitted inside the RCC. RCC concessions open at 7am and have numerous breakfast options.

In addition to water fountains located near restrooms the RCC has several water stations located at the base of the escalators.

Starbucks (Marriott City Center) will have the following hours:

Saturday, 6am - 7pm
Sunday, 6am - 7pm
Monday, 6am - 7pm

The following hotels are running breakfast specials during the 2020 City of Oaks Challenge.

· Raleigh Marriott City Center - $18pp Hot Breakfast, starting at 6 AM
· Sheraton Raleigh Downtown - $10pp++ Hot Breakfast at Café Siena, starting at 6:30am

Event Parking

Event parking is ample at Triangle and available throughout the downtown area near the RCC. Downtown Parking is $10 in most lots with no in and out privileges.

Although Raleigh has a safe and vibrant downtown area, it is strongly recommended that athletes driving themselves travel in groups of two or more.

Martin Luther King Day Parade - Monday, January 20^th - There is a Martin Luther King, Jr. Parade on Monday in downtown Raleigh. Due to the parade route there will be street closures from 10 AM - 12 PM in the downtown area. Please plan on needing extra time to get to the RCC and park on this day. For a map of specific road closures please visit the City of Oaks tournament page on trianglevolleyball.org.

Photography & Videography - please review our photography & videography policy It is intended to protect our athletes from those trying to capitalize on the athletes and not to regulate personal photography/videography for families.

Vendors

We have several great vendors at the City of Oaks Challenge located in the RCC exhibit hall. Please be sure to visit:

Lucky Dog - custom tournament t-shirts, volleyball gear and equipment
C-Salt Therapeutic Bodywork – athletic massage & beauty products. On-site massages performed near Trainer
Passanante’s Home Food Services – home food delivery service specializing in all natural and organic foods