BY 1983 AND WITHOUT POINTING ANY FINGERS, SEVERAL TOP-TIER BEACH VOLLEYBALL PLAYERS FELT THIS BLOSSOMING LIFESTYLE SPORT WAS BEING MISMANAGED AND SOUGHT CONTROL OF ITS DESTINY. DECISIONS FROM THE DISTRIBUTION OF PRIZE MONIES TO THE TYPE OF BALL BEING USED LED TO A NASTY RIFT MADE PUBLIC BETWEEN BETWEEN THE TOUR’S PROMOTION COMPANY AND THIS CONSORTIUM OF VOCAL PLAYERS.

UNDER THE GUIDANCE OF RENOWNED SPORTS AGENT LEONARD ARMATO, OUT OF THIS CAME A UNIQUE HYBRID OF PLAYER-RUN UNIONS CALLED THE ASSOCIATION OF VOLLEYBALL PROFESSIONALS (AVP). AS AN ORGANIZATION, ITS DECADES-LONG TRIALS AND TRIBULATIONS ARE ONE OF SPORT’S WELL-DOCUMENTED TALES, ONE THAT WOULD FOREVER RESHAPE PROFESSIONAL BEACH VOLLEYBALL’S HISTORY.