Un order to avert the “worst-case scenario” of an elite league with only seven teams, the Volleyball Bundesliga (VBL) has lowered its requirement profile – and is reporting a quantitative upswing for the coming season. Four newcomers want to make the leap to first class. The Baden Volleys from Karlsruhe, FT 1844 Freiburg and ASV Dachau have applied from the southern group, and VC Bitterfeld-Wolfen from the north.
In addition to the seven most recently established first division teams, the Netzhoppers KW-Bestensee from Königs Wusterhausen also applied for a license. They only filed for bankruptcy in mid-April, but now want to continue playing. “This is of course an absolutely positive development,” said VBL Managing Director Julia Retzlaff. For years, the league had to report the loss of various teams, but no climbers.
In order to be able to wave a quartet up, the entry criteria, which were actually laid down in the master plan for professional development, had to be lowered. Those who want to get promoted may continue to play in their second division halls, the “line-free” floors without markings from other sports are provided by the league in the first year. And the mandatory full-time position in team management will also be deferred.
Welcome culture in volleyball
“If we don’t get promoted now, then never again,” said Karlsruhe department head Diego Ronconi. Raiko Worf, team manager of ASV Dachau, who was German champion in 1995 and 1996, then had to file for bankruptcy in 2002 and is now returning to the big volleyball stage after two decades of abstinence, spoke of a “high feeling in Dachau”.
VBL manager Dennis Herter spoke of a “welcome culture” to “give the climbers a good feeling”. This also means that the sporting relegation will be suspended in the first two seasons. So that there is no two-class internal law, relegation is also suspended for the established. The medium-term vision of the VBL is to keep the Bundesliga running again with regular promotion and relegation. First of all, however, the pool of players should be increased. And in the long term, the class could even be expanded to 14 or 16 teams.
It remains questionable whether the increase can also change the profile of the league. Expect the four newcomers at the bottom to try to gain a foothold while the incumbents in the middle look to assert themselves. And at the top, Berlin and Friedrichshafen will play for the title – as they have for 25 years.
