Organizers of Mud Fest 2008 are hoping that what starts this summer as a fundraiser for the Douglas High volleyball program will eventually become a hallmark summer event in the Valley.
The one-day mud volleyball tournament will be Aug. 9 at Herbig Park (across from Lampe Park) and includes a three-game guarantee and a barbecue.
Teams must have at least six players each. Cost will be $200 per team before Jule 15 and $235 after. The cost includes six T-shirts per team.
"It's a unique idea that's not being done here," said parent volunteer Cathleen Allison, who's daughter Erin plays in the program. "We just think it would be a really fun community event. We'd like to see it become a regularly-occuring thing."
The courts will be dug 10 to 12 inches down and filled with a slurry of mud and water that is brought in separately.
"It's not like we're just going to lay a hose in Herbig Park and set up some nets," Allison said. "We're going to dig a great big pit, bring in the mud from elsewhere so you won't be dealing with the rocks and it'll be a lot of fun."
Competition will be divided into two pools, a competitive and a recreational, but other than that the format will be open with no gender or age classifications.
Being that it is a high school fundraiser, a dress code will be enforced " meaning players will not be allowed to wear bikinis.
Student teams will be allowed to compete in the recreational division for $10 per player with a valid high school ID card.
A release of liability waiver must be signed by every player on the team at the time of registration. Checks should be made out to DHS Volleyball and sent with registration forms to Mud Fest 2008 c/o Linda White, 1201 Waterloo Lane, Gardnerville, Nev., 89460.
"We are really trying to push to get some teams signed up early," Allison said. "If we don't have a certain number of teams signed up by July 15, then we will have to re-address what we are going to do and scale back our plans."
Registration forms and liability waivers are available at www.dcsd.k12.nv.us/dhs/Athletics/2008-09/Volleyball/Mud_Fest_Info_page.htm.
For more information on the event, e-mail mudfest08@yahoo.com.
