New York Mini Volleyball Tournament is Held on the Lower East Side

The summer heatwave was no match for hundreds of athletes from across the United States and Canada as the the 26^th annual New York Mini Volleyball Tournament took place on the Lower East Side this past weekend.

Tennis courts, basketball courts and even a schoolyard was turned into volleyball courts catering to almost 80 teams that had signed up for the NY Mini, a program hosted by the New York Strangers Sports Organization. Contenders and volunteers spent a hot Friday to set up for the two day tournament, which started early on Saturday morning and ended late Sunday night.

The New York Strangers Sports Organization is a nonprofit organization that helps Asian American youth through competitive sports and community outreach. Their goal is to teach the youth “virtues of teamwork and leadership in order to develop active citizens in the community.”

Though the tournament is for men and women, a different game is played for men. The women’s teams play 6 on 6, first to 25 points — a standard volleyball game. However, the men’s teams play a special game called “9-man,” a 9 v.s. 9, first to 21 points with a different rules on a bigger court.

9-man was first played by Chinese immigrants with roots in Toisan. Tournaments have been held since the 1930’s with the intention of bringing laborers from Chinatowns across the country together. This game holds special meaning as “a man’s game.” Only men of Chinese descent are allowed to play– rules specify that at least six players, 100 percent Chinese descent, must be on court at all times, with the other three players of Asian descent.

A total of 40 men’s teams and 38 women’s teams from New York, Boston, Washington D.C., and other cities were at this year’s Mini. Among the New York teams, to name a few, were the New York Strangers, a household name at this tournament, the New York Free Masons, New York Impact and New York Vikings who are also veterans. This year Henry St.’s, New Life Now Church added a women’s team of their own, the NY New Life Now Warriors, the freshest faces of the tournament.

New to the tournament but not to game, Fanny Ng, 20, part of the Brooklyn College volleyball team and captain of the NY New Life Now Warriors, admitted the competition was fierce and  nerve-wrecking but loved every moment of it. “It was exhilarating,” she said. “Having so many eyes watching me play is what motivated me.” Ng and her team has high hopes for next year’s Mini.