Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
Clubs, athletes, and families are encouraged to contact the region office for assistance.
Puget Sound Region Office
Gender Diversity Policy
The Puget Sound Region (PSR) Gender Identity policy has been adopted from the Washington Interscholastic Athletics Association (WIAA) policy. (Appendix 6 of WIAA Handbook)
Philosophy of Gender Identity Participation
The Puget Sound Region (PSR or region) encourages participation for athletes regardless of their gender identity or expression. Further, most local, state, and federal rules and regulations require youth sports organizations to provide transgender and other gender-diverse athletes with equal opportunities to participate in sport. The purpose of this policy is to offer clarity with respect to the participation of trans and gender-diverse athletes. Additionally, this policy encourages a culture in which athletes can compete in a safe and supportive environment, free of discrimination.
PSR Sanctioned Events
All athletes should have the opportunity to participate in PSR in a manner that is consistent with their gender identity. Currently, the region and it's member clubs offer boys and girls club volleyball separately. Athletes will be encouraged to participate in programs consistent with their gender identity or the gender most consistently expressed. The PSR Commissioner will work collaboratively with the club and the athlete (and family) to determine eligibility. Once the athlete has been granted eligibility to participate in the PSR gender division consistent with their gender identity, the eligibility is granted for the duration of the athlete's participation and does not need to be renewed every season (September-August).
If an athlete wishes to change the selected gender during any remaining years of eligibility, they will be allowed to do so. These eligibility changes would occur with the coordination of the PSR Commissioner and would take effect with the start/stop of the USA Volleyball competition 'season' January-July.
USAV Sanctioned Qualifying Events & National Championships
Transgender athletes must request permission to participate by submitting a request to the chair of the Gender Commission (GC).
Athlete's who wish to compete in a USA Volleyball sanctioned bid/qualifying event or Junior National Championships qualified divisions must comply with the USA Volleyball Gender Competition Guidelines.
The vast majority of athletes are expected to compete as a member of the gender noted at the time of birth on their birth certificate. The goal of the USA Volleyball (USAV) guidelines is to permit athletes to compete in the gender with which they identify, while maintaining competitive equity. Athletes who wish to compete as a member of the gender opposite that assigned at birth must notify USAV of their intent at least six weeks prior to the competition in which they wish to participate. Sufficient documentation must be provided to permit the GC to determine that the applicant has taken the necessary steps to transition to their adopted gender.
