[Official Statement] "We requested consultation but learned of it through the media." University Volleyball Federation furious, expresses regret over KOVO's change to rookie draft system abolishing signing bonuses

*This content was translated by AI.

"We requested consultation, yet the decision was made without any discussion and only became known through the media."

The Korean University Volleyball Federation is furious. The process of changing the men's division rookie player draft system by the Korea Volleyball Federation (KOVO) raised concerns not just about the change itself, but also that it was decided without sufficient prior consultation despite being a matter directly affecting university volleyball stakeholders. In particular, there were worries that the announcement to abolish signing bonuses could lead to a large-scale early professional entry of university players this year.

On the 15th, the University Volleyball Federation stated, "This year's rookie player draft will proceed under the current system, and any future changes to the system must be made after sufficient prior consultation with the University Volleyball Federation and relevant stakeholders."

Earlier, on the 14th, KOVO held a board meeting and decided to abolish signing bonuses for men's division rookie players starting from the 2027–2028 season. Instead, club-level school support funds will be increased from 100 million won to 150 million won per team, and the compensation for first-round draft picks will be raised from 40 million won to 60 million won.

According to the University Volleyball Federation, an official letter was already sent to KOVO on the 4th requesting that this year's rookie draft proceed under the current system and that any future changes to the system be discussed sufficiently in advance. The federation also conveyed its request that changes to the 2027–2028 season rookie draft system and implementation rules should be decided through opinion gathering and consultation via the Draft Adjustment Committee.

However, the University Volleyball Federation expressed regret, stating, "Despite these requests, the decision content was communicated verbally without any formal consultation regarding this system change, and specific details were later revealed through the media."

The greatest concern of the University Volleyball Federation is the impact on this year's draft. For fourth-year university players nearing graduation this year, the direct impact of the system change may not be significant. However, the situation differs for current first- to third-year players. With the announcement that signing bonuses will be abolished starting from the 2027–2028 season, this year's draft could be seen as the last practical opportunity under the current system to receive signing bonuses.

As a result, the University Volleyball Federation is concerned that even players who would normally stay at their universities to prepare for the next season may now move to participate in large numbers in this year's draft.

The change could also affect high school players' choices. As more players choose to go directly to professional leagues after high school graduation rather than attending university, a simultaneous increase in early professional entry by current university students could further weaken the player supply and depth of university teams. Some universities have even predicted that normal team operations may become difficult.

The University Volleyball Federation emphasized that it is inappropriate to judge that there are problems with the development function of university volleyball solely because there is a shortage of players who can immediately contribute to university teams.

Recently, early professional entry by current university students has continued through early drafts, and some players have gone directly to professional leagues upon high school graduation. A structure persists in which the time for players to grow at universities and the overall player pool are shrinking. The federation explained that it is not appropriate to judge this as a problem of university volleyball based solely on the outcome of a shortage of good players at universities.

The University Volleyball Federation maintains that player supply in professional volleyball and player development in university volleyball should not be viewed as separate issues. Since universities serve as an important development process where players prepare for professional entry while accumulating game experience and skills, the two must be considered together as a connected structure.

Accordingly, the federation requested KOVO to: (1) proceed with this year's rookie player draft under the current system; (2) conduct sufficient prior consultation with the University Volleyball Federation and relevant stakeholders if future system changes are needed; and (3) decide on the system through formal opinion-gathering procedures via bodies such as the Draft Adjustment Committee.

The University Volleyball Federation stated, "Professional volleyball and university volleyball are in a relationship where they must grow together through a single connection point—players." It added, "System changes should not be made considering only player supply for professional leagues; discussions should proceed toward directions that allow players, universities, and professional volleyball to develop sustainably together."

It further added, "We hope that even now, an official consultation forum can be established where KOVO, the University Volleyball Federation, and relevant stakeholders in professional volleyball can discuss together to sufficiently review the impact this system change will have on the university volleyball field."

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*This content was translated by AI.