Beach Shorts: The week in the sands of the world

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Doherty and Hyden finished fourth at last year's Fort Lauderdale Major

We’re back, beach volleyball fans! It has been a quiet week in the courts, but a busy off it, especially in the United States, with new teams been formed, players retiring and the World Tour calendar been updated.

If you missed it, don’t worry. We got your back!

American men’s teams reshuffle

Each off-season comes with partnership moves and the first dominos have already started to fall in the United States. Veteran John Hyden, who played with Theo Brunner in 2018, will team up with Ryan Doherty, his 2017 partner, in the upcoming season. Doherty’s most recent partner, Billy Allen, also turned to his 2017 teammate, Stafford Slick, as the team will be reunited again in 2019. Watch this space to find out who the next partners of both Casey Patterson and Brunner will be.

Slick and Allen will also be together again after partnering in the 2017 season (Photocredit: FIVB)

World Tour calendar is updated

The Fédération Internationale de Volleyball (FIVB) announced some updates to the 2018-2019 season calendar, which features a record-breaking 52 events. The season will now end in Rome, Italy, from September 4-8. The highlight of the season will be the World Championships, in Hamburg, between June 28 and July 7.

John Mayer retires

Other news coming from the United States report that 36-year-old John Mayer has retired from the sport. The diminutive left-handed defender has competed in 31 World Tour events with five different partners starting in 2009 and he decided to leave the game after winning a pair of gold medals, the only in his career, during the 2018 season, both with Trevor Crabb – one in the three-star tournament in Lucerne and another in the two-star event in Jinjiang.

At 36, Mayer stepped out of the courts and will now pursue a coaching career (Photocredit: FIVB)

Award for Agatha & Duda

World Tour Finals champions Agatha Bednarczuk and Duda Lisboa have another award to add to their growing collection. The Brazilian pair scooped the Brazilian fOlympic Committee Award for the best beach volleyball team in their country in 2018. Congratulations, girls.

Nosso time foi eleito o Time do Ano no Prêmio Brasil Olímpico. Orgulho, realização e a sensação de que estamos no caminho certo! Vamos continuar trabalhando para evoluir ainda mais. Obrigado a todos que sempre nos apoiaram durante toda essa trajetória! #timeagathaeduda #timenissan #timepetrobras #atletaszinzane #timedeatletas #bodytechcitta #mundobt #marinhadobrasil #redbull #uvline #oakley #oakleybrasil #Polar #polarBrasil #uselesaint #lesaint #teamON #TimeTop2020 #timezinzane #todentro #claro #embratel #voleidepraiaRJ #esporteRio #exercitobrasileiro #cbv #cob #juntossomosmaisfortes @uvlineoficial @oakleybr

739 Likes, 29 Comments - Ágatha e Duda (@timeagathaeduda) on Instagram: "Nosso time foi eleito o Time do Ano no Prêmio Brasil Olímpico. Orgulho, realização e a sensação de..."

Social Media: A 3D Barbara

Brazilian Olympic medalist Barbara Seixas is all in on her journey to the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and this week she went through a tridimensional evaluation of her body in Rio de Janeiro. The goal is to analyze her movement and prevent injuries and improve performance. Cool, isn’t it?

Hoje foi dia da @babifseixas fazer o exame da @biocineticabc . Uma avaliação 3D do movimento humano. O objetivo é mapear o aparelho locomotor para ajudar a tratar ou prevenir lesões, e então melhor o desempenho. Obrigada, @guleporace , pela oportunidade. Obrigada, @rafabordallo e @guilherme_braga por acompanharem de perto esse processo. 👍 #EquipeBarbaraeFernanda #CTLeblon #anasol #euamosol #claro #net #embratel #todentro #esporterj #FAB #marinhadobrasil #bolsaatleta #diosport #firstbeatbrasil #firstbeat #vertclub #btleblon3 #bbnosesportes #bancodobrasil #volei #VoleidePraia #beachvolleyball #fivb #timebrasil #timedeatletas #toquio2020

240 Likes, 5 Comments - Bárbara Seixas_Fernanda Berti (@oficialbarbaraefernanda) on Instagram: "Hoje foi dia da @babifseixas fazer o exame da @biocineticabc . Uma avaliação 3D do movimento..."

In case you missed it

Brandie and Heather looking forward to 2019 season

See you next week!