It’s cup season. As we wait for the Belgian Cup finals, the BeNe Cup matches in the cozy 'Maaspoort' sports hall in Den Bosch served as preparation for these major confrontations. The Belgian teams entered as heavy favorites against their Dutch opponents, Friso Sneek and Orion Stars. However, the main topics of discussion weren’t so much the matchups between the two national champions but the innovative features that the organizers introduced to this brand-new event. These included the 'BeNe Bonus Point,' microphones for captains and coaches, and a ten-minute break between the second and third sets.

In summary, the microphones were only used for the coaches, not the captains, due to difficulties in attaching them to their gear. Consideration had to be given to spectacular plays, quick movements, ground contact, and more. The overly long break between the second and third sets drew the most criticism. Coaches were clear in their opinions: completely pointless. The organizers, however, saw potential for commercially valuable advertising slots.

The 'BeNe Bonus Point' received more understanding, with arguments quickly emerging for and against this initiative. It’s still too new to form a well-founded opinion on its intended effects of enhancing the spectacle. A nice experiment for some, an unnecessary show element for others. A different ball, some extra flashy spotlights, and a nerve-wracking tune played throughout the phase... It doesn’t improve volleyball; it adds no value. However, some volleyball experts disagree. “It’s more fun than expected,” said Iris Vos, once again shining for Asterix Avo. “It provides a stimulus.”

“Pure entertainment, nicely amplified,” said Hendrik Tuerlinckx, occasional commentator for Sporza. “Mentally, it’s very interesting. Both the server and the team receiving the serve are under pressure. This is still in its exploratory phase. For the women, Sneek surprisingly drew confidence from the two bonus points they won (in the third set, the first phase where these extra points were won). It has some appeal.”
Some statistics provide additional context. For the women, six bonuses were requested across the four sets played. Two succeeded, four failed. When combining the men’s and women’s matches, there were 5 successful bonuses out of 13 attempts.

For the men – who had clearly observed the women’s matches – the quest for extra points carried more intensity. Set 1, 10-17: bonus request by Knack, immediately followed by Orion at 11-17. Both phases failed. Set 2, 19-17: new bonus request by the Belgian visitors, promptly answered with a timeout by the Dutch hosts. In the third set, Steven Vanmedegael countered Orion’s bonus request with a timeout of his own. In the fourth set, two bonuses were requested back-to-back, ultimately won by Roeselare. The psychological duel between the coaches gained momentum, especially involving Tom Koops – one of the few Dutch internationals still playing in the Netherlands – frequently used for these bonus points.