Beach volleyball is a fun and social sport that brings people together for fun, fitness, and a hint of friendly competition. Whether you’re a sports enthusiast, a community organiser, or part of a school faculty, organising a beach volleyball tournament can be a fun and rewarding way to promote physical activity and community spirit. With the right planning and equipment, especially high-quality beach volleyball sets and beach volleyball nets, your event can run nice and smoothly. This guide will walk you through the essential steps to organise a successful beach volleyball tournament, sharing practical tips and highlighting Sportsmark’s range of beach volleyball equipment to help you get started.
Why Organise a Beach Volleyball Tournament?
A beach volleyball tournament is a fun and engaging way to socialise and get some exercise in. It’s a great sport to play with friends, colleagues or even as part of a competitive group. Here are some ways a beach volleyball tournament can be beneficial!
- Community Engagement – It’s a fantastic way to bring local groups, schools, and sports clubs together.
- Health and Wellness – Beach volleyball promotes great cardiovascular fitness, coordination, and teamwork.
- Accessible Sport – Suitable for all ages and skill levels, making it inclusive.
- Fun and Social – The beach setting adds a relaxed, vibrant atmosphere to the competition.
How To Create A Great Beach Volleyball Tournament
Read our tips on creating a great beach volleyball tournament and making fun memories.
Step 1: Define Your Tournament Goals and Format
Start by clarifying the purpose of your event. Is it a casual community day, a competitive school league, or a charity fundraiser? Your goals will influence every aspect of the organisation, from the format to the equipment you’ll need. Being prepared with your goals and format can help you ensure everything runs smoothly.
Some key things to consider
- Tournament Type: Decide between singles, doubles, or mixed teams.
- Number of Teams: Estimate how many teams or players will participate.
Step 2: Choose the Right Venue
Selecting the ideal location is key. You need a sandy beach or a suitable recreational sand area where you can set up courts with enough space around them. You should ensure that the beach is accessible for all your guests and that you have enough space where you aren’t disturbing other members of the public. Working in conjunction with a beach bar or café can be a good idea, but check with local councils or landowners for necessary permits.
If it’s on a beach, don’t forget to arrange it around the tide! You don’t want to have to move everything halfway through the tournament because the tide comes in! Ideally, select an area above the high tide marks!
When using a sand area, make sure the sand depth is sufficient for beach volleyball and that the sand is clean and free from contamination. The clear sand depth should exceed 300mm deep and 350>400mm for serious competition use.
However, don’t forget you can play volleyball on natural grass surfaces too. The way you play the game changes a bit, but it’s still a fun way to play, and the portable beach volleyball net sets can be erected on natural grass surfaces.
Step 3: Secure the Essential Equipment
Having the right equipment is essential to your tournament being a success. Your tournament will only be as good as the equipment you provide. This is where investing in high-quality beach volleyball nets and sets, such as those made by FUNTEC (www.funtec.co.uk) and supplied by Sportsmark, can make a big difference. Some key items to remember include:
- Essential Equipment List – Beach Volleyball Nets:
Choosedurable nets designed specifically for beach volleyball. Sportsmark offers a range of robust nets made from weather-resistant materials designed to withstand outdoor conditions. Some are also available for beach tennis use.
- Portable Beach Volleyball Sets – These can include poles, nets, boundary lines, tensioning straps/fixings, and more – all contained in a handy carry bag for easy handling. Sportsmark’s sets are easy to assemble and suitable for all levels of play.
- Fixed or semi-permanent posts and nets are ideal for permanent or repeated use. Fixed posts can be installed in grass, on a beach, or in a purpose-made sand area. These posts can be semi-permanent, allowing the in-ground fixings to remain in place while the posts and nets can be removed for storage. This also enables the area to be used for other sports, such as beach football or rugby, if required.
- Volleyballs – Use official beach volleyballs, which are lighter and slightly larger than indoor versions, and better able to withstand the wet, dirty, or abrasive conditions outdoors or on the beach.
- Court Lines – Portable and bright lines to clearly mark court boundaries on sand or grass. These can be supplied with either pegs or sand anchor plates, depending on the budget and surface type.
- For full tournaments, scoreboards and referee stands are optional but helpful for organised scoring and officiating.
Step 4: Plan the Schedule and Rules
Organisation is key to a smooth event. Draft a clear timetable and establish tournament rules in advance.
Tips for Scheduling:
- Allocate enough time for matches and breaks.
- Schedule warm-up times for teams.
- Plan for potential delays like weather interruptions.
Basic Rules to Include:
- Matches are usually best-of-three sets.
- Each set is played to 21 points, with at least a 2-point lead.
- Rotation rules and serving order should be clarified.
- Highlight any local rule variations or safety guidelines.
However, if you’re just starting out, don’t get too carried away with the rules. Some of the best tournaments are ad-hoc affairs involving players who simply join in on the day and play together for the fun of it. Beach volleyball is a very social sport, and it’s often more about playing than winning!
Step 7: Set Up and Run the Event
On the day, make sure everything is ready well before the first match starts.
Make sure to assemble beach volleyball sets and nets properly, ensuring that the poles are stable, the nets are at the correct height, and they are fully tensioned. You should also mark out courts clearly with court lines, set up registration and information areas. It’s also wise to arrange for refreshments, first aid, and waste disposal.
Sportsmark Group: Beach Volleyball Sets & More
Organising a beach volleyball tournament requires a little planning, the right equipment, and effective communication. Whether you’re organising a friendly community day or a competitive school event, following these steps will help you deliver a professional and memorable tournament.
Ready to get started? Explore Sportsmark’s beach volleyball range today. We offer budget sets ideal for beginners or family use in the garden or on the beach, as well as sets suitable for schools and clubs, all the way up to top-of-the-range sets that meet competition standards. We also sell spares for Funtec beach volleyball sets in case you lose or break a part. Find the perfect equipment for your tournament, or get in touch with us for more information.
