2026 TOURNAMENT FORMAT

This page provides detailed information on how the tournament is run for both Juniors and Adult divisions. It covers match formats, pool play and bracket structures, scheduling flow across tournament days, and refereeing guidelines. Review these details to understand how play progresses from pools to brackets and what to expect throughout the event weekend.

  • All matches (i.e., first serve) are required to start on the scheduled time.
  • Follow the time/date that your match is scheduled to play, not the order of the match numbers. Matches are scheduled out of order on purpose.
  • Please arrive 45-60 minutes early to the court you’re scheduled to play on.
  • If a team does not show up prior to their scheduled match time, a 1-point penalty will be applied for every minute they are late.
  • If a team does not show up 15 minutes after the scheduled time, it is an automatic forfeit.
  • If a previous match finishes early and both the playing teams and reffing team of the next match is present and ready to start, then they are allowed to start early.
  • If a match runs late then the next match must start right after. Previous teams should use the time waiting to warm-up.
  • If a team does not show up to ref, it will be an automatic forfeit of their next scheduled match.
  • If you do not ref after your last losers match, you will not be allowed to play the following year.
  • If you see a “Split” on your reffing assignment, you and your partner will be reffing on two different courts (courts will be next to each other).
  • All junior teams including Quads and Parent/Child are guaranteed 2 days of tournament play; pool play on Day 1 and bracket play on Day 2.
  • For Parent/Child division, child must be 14U and under. Child can play with either mother or father, but cannot sub.
  • Junior Doubles will have pool play on Day 1, then into a single elimination on Day 2.
  • After pool play, Juniors will be broken down to a maximum of 16 teams per bracket. For example, in a 64 team division there will be four 16-team brackets (Gold, Silver, Bronze and Diamond).
  • Boys will NOT be allowed to play in a Girl’s Division. Girls can play in any Boy’s Division following age requirements.
  • 3-team pools are 3 sets to 21 (no cap); play all 3 sets regardless.
  • 4-team pools match play 21, 21, 15 (no cap); third set being the deciding set, if needed.
  • 5-team pools 2 sets to 15 (no cap); NO 3rd set.
  • All Bracket matches will be best of 3 games at 21, 21, 15 (no cap).  Tournament Directors have the right to change the games depending on how much daylight is left.
  • Junior brackets are modified double elimination depending on team turnouts.
  • Minimum of 5 teams per division (divisions with 4 teams or less will be combined with the next level up.  For example, 14U B will be combined with 14U A, or 16U B will be combined with 16U A).
  • Men’s and Women’s Open division will be managed and scheduled by Seaside Beach Volleyball.
  • All other Adult Doubles divisions will have pool play on Day 1 and straight single elimination on Day 2. All teams make it to bracket play on Day 2. 
  • All bracket matches will be best of 3 games at 21, 21, 15 no cap. Tournament directors have the right to change the games for Saturday and Sunday depending on how much daylight is left.
  • 3-team pool games will be 3 games to 21, 21, 21, capped at 21. Play the 3rd set regardless. Exception Open and Dino.
  • 4-team pool games will be best of 2 games to 21, 21, capped at 21 (NO 3rd set). Exception Open and Dino.
  • 5-team pool games will be 2 games to 15, 15 AND capped at 15 (NO 3rd set). Exception Open and Dino.
  • Minimum of 5 teams per division (Divisions with 4 teams or less will be combined with the next level up, example: B moved to BB or Masters 55 moved to Masters 45 or AA moving to Open)
  • All cash prizes for Open and Masters will depend on the total number of registrations with a minimum of 1st, 2nd, 3rd or Tied 3rd paid out.  All NON-CASH division prizes will be awarded for 1st, 2nd, Tied 3rd pending number of registrations.