Run a beach volleyball tournamentand actually finish by five
Sets to 21, short sets to 15, or playing on until the horn: you pick the format that fits your block, per category. Teams enter themselves, the schedule spreads the pools across every court you have, and the table is right while matches are still being played.
What makes a beach tournament different
The FIVB rules and the pool formats the Dutch federation plays itself are built into PlayTour. Three things stand out.
Actually finished by five
A pool of four plays one set to 21: one match, one result, done. Finals go to two sets won. If time is tight there are short sets to 15 or the timed match. And when two teams finish level, a golden set to 5 separates them.
- Best of three to 21, from the beach tournament to the final
- A single set to 21 as the pool format
- Best of three to 15 to halve the playing time
- A timed match, where a draw is simply allowed
Pairs and fours in one tournament
Pairs and fours run side by side in one tournament, each with their own pools, their own format and their own table. Players confirm their partner or their team themselves, so you keep no list of who plays with whom.
- Two against two and four against four side by side
- Partners confirm each other, with a link of their own
- Grades, so a recreational pool can run beside a competitive one
- Withdrawals are handled before the draw rather than after it
Every court at once
You enter how many courts there are and how long a match may take. The schedule spreads the pools across them, so two matches never land on court three, and you know when the final starts before entries even close.
- Pools first, crossover finals after, in one tournament
- Courts and times per round
- A golden set to 5 to separate teams that finish level
- The table is right while matches are still being played
Setting up a beach tournament
Four decisions, after which entries run without you.
- 1
Create your categories
Two a side or four a side, and within that the grades you want. Each category gets its own match format.
- 2
Pick a pool format on the clock
One set to 21, short sets to 15, or a timed match. The last is the only one guaranteed to fit your block, which is why it is the ordinary choice for a full day.
- 3
Open entries
You share a link. Teams enter themselves, partners confirm each other. You can see how full each category is and set a cap.
- 4
Enter scores at the court
Results go in at the court, on a phone. The pool table works itself out, draws included.
Questions about beach tournaments
How do I keep a thirty-team tournament on schedule?+
With the timed match. The horn decides rather than the points, so you know exactly how many matches fit in your block. A draw is possible there, and that is not a side effect but the reason the format exists.
We play the third set to 15 and the first two to 21. Can we?+
No. PlayTour holds a format in which every set is the same length, and cannot say that the deciding set is shorter than the ones before it. So pick either three sets to 21 or three short sets to 15. That is a limitation, and we would rather name it than have you meet it on the day.
Can recreational and competitive players share a tournament?+
Yes, as separate categories. Each category has its own pools, its own format and its own table, so a timed recreational pool can run beside a competitive pool played over two sets won.
What does this cost?+
Publishing and taking entries are in the free plan, up to three tournaments a year and fifty entrants each. The draw, the schedule and live scoring are on a paid plan, billed per club per year rather than per tournament.
Set up your beach tournament and let the teams come in
A free account, your categories with their own format, and a schedule across every court at once.