Beach volleyball is one of the most unique athletic experiences in youth sports. Two athletes, alone on the sand, battling the elements and each other with no substitutions, no bench, and no timeouts for comfort. That sense of independence is part of what makes the sport beautiful—but it’s also what can make it lonely, especially for new full-time beach athletes transitioning from the larger, more social world of indoor volleyball.

The challenge for club directors and coaches is clear: how do you create a genuine team culture in a sport built around pairs? The answer lies in being intentional—about connection, about rituals, and about belonging.

Start with Belonging Before They Even Step on the Sand

Team culture doesn’t start with the first serve of the season; it starts the moment an athlete registers. One of the simplest ways to build connection early is through a “get to know you” questionnaire. Not a dry, data-gathering form, but something personal and fun—questions like “What’s your favorite snack?” “What’s a song that pumps you up?” “Who’s your favorite athlete?”

Those small questions open doors to meaningful moments. Imagine a new athlete’s first day: they arrive to find a welcome package waiting with their favorite snack, a handwritten note from a returning player, and maybe a small piece of team gear or sticker. That thoughtful touch says, “You belong here.” It transforms an unfamiliar environment into a community that sees them as more than just another player on the roster.

Buddy Them Up Early

The first week is often the hardest for a new beach athlete—new sand, new drills, new rhythm, and often no familiar faces. That’s why it’s invaluable to “buddy up” each newcomer with a returning athlete who truly embodies your club’s culture. The right buddy doesn’t just show them where to warm up or set up their bag—they model what it looks like to compete with positivity, respect, and effort. When a new athlete sees those values lived out daily beside them, it accelerates their comfort and connection. A great buddy checks in, introduces them to others, and helps navigate everything from partner rotations to post-practice high-fives. In many ways, this simple pairing can turn an uncertain first week into the moment a new athlete realizes, “I’m part of something special here.”

The Club That Shows Up Together, Grows Together

When tournament day arrives, one of the easiest and most visible ways to build team identity is through club setup. A shared snack tent, with signage, flutter flags, or even just a shaded rest area with club colors turns a sea of competitors into a unified presence.

It’s amazing how much confidence and pride a young athlete can draw from seeing that tent—their teammates hanging out, parents cheering for one another’s kids, everyone refueling together. These small, physical symbols reinforce a bigger message: we might play in pairs, but we show up as one team.

Many clubs even take it a step further by encouraging families to contribute to the tent each weekend—snacks, hydration, shade, and community. When your environment looks and feels like a team, athletes start to behave like one.

The BVCA Blueprint: Turning Duals into Team Pride

For clubs fortunate enough to participate in BVCA (Beach Volleyball Clubs of America) events, you’ve seen how powerful the team dynamic can be. BVCA’s format mirrors collegiate beach volleyball: clubs face off in duals, where multiple pairs compete head-to-head and the first squad to win the majority of matches takes the victory. It’s an incredible way to turn individual matches into collective purpose.

That structure promotes constant cheering, communication, and camaraderie. Athletes aren’t just playing for themselves—they’re competing for their club. When one pair finishes their match, they rush to the sidelines to support their teammates, and every point feels shared. It’s the closest thing to a true “team” experience in the beach world, and the atmosphere is unmatched.

Even if your club doesn’t have enough full-time athletes to participate in BVCA events regularly, you can bring that same energy home. Host mock duals in practice, split groups into “squads” that compete across multiple courts, or create mini in-house team tournaments that mimic the format. The structure encourages buy-in, leadership, and pride, even on a smaller scale.

Building Team in Small Moments

Team culture isn’t built in big, sweeping gestures—it’s in the everyday details. It’s the mentor pair who checks in with a new athlete after their first tough loss. It’s the coach who ends practice by asking, “What’s one thing someone did today that inspired you?” It’s the group text full of encouragement before a big tournament weekend.

Even rituals like group warm-ups, shared playlists, or club dinners can make a huge difference. Athletes begin to see that while the scoreboard measures points, the culture measures people. And perhaps most importantly, when directors and coaches publicly celebrate collective success—“Dakine sent 12 pairs to semifinals this weekend!” instead of listing individual finishes—it reinforces that being part of the program means something beyond personal wins.

The Power of Connection

When new athletes feel connected, they invest more deeply. They train harder, stay longer, and carry themselves with more pride. The bond they form with their teammates becomes their anchor through the inevitable highs and lows of the season.

It’s easy to think of beach volleyball as a sport of individuals—but in truth, the best beach programs are powered by teams. Teams of athletes who look out for each other, parents who support every player, and coaches who care just as much about culture as competition.

Whether through BVCA duals, creative team-building tournaments, snack tents that feel like home base, or personalized welcomes that make every athlete feel seen—the goal is the same: to turn a sport of two into a family of many. Because when athletes know they’re part of something bigger, they don’t just play the game—they live it.

View more education on running a beach volleyball program.

About the Author

TJ Staples brings over 20 years of extensive experience as a player in both beach and indoor volleyball, coupled with 16 years of coaching expertise. As a Coach and Director, TJ has helped over 55 athletes secure Division 1 Beach Volleyball scholarships to some of the nation’s most prestigious universities, including UCLA, USC, TCU, Arizona, Texas, Stanford, and more. During his time as a Coach and Club Director he has led teams to over 20 Open Level National Championships across AVP, BVCA, P1440, and USAV. TJ’s club was named the Best Beach Club in the Nation for three consecutive years (2021, 2022, and 2023) and in 2023, his program made history as the first Club to earn medals in every age group at a single BVCA National Event.