Building a successful beach volleyball program starts with a clear vision and an adaptable approach to growth across all age groups, from young players to high school athletes.

Here are some key strategies to help you build a thriving beach program:

1. Marketing Your Beach Program

Focus on engaging younger age groups by offering introductory clinics and summer camps at local parks and beaches, which can help build a strong foundation for future athletes. Leverage social media to showcase fun training sessions and success stories that resonate with families, organize open houses or free trials specifically targeting younger age to attract new players, emphasize the unique benefits of beach volleyball for all athletes—including smaller players—encourage word-of-mouth referrals through a referral program, and host exciting events and tournaments that promote participation and increase visibility for your program.

2. Create Age-Appropriate Training Programs

Developing beach skills at each stage—youth, middle school, and high school—requires different approaches. Start with foundational skills and emphasize confidence, athletic movement, and game awareness for younger athletes. As they grow, focus on higher-level technical skill development, game strategy, and building a strong partner connection. By offering skill-based programming with gradual technical progression, you’ll meet the specific needs of each age group.

3. Foster a Strong Club Culture and Sense of Community

A strong culture keeps families and athletes invested in your program. Emphasize the importance of core values like respect, commitment, teamwork, growth, and proper beach dress code. Reinforcing these values through team bonding activities, meetings, and an encouraging environment keeps players motivated and connected as a group.

4. Encourage Parent Involvement and Education

Parents play a key role in your program’s success. Regular communication and education help them understand the benefits of beach volleyball in their child’s development. Hosting parent informational sessions, offering glimpses into training, and explaining long-term development goals build strong buy-in and support for your program, helping retain families over time.

5. Invest in Coaching Education and Staff Development

Well-trained beach coaches are the foundation of any program’s success. Ensure your indoor coaches understand the unique demands of beach volleyball, are certified for beach, and are passionate about growing and learning. Offer professional development opportunities that keep your staff current with beach training techniques, beach-specific conditioning, and emotional and mental skills for the 2 vs. 2 beach game.

6. Expand Opportunities for Competition and Exposure

Set up in-house tournaments, travel to regional competitions, or collaborate with other local clubs. Giving players consistent competitive opportunities builds their experience and generates excitement and interest in the program. For high school players, adding recruiting/exposure events where they can showcase their skills for college recruiters can be a strong motivator.

7. Make Year-Round Training Accessible and Appealing

Beach volleyball doesn’t need to be limited to the summer. Offering a year-round training program helps players stay sharp and improve continuously. Consider using indoor sand facilities or indoor training focused on beach-specific skills to keep athletes engaged even in the offseason. If you only have access to indoor courts, simply tape the court to match beach regulation size and use beach volleyballs. You can even mix it up during your indoor club training season by incorporating fun and dynamic 2 vs. 2 game-situation drills, which not only adds variety but also helps prevent players from burning out on indoor-specific drills, keeping them energized and excited to train.

8. Run a Dedicated Summer Beach Program to Grow Revenue and Keep Your Players Fresh

A summer beach program not only provides a valuable income stream but also offers indoor players a refreshing break from the hard impact of indoor volleyball. Training on the sand allows athletes to rest their joints while staying motivated and engaged by learning new skills in a different environment. Beach programs provide quality touches, increase ball control, and enhance players’ all-around game. Additionally, you can offer beach-specific apparel and host your own beach tournaments, both of which help boost club spirit and add to the program’s revenue stream.

Growing a beach volleyball program takes dedication, vision, and collaboration with families, coaches, and the larger volleyball community. By focusing on athlete-centered development, creating a supportive culture, and offering competitive pathways, you can build a program that not only attracts new players but retains them for many years to come.

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About the Author

Taye Im has been guiding Team One Volleyball (Chicago, IL), a JVA member club, for the past 14 years, serving as both owner and club director. Nestled in between Naperville and Aurora, IL, Team One Volleyball operates out of a new 20,000 sq ft facility, boasting three sport courts and two indoor sand courts.

Their approach is refreshingly straightforward: providing a hybrid program that caters to both indoor and beach players, all year round. With a focus on inclusivity and opportunity, Team One Volleyball aims to support volleyball athletes in pursuing their dreams, whether it be in the indoor arena or on the sandy shores of collegiate beach volleyball.

Under Taye’s guidance, Team One Volleyball has had the privilege of aiding over 40 athletes in securing spots on collegiate beach volleyball teams across the country. Taye attributes their success to cultivating a supportive and nurturing environment, empowering athletes to thrive and achieve their full potential.

Taye Im’s journey with Team One Volleyball is a humble testament to the power of passion, dedication, and community in shaping the dreams of aspiring athletes.