Tournaments

About

NBVA hosts tournaments throughout the year. Our main tournament season runs October-April with usually one tournament per month.

Our tournament calendar can be found here -> TOURNAMENT CALENDAR

Players should also follow our Social Media accounts, in particular our NBVA Instagram, where information regarding upcoming events are shared.

This page contains all information and policies regarding the main tournaments.

We also run a variety of social tournaments throughout the year (such as mixed gender, 4×4, or King/Queen of the Court). Details of social tournaments are shared within the Social Events section of the website here -> SOCIAL EVENTS

Registration

Registration for all events opens approximately 12 days prior to the event date.
Registration deadline is Monday 11pm for tournaments (5 days prior to the event date).
Teams register online via our Registration page here –> Registration form
All players must subsequently make a payment here –> Event payments

A team is not registered until you have submitted a registration form AND both players have paid. You will see your entry on this page –> REGISTERED TEAMS.

ALL TOURNAMENT INFORMATION WILL SUBSEQUENTLY BE SHARED VIA EMAIL.

SHOULD YOU HAVE ANY QUERIES, PLEASE EMAIL INFO@NBVA.ORG.AU.

Tournament Policies

Below we set out our Tournament Rules and Policies. To ensure consistency and fairness for all players, rules are strictly enforced and exceptions are rarely made to any policy. All decisions are at the discretion of the Tournament Director and NBVA Committee.

Pre-Tournament Policies

Tournament Payment (All Divisions)

After registering players must pay online before the registration deadline. Payment can be made using this link

Teams with non-paid players will not gain entry to the competition.

NBVA Tournament Prices are as follows:

Full Member – $20
Casual – $30 (plus $27.50 One Day Membership paid to Volleyball NSW)
Affilliate – $30
U18/U16 Full Member – $10
U18/U16 Affiliate – $20
U18/U16 Casual – $20 (plus $16.50 One Day Membership paid to Volleyball NSW)

Volleyball NSW Membership / NBVA Membership

In addition to tournament fees, players are also required to take out a Volleyball NSW membership with NBVA via the new revolutioniseSPORT website. For more information and instructions go to our Membership Sign Up page here: https://nbva.org.au/membership/.

The Volleyball NSW memberships are based on different access to services and events:

Full Membership
Suitable for players who wish to access the full range of Volleyball NSW benefits and services. This includes Australian Beach Volleyball Tour, State and Club based events.

Recreational Membership
Suitable for those players who wish to access social / recreational activities only. This includes State and Club based events.

One Day Membership
This membership is for anyone who wishes to participate in a 1 Day Tournament

NBVA Tournament Events – Structure and Entry

NBVA Tournaments and Mixed Tournaments will be run as 1-day tournament over 2 consecutive days.

e.g. The higher-seeded divisions (Division 1 & 2, or AAA/AA/A) will be run on the Saturday. Lower divisions will be run on the Sunday.
Qualification Tournaments, if held, will be run on the separate weekends.

When you register and once the seedling list is completed (by Friday) you will receive an email that indicates what day you are playing on.

We cannot allow teams to select the day that they want to play on. For example, players cannot opt to “relegate” themselves to a lower division to play on the Sunday. This can impact the integrity and competitiveness of the lower divisions.

If you are unsure what days the tournaments are run on, check https://nbva.org.au/registered-teams which lists the dates of the tournament. It is YOUR responsibility to make sure you know what day you are playing on. There will be no refunds issued for getting the day wrong.

Highest seeded teams registered and paid by the deadline will receive entry until the maximum number of teams have been reached. All other teams will be placed on the waitlist if there is an over subscription of teams. (Note: Refunds for wait listed teams will be processed by NBVA as soon as possible following the tournament).

If teams are tied on the same seeding points, preference and the higher seeding will be based on current season NBVA Tournament Results, ABVRS Seeding, and to which team who has registered first (must have also completed payment prior to entry deadline). Decision is at the discretion of the NBVA.

New team entries with Zero NBVA points
Where multiple teams have zero NBVA ranking points, priority will be given to those teams who registered but missed out on the previous NBVA event. After considering previous registrations, seeding of new teams will follow normal seeding protocols set out above (considering ABVRS points, followed by which team registered first).

If maximum team registration is also reached and if there is a tie in points priority will go to NBVA member teams with a seeding score, over Affiliated members and Casuals at the time of the registration/event payment deadline.

Tournament player withdrawal and replacement policy.

In the event of one member of a team being unable to play a tournament that they have registered for due to injury or illness that team member may be replaced within the guidelines below.

Players should inform the NBVA at info@nbva.org.au as soon as they know that they need to replace a team member or withdraw from the tournament so that the necessary arrangements can be made and other affected teams can be informed.

Prior to the registration deadline a player may register with a new partner and inform the NBVA that the old registration is to be replaced.

Once the registration deadline has passed a team may pull out and request a refund.

If one of the players is injured or unable to play due to ill health they can be replaced so that their partner can still play the tournament. The registered partner of the player who has pulled out must email the NBVA with the details of the new partner that they will be playing the tournament with, before midday on the day before the tournament.

Players will be reseeded based on the seeding points of the new team, however:

A team will be reseeded within the original division that they were seeded in previously or into a lower division based on seeding points.
Where a team’s new seeding points would elevate them into a higher division, they will instead be awarded first seed in the division in which they were originally seeded.
A player will not be reseeded into a division higher than their original seeding (at registration deadline).
If a replacement player was registered in another team at the registration deadline, for example – two teams require a replacement, so the remaining players form a new team – the new team will be seeded in the lowest player’s division.
Teams will only be reseeded into a higher division at the discretion of the NBVA.

It is not possible to replace both players from a team for one tournament. One player may be replaced more than once, but if both original players are unable to play the team will be withdrawn and issued with a refund.

All withdrawals and replacements should be agreed with the NBVA prior to 5pm on the day prior to the tournament. Email the NBVA at info@nbva.org.au.

In the event of a no-show, teams will be placed in Last Place for the Event.

Player Ranking Points / Seeding

The seeding of NBVA tournaments is based on the average of the team’s individual seeding scores. Your individual seeding score is the average ranking points of your best 3 results from your previous 5 entries.

If a player has no results in a 36 month period, a player can request their results from a prior period are considered. When points are used from a prior periods, your most recent 3 results are taken and a 15% per year derating of the seeding score will be incurred.
If a player with no seeding score partners up with a player with a seeding score  – a team average will be calculated using half player points for player with none.

Click here to see more information around the NBVA Points Tables.

NOTE: Both the winner and runner up of each division will be promoted to the higher division for the next Tournament in the same season. In order for the promotion to be valid, the team must play the following NBVA tournament as the same team pairing. Promotions are not carried forward to a subsequent season.

Wildcard and non-competitive entries may be available – refer to policy below.

NBVA Wild Card Information

Wild Card entry to Tournaments may be awarded at discretion of the NBVA. Teams may apply for a wildcard if they believe that their playing ability is significantly higher than that of the division in which they will be seeded through the seeding policy.
The number of Wild Cards offered at all Tournaments is limited to a maximum of 2 per division for 8 or 12 team draws.
Wild Cards are issued in extraordinary situations only – with an intent to correct instances where teams are significantly under-seeded (based on their team seeding points) and ensure the highest level of talent is playing in the right division and in the tournament.
Teams that are not granted a wildcard will have normal Tournament seeding processes applied.
Wild Card submissions must be received by email (info@nbva.org.au) by 12pm on the Tuesday prior to the tournament. Submissions should include both Experience and Results from FIVB World Tour, Australian Tour, other relevant International participation. For Wild Card submissions to be considered, the team must have a completed & paid entry to the tournament.

Tournament Day Rules and Policies

Sign In and Setup / Pack-down

Both players of all pre-registered pairs must have signed in before 7.45am.

NBVA Tournaments are player-run and we require players to assist in the Setup and Pack-down of the beach on tournament days. We allocate players to either the setup or pack-down crew.

Setup crew is to arrive at 7am. Pre-allocated roles for setup will be provided via email prior to the tournament. Please check with our Tournament Director (at the Tent) or Tournament Operations representative for how you can support;
Pack-down crew is expected to assist in taking down and removing the court setup. If you are eliminated at an early stage, please stay on the beach and support other teams until pack-down is required (usually commencing at the Semi Final stage). Please check in with the Tournament Director before you leave the beach area.

Teams who are found to be absent from their setup or pack-down duties may receive a penalty.

Timetable

7.00am – Players allocated to setup crew arrive
7.30am – Sign in opens
7.45am – Sign in closes
7:45am – Players meeting
8.00am – First matches start on all courts

By 5.00pm – Grand Final of all divisions (sooner if possible)
By 5.45pm – All players help clear court area

After the finals, presentations will be made to the winners and runners up at the Tournament Tent on the beach.

Warm Up

With the exception of the first match at 8:00am, peppering and general warm up must take place off the match court.
Teams will be allowed 5 minutes spiking/serving warm up on their court, make sure you are aware of when you next game is and have warmed up in advance somewhere off the court.
Players are expected to monitor the progress of their draw/division/court and be ready to play as soon as the previous match comes off court.
Any teams who are not ready to play within 5 minutes of being called will forfeit that match, with the other team going through as a clean set win to zero points.
The only exception will be if a team has been refereeing immediately prior to their game, in which case a 10 minute warm up will be allowed on court (following the conclusion of referee duties).

Divisions – 12-team format

The following divisions will be offered. The NBVA reserves the right to combine divisions if there are insufficient numbers.

Saturday – subject to beach availability:

Men Divisions 1 – 3
Women Division 1 – 3

Sunday – subject to beach availability:

Men Division 4 – 6 (12 teams – with an exception to be modified*) – all scheduled to play on Sunday
Women Division 4 – 6 (12 teams – with an exception to be modified*) – all scheduled to play on Sunday

Where Division 1 is considered the higher standard than subsequent divisions.

After the top 36 Teams Register for Divisions 1-3 on the Saturday, any lower teams will be bumped to the Divisions 4-6 registration.

*Divisions will be 12 teams, using the format defined below. However, Divisions 4-6 may be modified if we have insufficient teams to run 3 x 12-team divisions.

The maximum teams per day will be 36, the minimum teams per day is 12.

Draw Format

All divisions are scheduled for a 12 team format as set out below. However, the format for Divisions 4-6 may be modified if there are insufficient entries to create three 12-team divisions.

Our 12-team format runs as follows:

4 pools of 3 teams, full pool play. Teams are ranked by wins. Tied teams are ranked by Set Average (Sets won / sets lost), then Points Average (Points won / points conceded), then by pre-tournament seeding.
3rd placed teams are eliminated. Teams losing both games are ranked 11th; teams who win one and lose one are ranked 9th.
Top two placed teams progress to quarter finals. Pool winners will play a pool runner-up.
Quarter-final winners progress to Semi-finals. Semi-final winners play off the Final.
All games are ‘best of 3 sets’.

Teams will be organised as follows:

Uniforms

For all NBVA Tournaments matching uniforms are mandatory. This will be enforced.

For Divisions 1-3, matching uniforms are defined as:

Men’s: Matching NBVA / VNSW Singlets*
Women’s: Matching NBVA / VNSW Budgy Smuggler Tops*; and Matching Bottoms

*Other clubs’ or Tour singlets/tops may be allowable at the discretion of the NBVA or NBVA Tournament Director.

For Divisions 4-6, matching uniform is required however these do not need to be official club or tour tops/singlets.

For mandatory requirements:

If requirements are not met, match will be forfeited 2-0 (21-0, 21-0)
In the scenario of environmental conditions or injury, Players are permitted to wear compression or other garments underneath their uniform
Any exceptions are at the discretion of the NBVA Tournament Director

Caps and visors, arm and wrist bands and sand socks are not considered part of the official team uniform and may be different within the team.

Scoring

The scoring format will be confirmed at the Player Meeting on the morning of the tournament once entries are finalised.

Officiating

In the absence of qualified officials, teams will be expected to referee.
The officiating team will be pre-allocated according to the roster.
Teams that leave before finishing a duty at a tournament and do not check with the Tournament Director before leaving, will be penalised and receive a last place finish for that event.

Other Policies

Non-Competitive Entry Election Policy

The aim of a non-competitive entry is to encourage experienced players to mentor and share their competition experience with a current junior player by combining as a team within a competition environment.
A non-competitive entry for a mentor player allows them to team up with a junior player in a competition without concern for any adverse effects the team result may otherwise have on the mentor player’s future seeding point calculations.
A player may request to have their entry in a competition classed as a non-competitive entry if they partner with a current junior player. Electing to take this option means that the result achieved in the applicable competition will simply be excluded from both team member’s future seeding calculations.
Non-competitive entry submissions must be received via email to info@nbva.org.au prior to the tournament entry deadline. Acceptance of requests is at the discretion of the NBVA.
Fair play policy applies at the discretion of the NBVA.

Retrospective non-competitive election

A new player, being a player who had Nil points previously, who wins automatic promotion from a division on their initial entry, has the discretion to chose to retrospectively classify their initial result as non-competitive on their first participation in that division.
For example, a team who enters with Nil points into B division and subsequently wins B division, then BB, then BBB, then A, then AA – can then chose to classify all results prior to AAA as non-competitive.
This ensures that the player’s future seeding is not held back by those prior results received in the lower division.

NBVA Terms and Conditions of Sale can be found by clicking the link.

Other Tournaments – State and National Tours

NSW Beach Volleyball Tour

The NSW Beach Volleyball Tour is the highest level of beach volleyball in the state, providing a competitive environment for NSW’s elite and developing athletes. Hosted by Volleyball NSW in conjunction with our affiliates they aim to deliver an exciting event for all players and spectators alike.
The NSW Beach Championships will be held at Manly Beach from 9-10 December 2023.
The NSW Tour #7 will be held at Manly Beach from 13-14 January 2024.
NSW BVT events are seeded and ranked using the Australian Beach Volleyball Ranking System (ABVRS).
Further information about the NSW Beach Volleyball Tour can be found at https://www.volleyballnsw.com.au/competitions/beach-volleyball-tour-home/

Australian Beach Volleyball Tour

Further information about the Australian Beach Volleyball Tour can be found at https://abvt.volleyball.org.au/
No ABVT events are scheduled for Manly in the 2023-24 season.
ABVT events are seeded and ranked using the Australian Beach Volleyball Ranking System (ABVRS).