Have you ever noticed that during beach volleyball games there are no coaches around?! Sure, you’ve probably noticed that … Actually most did, even those who are not much into the sport.
Of course, this makes most people question whether coaching is actually allowed or not and also whether players have an actual coach or they are just coaching themselves!
In this article, I address those interesting questions, I also explain how coaching is performed for sand volley players and how this is different from indoor volleyball.
Is coaching allowed in beach volleyball?
Yes, coaching is allowed in beach volleyball, but that is a new thing that was introduced recently in AVP (Not many people know that by the way) …
Important Tip: If you are an amateur and not used to hot sand while practicing, the you definitely need to use sand socks. They will also give you a more stability and strength when jumping which would results in better performance overall. For example, these quality sand socks are reliable and will help in that regard.
Beach volleyball has had a few changes in 2020 when it comes to coaching!
In the past, coaching was not allowed during actual games. Indeed, it was allowed for the coach to do his job only before the game … While today the rules have had a few significant changes that allow them to do their job during the game.
As of 2020 coaches can talk to their players between points …
- They are allowed to stay close the players’ They are allowed to talk to their players between dead balls.
- During the warm up, coaches are allowed to remain until the referee coin toss, that is until 7 minutes before the start of the game.
- Also coaches are not allowed to enter the court unless injury is in question.
- They are not allowed to interact with the referees unless they want to call a timeout.
- It is forbidden for coaches to talk to referees and opponents, since they can influence the direction of the game under the guise of coaching (there are specific rules about the delays of the game).
Coaches are required to be dressed appropriately, as they must wear a shirt … They can however be barefoot, which is a nice touch regarding appropriate dressing.
Do Olympic beach volleyball players have a coach?
Yes, Olympic beach volleyball teams have coaches, but those coaches are way different than those coaches at the AVP tournaments. That means they have a totally different set of privileges and obligations.
An Olympic beach volleyball coach has the right to be with his team on the court until the 10 minute mark, after that he is obligated to go to the spectators on the stands and to observe peacefully…
You can say that the coach is a nervous and very anxious spectator in this situation.
Olympic beach volleyball coaches are in fact following the old set of rules, they are spectators during the game, and coaches before and after the game.
It might seem a little bit odd that this is the case in the Olympics, but you should keep in mind that the Olympics take place once every 4 years, while the AVP tournaments are regular.
Beach volleyball Coach Role during preparation for Games?
The coach main role is to identify the opposite team weaknesses and then take advantage of his teams abilities to capitalize on them!
Coaches also help manage their players positions in the sand to get the most out of every situation …
He also needs to have a deep understanding about his team’s weaknesses so he can identify the right drills to overcome those issues. He also needs to have the right formula to hide those weaknesses while playing to not be exposed to the opposite team.
A great way to do so is by making his team focus mostly on its strengths!
Overall shape and physical attributes are also extremely important. Skills don’t mean much unless you’ve got enough shape to back them up …
Indeed, beach volleyball is a very demanding sport physically, especially that is played on the sand where movements are usually 3 times harder than a regular court.
Coach’s role in this case should be around helping his team to keep the right shape throughout the season and even during off-season.
Finally, coaches‘ role is to prepare his team for any game and any opponent. And the best way to do so is by having a philosophy of playing always associated with a plan B …
In other words, the team should have a personality showcased by a specific style of playing that can be effective against most teams out there. However, in cases where such a style is not that effective, then there is the need to have plan B where the coach can utilize to surprise the opposite team.
These are the ingredients of a great coach!
Coach role after Games?
The coaches’ role after the game depends on the outcome …
If the team has lost the game, the coach has to give his honest feedback, by highlighting the mistakes the team has made; he also needs to point out the weaknesses the opponent has exploited.
After that he needs to focus on the good things, by pointing what his players have exceeded on. There is always the bright side that the team need to be aware of so it could be developed further.
After pointing out the good and the bad the coach needs to assist his team to focus on the future and what’s next. However, he needs to refine his tactics to make sure most mistakes won’t happen again.
If a team is victorious the principle is basically the same. The coach should give credit to his team on the victory …
But this doesn’t mean that he should forget about mistakes that the team has made to be able to avoid them in the next contests …
By doing this, not only this will help them refine their game for the best, but also, they won’t become unnecessarily overconfident. Overconfidence is key to disaster! Being humble is one of the keys to victory!
Final Thoughts …
Many people consider lack of coaching during beach volleyball games (especially in the Olympics) as a bad point for the sport. However, I still believe that this is not big of a deal …
Indeed, while live coaching is important, its impact won’t be as much as the coaching that will be performed in preparation for the game…
That’s where the real work that actually matters take place. What happens during the game is just a by-product of this preparation.
Finally, I highly invite you to check this guide on how you can become a pro beach volleyball player …