Arizona Sand Volleyball Rankings

Volleyball Rankings

The Sand Club will identify the differences between recreational, intermediate, and competitive players below but follows the EVP ranking system where the different rankings are: AAA • AA • A • B • BB. Here are the basic definitions of rankings and divisions for players and teams, their associated skills and rules that apply:

AAA
Typically, these players have had intensive training for national tournament competition at the collegiate and semi-professional levels and have obtained a regional and/or national ranking. These players consistently display advanced ability in most specialty areas, along with top caliber development and execution of skills. These players have developed power and/or consistency as a major weapon. These players can vary strategies (double or left & right outside blockers) and styles of play in a competitive situation and hit dependable shots (middle attacks, high-line roll shots, short cross-cut shots, etc.) in a stress situation. All rules apply.

AA
These players consistently display advanced ability in either offensive skills (spiking, serving, setting) or defensive skills (passing, digging, blocking) to compete as a specialist and have sufficient ability to execute the dynamics of power volleyball. Also, these players do not meet the guidelines for any higher rating. These players have begun to master the use of power shots and are beginning to handle pace, have sound footwork, can control depth of shots, and are beginning to vary game plan according to opponents. All rules apply.

A
These players have achieved improved ball control, dependability with directional control on moderate shots, and are developed in more than one specialty area. These players exhibit more aggressive net play, have improved court coverage, and are developing defensive strategy. All rules apply. Any team that has won one "B" league season or tournament may move up to this division.

B
These players know the rules and are moderately proficient at keeping the ball in play. These players are moderately proficient at spiking, setting, or passing, and are learning placement and defensive anticipation. All rules apply, except all hand-sets are legal (no hand set calls), as long as the sets are not over the net (even if legal).

BB
New players. These players are not familiar with the rules, are primarily concerned with keeping the ball in play, and need more on-court experience. There will be a coach or referee to make the calls and keep score. All rules apply, except all hand-sets are legal (no hand set calls), as long as the sets are not over the net (even if legal). The coach or referee will help correct the following rules after the play: foot faults, setting the serve, "underhand" hits with an open hand, open one-handed pushes or "slam dunks" (must use knuckles), double hits, net faults, or colliding with a player under the net.

How do players choose a division in The Sand Club?

Beginner Divisions: The Sand Club welcomes players that have never played organized sand volleyball. Reading the rules and basic strategy is recommended but not required. An official will be present at every game to help clarify the rules and help develop basic skills. Officials will replay up to 3 faults per game per team without loosing a point to help relieve the stress of new players. Although The Sand Club will try to avoid "Jungle Ball" (which is disregarding the beach rules altogether), some double hits, lifts, and throws maybe overlooked in order to encourage longer rallies in the beginner divisions. Beginners need to realize that intermediate or even competitive players are welcome to join beginner divisions to help teach the game but no more than one intermediate/competitive players per team will be allowed. Intermediate/competitive players are not allowed to spike and should expect a warning if they are controlling the game with shot selection for points in the beginner divisions. There is nothing wrong with demonstrating a couple of points and how to place the ball if that is the intention but at the official's discretion only.

Recreational Divisions: tend have the basic idea of a "diamond formation", setter as the second hit unless called for help, bump-set-spike or at least a 3-hit mentality, tend to have players that are starting to develop a consistent serve that are inbounds as well as controlling the pass off a serve, and recreational teams are starting to identify "bad sets", lifts, throws, and double hits. Recreational players should start calling their own net violations and expect less modifications to the rules by the official. With that said, recreational players are recommended to advance to the intermediate divisions once they completely understand the rules or if a recreational team wins more than 2 tournaments. Competitive players are welcome to join recreational to intermediate divisions, so recreational players should be prepared for the competition.

IMPORTANT NOTE: Players looking to join intermediate/competitive teams are highly recommended to sub or receive a personal skill assessment by calling 480.560.5090 or emailing us in order to schedule an appointment.

What are the differences between recreational and intermediate players?

Intermediate teams not only understand the rules but are able to call their team when committing hand-set violations, lifts, throws, net violations and other faults, where as recreational teams are not and need officials. Intermediate teams will control the serve and pass better than recreational teams. Intermediate teams will also place the ball in open areas and have a better offensive strategy than recreational teams. Although intermediate teams know the rules, captains will dictate how loose or tight they want to call the game before the match begins. The Sand Club recommends to replay any point where a team calls the opponent for a fault unless the call is obvious by definition (i.e. net violations, more than 1 revolution on a set, hand-setting over, open-hand receiving the serve). Reccurring faults may be called for a point. Intermediate players will start executing finesse shots (but may be looked at as "cheap" shot--I'm just saying), like intentionally returning the ball over on 1 or 2 in order to win the point because a player is down or just even out of position. Shot selection is the biggest difference between recreational and intermediate players.

What are the differences between intermediate and competitive volleyball players?

Competitive teams tend to have two consistent attackers or one "power" attacker, who knows how to make great cut shots, deep rolls in the corner or down the line for a point. Competitive matches will have more kills, blocks, or winners (unforced errors) than intermediate matches. Competitive teams will also identify weaker players or find open spots; however, most competitive teams will recognize the shot, communicate, and have the footwork to be in position on defense. Competitive players should except shot selection as part of the game. With that said, there is however an unwritten etiquette rule of avoiding to serve one player on a consistent basis in coed doubles.

The Sand Club's Ranking System

Volleyball ranking is very subjective but here are 3 specific position rankings for The Sand Club's intermediate players:

Intermediate passer - demonstrates moderate serve receiving (handing float serves, sky balls, etc) and good communication of who will receive the serve as well as understanding how to position themselves before the opponent attacks the ball. They also anticipate short/cut shots and 1/2-overs.

Intermediate setter - communicates to their team when they have 2nd hit and demonstrates moderate bump and/or hand setting techniques. Communicates well with attackers on high/low, inside/outside, off/tight set preferences. They also demonstrate moderate skills of receiving passes out of the net, pokes on high tight passes, and moderate footwork getting to the 2nd hit. Intermediate setters know when to pursue the block or cover short/cut shots.

Intermediate attacker - know when to spike, roll, and cut when attacking the ball. They demonstrate hard enough hits to draw a blocker but are not executing a consistent line shot versus angle shot. Intermediate attackers know when to pursue the block or cover short/cut shots.

Why does The Sand Club have officials for recreational teams and not for intermediate to competitive teams?

The purpose of having officials in The Sand Club recreational leagues is to explain the rules and prepare players to register for intermediate leagues. Since The Sand Club culture is volleyball for fun-first, competition-second, players, not officials tend to encourage players to continue playing through questionable calls rather than stopping play and arguing about technicalities at the intermediate / competitive levels. Even though there are no officials for intermediate/competitive divisions, there will always be a Sand Club representative to help clarify the rules and mediate the calls.

The Sand Club's Volleyball League Divisions
The Sand Club has over 12 leagues for men and women volleyball players to choose from in the East Valley. Although players may request to be in a higher division, The Sand Club recommends that players win at the lower division or attend a personal evaluation by substituting. Players are recommended to review the definitions above before registering in any of the following leagues:

Monday Division 3 beginner to rec players - officiated - rule modifications for hand setting, lifts & throws
Monday Division 2 recreational players with no rule modifications but looser hand setting calls - officiated Monday Division 1 rec to intermediate players who know the rules - no official- expect tighter hand setting calls
Monday Men's Round Robin intermediate to competitive players that know the rules - no official - expect tighter hand setting calls
Tuesday Division 3 recreational to intermediate players that know the rules - no official- expect tighter hand setting calls
Tuesday Division 2 intermediate players that know the rules - no official - expect tighter hand setting calls
Tuesday Division 1 intermediate to competitive players that know the rules - no official - expect tighter hand setting calls
Wednesday Division 4 recreational to intermediate players that know the rules - no official- expect tighter hand setting calls
Wednesday Division 3 intermediate players that know the rules - no official - expect tighter hand setting calls
Wednesday Division 2 intermediate to competitive players that know the rules - no official- expect tighter hand setting calls
Wednesday Division 1competitive players that know the rules - no official - expect tighter hand setting calls
Thursday Division 2 intermediate to competitive players that know the rules - no official- expect tighter hand setting calls
Thursday Division 1 competitive players that know the rules - no official - expect tighter hand setting calls