TOURNAMENT DEFINITIONS

• Invitational, Preliminary, District Championship, Grand Prix, Regional Championships, or Super Regional Events: These events are OPEN (no pre-qualification necessary) to any team to participate.
• National Championships: This event is an OPEN (no pre-qualification necessary) event and an event where qualified teams earn a berth.
• AAU Junior Olympic Games/West Coast Junior Olympic Games: These events are Qualified ONLY (you must qualify) for teams to participate. Teams must medal at select licensed AAU Beach Volleyball events in order to compete in this competition. Contact Gino Grajeda (gino@aausports.org) for qualifying events or check the Beach Tour schedule at www.aaubeach.org.
• National Classic: This event is an OPEN (no pre-qualification necessary) event and an event where qualified teams earn a berth.
• Tour Championships: This event is an OPEN (no pre-qualification necessary) event and an event where qualified teams earn a berth.
• Best of Beach (16U/14U) and Pan Pacific (18U) Tournament: These events are Qualified ONLY (you must qualify) for teams to participate. Teams must medal at select licensed AAU Beach Volleyball events in order to compete in this competition. Contact Gino Grajeda (gino@aausports.org) for qualifying events or check the Beach Tour schedule at www.aaubeach.org.
• Coed Championships: This event is OPEN (no pre-qualification necessary) to any team to participate.
• *NOTE: Teams who qualify for the AAU Junior Olympic Games, West Coast AAU Junior Olympic Games, Best of Beach, of Pan Pacific events but the one partner is unable to compete, the remaining partner may select an alternate AAU member to compete with at the event. Athletes who qualify with more than one partner will select which partner he/she will compete with at the event and the remaining partner may select an alternate AAU member to compete with at the event.

TOURNAMENT FORMATS

• OPEN, CLASSIC, INVITATIONAL OR DISTRICT CHAMPIONSHIP TOURNAMENT FORMAT: Tournaments are Pool Play followed by single-elimination playoffs. Games or full matches may be played.
• AAU NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS FORMAT
  1. 18U BOYS, 10U BOYS & GIRLS DIVISIONS: Single Day Tournament; Pool Play followed by Single-Elimination Playoffs
  2. 18U GIRLS, 16U/15U/14U/12U BOYS & GIRLS DIVISIONS: Two or Three Day Tournament; 2-Day Format: Day 1 - Pool play followed by a second round of pool play.  Day 2 - All teams advance to Day 2: Single elimination playoffs.  3-Day Format: Day 1 - Pool play (1 or 2 rounds depending on start time).  Day 2 - Pool play (1 or 2 rounds depending on start time).  Day 3 - All teams advance to Day 3: Single elimination playoffs. 
• AAU JUNIOR OLYMPIC GAMES AND WEST COAST AAU JUNIOR OLYMPIC GAMES FORMAT: Two or Three Day Tournament; 2-Day Format: Day 1 - Pool play followed by a second round of pool play.  Day 2 - All teams advance to Day 2: Single elimination playoffs.  3-Day Format: Day 1 - Pool play (1 or 2 rounds depending on start time).  Day 2 - Pool play (1 or 2 rounds depending on start time).  Day 3 - All teams advance to Day 3: Single elimination playoffs. 
• NATIONAL CLASSIC FORMAT: All age divisions. Two day format; Pool Play followed by pool play. At the National Classic, a national club champion will be determined by the finish of athletes registered to an AAU Beach Volleyball Club. A minimum of three (3) teams must be identified in a particular age division and the club champion is determined by the overall finish of the club athletes in the competition.
• TOUR CHAMPIONSHIPS FORMAT: All age divisions. Tournament may be a one day or two day event.
• BEST OF THE BEACH (16U/14U) AND PAN PACIFIC (18U) FORMAT: Two Day Format; All teams compete on both days. Full matches. Day 1 Pool Play followed by bracket Play on Day 2