Who referees matches at Beach Nationals, and is coaching allowed?

Youth Beach Nationals 2026: Volleyball Canada is piloting self-officiated play for all matches before the medal rounds, so teams call their own in and out balls and no player-referee assignments are issued. A volunteer (for example a coach, family member or another athlete) may flip the scoreboard, or teams can keep score themselves. The winning team enters the final score into VolleyballLife. Court Supervisors (official Volleyball Canada referees) monitor play, and all Championship Tier medal matches are officiated by a Volleyball Canada referee. Volleyball Canada says that in earlier player-refereed play, teams handled straightforward in and out calls well but ball-handling calls were often hard to apply consistently.

The Youth Competition Guide (last updated June 2026) still describes the earlier player-referee system, with a $100 fine for missing an assignment. The pilot announcement is the newer document for matches before the medal rounds.

Senior Beach Nationals: coaching is not allowed. Volleyball Canada defines coaching as advice, instruction or external assistance of any kind to a team or player.

Sources: Volleyball Canada 2026 Self-Officiated Play announcement; 2026 Youth Beach Nationals Competition Guide, section 10; 2026 Senior Beach Nationals Competition Guide, section 2.