Ranking Guidelines

USA National Beach Rankings is a platform for USA Volleyball and their affiliates. It will use the following ranking guidelines to award points. To see a snapshot of the points breakdown for juniors please click here. To see a snapshot of the points breakdown for adults please click here.

Adult Guidelines

Divisions

International - Points allocated at this level are awarded to events that are hosted by the International Olympic Committee (IOC), Fédération Internationale de Volleyball (FIVB), North, Central America and Caribbean Volleyball Confederation (NORCECA) and USA Volleyball (USAV). Events feature qualified entry, international teams and international style of play. Both genders are represented at the event.

Olympics
FIVB World Championships
FIVB 1-5 Star Events
Pan Am Games
NORCECA Zonal Events
Age Group World Championships

Domestic - Points are allocated by prize money awarded and by competition level. The overal prize money awarded per gender per competition is represented in seven categories. The following guidelines are established for the relevant non-prize money events:

AAA - Most athletes competing are expert or advanced and the competition field has approximately 75% or more of athletes being ranked.
AA - Most athletes competing are intermediate and the competition field has approximately 50% or more of athletes being ranked.
A - Most athletes competing are intermediate or beginner and the competition field has approximately 25% or more of athletes being ranked.
BB - Most athletes competing are beginner and the competition field does not require athletes being ranked.

Junior Guidelines

Divisions

Youth Olympic Games
FIVB U19 World Championship
NORCECA Qualifier for Youth Olympic Games
USAV U19 World Championship Trials
USAV Beach HP Championship

National - Points allocated at this level are awarded to events that are the culmination of a national tour that hosts qualifying events in multiple states across the country. Events feature qualified entry and typically over 250 teams participating from approximately 15 states/regions or more. Both genders are represented at the event. Events have athletes from the top of the USA National Beach Rankings for juniors nationally competing in the event.

USAV Beach National Championship

Zonal - Points allocated at this level are awarded to events that are a qualifier for a national junior ranking point event or are the culmination of a zonal tour that hosts qualifying events in multiple states/regions across the country. Events feature open or qualified entry and typically over 75 teams participating from approximately three states/regions or more. Most events have athletes from the top of the USA National Beach Rankings for juniors in each zone competing in the event.

USAV Beach National Qualifiers

Regional

USAV Beach Regional Qualifiers
USAV National Beach Tour Events

Greater Competition Points

Great Competition (GC) Points will be applied to all levels (except International) and added to the base percentage of points:

GC Point Breakdown
- 18U = 5 points per team competing
- 16U = 4 points per team competing
- 14U = 3 points per team competing
- 12U = 2 points per team competing
- 10U = 1 point per team competing
- EXAMPLE: 18U regional tournament with 20 teams will have a starting value of 600 points (500 base + 20 teams X 5 points). 1^st place finishers will receive 600 points.
Total possible points will max out right below the base points in the next highest division.
- EXAMPLE: 18U regional tournament with 100 teams will have a starting value of 999 points (500 base + 100 teams X 5 points= 1000, however 18U Zonal tournaments have base of 1000, therefore the max point potential for a 18U regional event is capped at 999).

“Aging” Up

Athlete retains points earned in younger division and within last 365 days.

Playing Up

Seeded with total number of points
- EXAMPLE: 16U female plays in 18U tournament. Her 16U points earned in last 365 days are used for her seeding.
Points earned are equal to winning the division in their respective age group.
- EXAMPLE: 14U female finishes 1^st place in 18U regional tournament with 20 teams. She earns 600 18U points, 480 16U points, 360 14U Points. If this athlete competes in another 18U tournament, 600 points will go to her seeding. If she competes in a 14U tournament, 360 points will go towards her seeding.

Other

Best 5 finishes in last 365 days are counted
Points expire after 365 days and are replaced by the next highest points earned within 365 days
ID's indicate the athlete is a member of USAV