Tips for Families on Tournament Days
Go Early and Find Parking Early
Parking is usually a challenge at most venues, especially Ashbridges Bay (Toronto) and Victoria Beach (Cobourg).
If Parking Not Found Easily
You may wish to keep the team gear in a separate bag and on top of the pile in the trunk. This helps if are late and your athlete needs to be at the court quickly. You can drop the player off and you can continue to find parking.
Packing List
To help your athlete have a successful day, you may wish to consider creating a packing list of things to bring the morning of the tournament.
Some Items to Include on the Packing List
1. Match Jersey & Shorts (may wish to bring spare)
2. Beach Volleyball (OVA provides ball for each court, but should bring own to warm-up)
3. Warm-Up Clothes – Sleeves, Track Pants
4. Wet Gear – Rain Jacket/Poncho
5. Dry Clothes – keep dry clothes in a plastic bag to change into at end of day
6. Sunglasses/Shades (2) – in case one pair is broken
7. Head Protection – baseball cap, sun hat (Tip: A hat with a large brim helps shade you when doing officiating)
8. Footwear – sand socks (helps when the sand gets hot)
9. Casual Footwear – sandals, crocs (again helpful when walking on hot sand between matches)
Items for the Players’ Station (where players rest during timeouts and between games)
10. Shelter - minimize your athlete’s exposure to the elements such as rain, wind and sun by providing shelter under a beach umbrella. Sportbellas are handy for your athlete and a partner.
11. Beach Chair – folding and portable beach chairs for players (usually recommend parents bring their own separate chairs so the players have a designated place to sit during timeouts)
12. Lunch Cooler – with water, ice packs (for injuries or overheating), snacks
13. Towels – to clean off sand (Tip: Keep a separate clean towel for eyes and sunglasses)
Items for Medical Kit
14. First Medical or First Aid kits with quick cold packs are great for immediate attention. For more extensive injuries, the OVA may provide a medical tent.
Band-Aids
Sun Tan Lotion (minimum 30+ SPF)
Tylenol
Wraps
Athletic Tape
Instant Ice Packs
Other
15. Some families set up a tent for further comfort.
16. Family Cooler
17. Large Beach Towels (for lying down on during longer breaks. Players can also use beach towel as an “A” tent shelter draped over the net rope when officiating.)
Nutrition
In addition to a good healthy dinner the night before followed by a good breakfast, players should also eat throughout the day including protein snacks, fruits, bananas and grains.
Stay Hydrated
Please do not underestimate the importance of drinking water before, during and after. A player should be drinking water 24 hours in advance of a competition.
Symptoms of Dehydration
Dry mouth including splitting and crusting lips
Salty taste in mouth (may have salt at ends of lips)
Headache
Sleepiness
Dizziness
Urine colour is dark yellow
Seek Shade and Shelter from the Sun At Every Break
Players should stay out the sun as much as possible while waiting. Exposure has a compounding effect.
Symptoms of Too Much Sun (Sunstroke, heat stroke, heat exhaustion)
Headache
Sleepiness
Dizziness
Red, hot and dry skin
Lack of sweating
Rapid, shallow breathing
Muscle cramps
Nausea and vomiting
Official Beach Volleyball for OVA
Mikasa VSL300
Coaching
Please note there are specific rules with respect to coaching defined as “giving advice, instructing and external assistance.” In brief, players cannot be coached during play. Please be sure to read information under our separate tab “Things to Know” and the OVA Handbook.
OVA Resources
Beach Handbook
Link to OVA Beach Tour Coaching Policy
Parking is usually a challenge at most venues, especially Ashbridges Bay (Toronto) and Victoria Beach (Cobourg).
If Parking Not Found Easily
You may wish to keep the team gear in a separate bag and on top of the pile in the trunk. This helps if are late and your athlete needs to be at the court quickly. You can drop the player off and you can continue to find parking.
Packing List
To help your athlete have a successful day, you may wish to consider creating a packing list of things to bring the morning of the tournament.
Some Items to Include on the Packing List
1. Match Jersey & Shorts (may wish to bring spare)
2. Beach Volleyball (OVA provides ball for each court, but should bring own to warm-up)
3. Warm-Up Clothes – Sleeves, Track Pants
4. Wet Gear – Rain Jacket/Poncho
5. Dry Clothes – keep dry clothes in a plastic bag to change into at end of day
6. Sunglasses/Shades (2) – in case one pair is broken
7. Head Protection – baseball cap, sun hat (Tip: A hat with a large brim helps shade you when doing officiating)
8. Footwear – sand socks (helps when the sand gets hot)
9. Casual Footwear – sandals, crocs (again helpful when walking on hot sand between matches)
Items for the Players’ Station (where players rest during timeouts and between games)
10. Shelter - minimize your athlete’s exposure to the elements such as rain, wind and sun by providing shelter under a beach umbrella. Sportbellas are handy for your athlete and a partner.
11. Beach Chair – folding and portable beach chairs for players (usually recommend parents bring their own separate chairs so the players have a designated place to sit during timeouts)
12. Lunch Cooler – with water, ice packs (for injuries or overheating), snacks
13. Towels – to clean off sand (Tip: Keep a separate clean towel for eyes and sunglasses)
Items for Medical Kit
14. First Medical or First Aid kits with quick cold packs are great for immediate attention. For more extensive injuries, the OVA may provide a medical tent.
Band-Aids
Sun Tan Lotion (minimum 30+ SPF)
Tylenol
Wraps
Athletic Tape
Instant Ice Packs
Other
15. Some families set up a tent for further comfort.
16. Family Cooler
17. Large Beach Towels (for lying down on during longer breaks. Players can also use beach towel as an “A” tent shelter draped over the net rope when officiating.)
Nutrition
In addition to a good healthy dinner the night before followed by a good breakfast, players should also eat throughout the day including protein snacks, fruits, bananas and grains.
Stay Hydrated
Please do not underestimate the importance of drinking water before, during and after. A player should be drinking water 24 hours in advance of a competition.
Symptoms of Dehydration
Dry mouth including splitting and crusting lips
Salty taste in mouth (may have salt at ends of lips)
Headache
Sleepiness
Dizziness
Urine colour is dark yellow
Seek Shade and Shelter from the Sun At Every Break
Players should stay out the sun as much as possible while waiting. Exposure has a compounding effect.
Symptoms of Too Much Sun (Sunstroke, heat stroke, heat exhaustion)
Headache
Sleepiness
Dizziness
Red, hot and dry skin
Lack of sweating
Rapid, shallow breathing
Muscle cramps
Nausea and vomiting
Official Beach Volleyball for OVA
Mikasa VSL300
Coaching
Please note there are specific rules with respect to coaching defined as “giving advice, instructing and external assistance.” In brief, players cannot be coached during play. Please be sure to read information under our separate tab “Things to Know” and the OVA Handbook.
OVA Resources
Beach Handbook
Link to OVA Beach Tour Coaching Policy