How to Referee Beach Volleyball
Official Roles, Hand Signals, Ball Handling Rules, Side Switching & the Challenge System
Last updated: April 6, 2026
Beach volleyball officiating uses a smaller crew than indoor: a first referee (elevated platform, ultimate authority), a second referee (floor level, net violations and side switches), and two line judges (ball in/out). Key differences from indoor officiating include stricter ball-handling enforcement (no open-hand tips, strict double-contact calls on sets), mandatory side switching every 7 points (5 in tiebreak), and a simplified crew without a scorer's table rotation tracker (no rotation in 2v2).
Official Roles in Beach Volleyball
Beach volleyball uses a smaller officiating crew than indoor volleyball, reflecting the 2v2 format and outdoor setting:
First Referee (R1) The first referee stands on an elevated platform (referee stand) at one end of the net and has ultimate authority over all decisions. Responsibilities include:
- Whistling to start and end each rally
- Calling all faults (ball handling errors, net touches, foot faults, attack faults)
- Making final judgment on all disputed plays
- Authorizing timeouts and managing match flow
- Sanctioning players for misconduct (verbal warning, yellow card, red card)
- Deciding on challenge outcomes at events without Hawk-Eye
Second Referee (R2) The second referee stands at floor level on the opposite side of the net from the first referee. In beach volleyball, the second referee has expanded responsibilities compared to indoor:
- Monitoring net violations (net touches during play)
- Managing side switches — ensuring teams switch promptly at the correct point intervals
- Tracking service order (ensuring players alternate correctly)
- Monitoring centerline penetration under the net
- Assisting with timeout management
- Signaling the first referee on plays they may have missed
Line Judges (2) Two line judges are positioned at diagonally opposite corners of the court. Each line judge watches the two lines closest to their position and signals:
- Ball in — pointing the flag down toward the court
- Ball out — raising the flag overhead
- Ball touched — brushing the flag across the palm of the free hand
- Foot fault on serve — waving the flag over the end line
Notably, beach volleyball does not use a scorer's table in the same way as indoor volleyball. There are no rotation tracking responsibilities (no rotation in 2v2), no substitution management (no substitutions), and no libero tracking.
| Role | Position | Primary |
|---|---|---|
| First Referee (R1) | Elevated platform at one net end | Ultimate authority — all fault calls, challenge decisions, sanctions |
| Second Referee (R2) | Floor level, opposite side of net | Net violations, side-switch management, service order, centerline |
| Line Judges (2) | Diagonal corners of the court | Ball in/out, touches, foot faults on serve |
Beach Volleyball Referee Hand Signals
Beach volleyball uses the same FIVB-standardized hand signals as indoor volleyball, with some signals being more frequently used due to the nature of the outdoor 2v2 game:
Point / Side-Out: One arm extended toward the team that won the rally.
Ball In: Arm and hand pointed downward toward the court surface.
Ball Out: Both arms raised with forearms vertical, palms facing backward.
Double Contact: Two fingers (index and middle) raised — called more frequently in beach volleyball due to stricter setting standards.
Four Hits: Four fingers raised — less common than indoor (only 2 players, so 4 hits is rare but possible with a block touch counting differently).
Net Touch: Referee touches the net on the side of the offending player.
Illegal Attack (Open-Hand Tip): This call is unique to beach volleyball enforcement. The referee signals an illegal attack when a player uses an open-hand dink. The signal is the same as for a general attack fault — downward waving motion of the forearm.
Ball Handling Error (Lift/Carry): Forearm raised with palm upward in a slow lifting motion.
Foot Fault: Referee points down toward the end line.
Timeout: One hand flat over the other (T-shape).
Side Switch: The referee whistles and makes a circular motion with both arms, indicating teams should switch sides. This signal is used frequently throughout beach volleyball matches.
Challenge Request: Rectangular "screen" shape formed with both hands — at events with video review capability.
End of Set / End of Match: Arms crossed over the chest.
Ball Handling Enforcement — The Core of Beach Volleyball Officiating
Ball handling is where beach volleyball officiating differs most significantly from indoor. Understanding these rules is essential for any beach volleyball referee:
Open-Hand Tip Prohibition: The most distinctive beach volleyball rule is the prohibition of open-hand tips (dinks). A player cannot softly redirect the ball over the net or block using an open palm with relaxed fingers. Legal alternatives include:
- Poke shot — contacting the ball with stiff, locked fingers
- Cobra shot — using the tips of stiffened fingers in a cobra-like hand position
- Knuckle shot — using a closed fist or the knuckles
- Roll shot — a full arm swing with topspin, hitting with the open hand in a full attacking motion (this is allowed because it is a full attack, not a tip)
The key distinction is between a tip (a gentle redirection with an open hand) and an attack (a full arm swing). Full attacks with an open hand are legal; gentle tips with an open hand are not.
Double Contact on Sets: Beach volleyball referees enforce double contact on sets far more strictly than indoor referees. Key guidelines:
- Any visible spin on a hand set may be called as a double contact
- The ball should come off both hands simultaneously with minimal spin
- Most competitive players use bump sets (forearm sets) specifically to avoid double-contact risk
- On the first team contact (serve receive, hard-driven attack defense), double contact is allowed
Judgment Consistency: The standard for ball handling should be applied consistently throughout the match. Referees should establish their standard early and maintain it — changing the strictness level mid-match creates confusion and controversy.
Beach volleyball ball handling calls are judgment calls and are NOT challengeable via the video review system.
Side-Switch Protocol — Managing the Unique Beach Volleyball Rhythm
Side switching is a fundamental aspect of beach volleyball officiating that does not exist in the indoor game. The second referee has primary responsibility for managing switches:
When to switch:
- Sets 1 and 2: Every 7 combined points (at totals of 7, 14, 21, 28, 35, etc.)
- Set 3 (Tiebreak): Every 5 combined points (at totals of 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, etc.)
The switch procedure:
- As soon as the rally that brings the combined score to the switch point ends, the second referee whistles and signals the switch.
- Teams walk to the opposite side of the court. No additional timeout is granted — the switch should be quick.
- The first referee verifies that both teams are in position on their new sides.
- The serve order and score carry over — nothing changes except court position.
- The first referee whistles to resume play.
Common mistakes to watch for:
- Teams forgetting to switch (the second referee must track the combined score diligently)
- Teams using the switch as an informal timeout (extended delays should be managed)
- Service order confusion after a switch (the same player continues to serve; the switch does not affect serving)
Why this matters: In outdoor conditions, the difference between sides can be dramatic. A team serving into a strong headwind has a significant disadvantage compared to serving with the wind. Sun position can make it nearly impossible to track a high ball on one side. The side switch is not a formality — it is an essential fairness mechanism.
Video Challenge System in Beach Volleyball
The FIVB challenge system for beach volleyball follows similar principles to indoor volleyball but with some differences:
Allocation: Each team receives 1 unsuccessful challenge per set (compared to 2 in indoor volleyball). Successful challenges are retained.
Challengeable plays:
- Ball in/out decisions
- Block touch (whether the ball touched a blocker before going out)
- Antenna violation (ball contacting the antenna or crossing outside it)
- Foot fault on serve (server stepping on the end line)
- Net touch (at some events)
Not challengeable:
- Ball handling errors (double contact, lift, open-hand tip) — these are judgment calls
- Service order violations
- Referee sanctions
Procedure:
- The team captain immediately requests a challenge after the rally (before the next serve).
- The first referee reviews video footage — either Hawk-Eye ball-tracking for line calls or multi-angle video for other plays.
- The referee announces the decision.
- If successful, the call is reversed and the team keeps its challenge.
- If unsuccessful, the call stands and the team loses its challenge for the remainder of the set.
At events without video review: Many beach volleyball tournaments, particularly at lower tiers and domestic events, do not have challenge systems. In these cases, the first referee's decision is final on all calls. Referees at these events carry an even greater responsibility for accuracy, as there is no technological backstop.
Common Officiating Scenarios in Beach Volleyball
Beach volleyball officials frequently encounter these situations that require clear, consistent rulings:
Scenario 1: Wind-Affected Serve A serve is tossed but a gust of wind moves the ball significantly before contact. The server can let the toss drop and re-toss without penalty — as long as they have not swung at the ball. Only one re-toss is allowed per service attempt.
Scenario 2: Sand in the Eyes A player is temporarily blinded by sand kicked up during a rally. Play continues — there is no stoppage for sand-related issues during live play. However, between rallies, a reasonable delay for a player to clear sand from their eyes is permitted.
Scenario 3: External Interference A ball from an adjacent court rolls onto the playing court during a rally. The first referee immediately whistles to stop play and the rally is replayed. External interference includes balls, people, animals, or objects entering the playing area.
Scenario 4: Close Set-Point with Questionable Call At set point (e.g., 20-18), a ball lands very close to the line. If no challenge system is available, the first referee must make a decisive call based on what they saw, supported by the line judge's signal. Hesitation undermines credibility — make the call and commit to it.
Scenario 5: Disputed Open-Hand Tip A player attacks with what appears to be a stiff-fingered poke, but the opponent claims it was an open-hand tip. The first referee's judgment is final — this is not challengeable. The key criterion is whether the hand was stiff and controlled (legal) or relaxed and guiding (illegal).
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