For many athletes in Ontario, beach volleyball has long been considered a summer-only sport. Warm weather, outdoor courts, and long tournament weekends have defined the rhythm of beach season for decades. But not at the Ontario Volleyball Association (OVA), our Winter Beach Season is just getting started!
We have a growing slate of indoor beach programs for athletes who now have the chance to sharpen their skills on the sand year-round. Comprehensive training and competition opportunities in both Toronto and London, the OVA has created a comprehensive winter pathway that connects athletes to the sport, strengthens their development, and fuels the next generation of beach talent.
From structured high-performance training to flexible drop-in sessions, and from half-day tournaments to international camps, there is now a beach volleyball opportunity for every type of athlete, even in the heart of winter.
Competition Opportunities
OVA Winter Beach Tour
The Winter Beach Tour has quickly become one of the cornerstones of the OVA’s indoor programming. Hosted at Volleyball Canada’s Beach High-Performance Centre in Toronto and at the newly added Beach Hangar facility in London, this tour ensures athletes can maintain competitive connections to the sport throughout the colder months.
The format is designed with busy athletes and families in mind: half-day events featuring round robin play followed by tiered playoffs. The condensed schedule allows athletes to balance school, indoor volleyball, and other commitments while still gaining valuable match experience on sand. More than just competition, the Winter Beach Tour keeps athletes engaged, sharp, and motivated as they prepare for the return of the summer season.
Registration begins on September 22nd with the first tournament being held on November 8th. Full schedules and details can be found on the Winter Beach Tour page.
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Locations
Toronto – Volleyball Canada Beach High-Performance Facility, Downsview Park
London – The Beach Hangar
Program Objectives
Provide competitive opportunities for athletes to play beach volleyball during the winter season.
Support athlete development through consistent match play in an indoor sand environment.
Offer a flexible half-day tournament format to fit into busy winter schedules.
Prepare athletes for the upcoming summer Beach Tour by keeping them active in competition.
Athlete Benefits
Compete year-round in beach volleyball while balancing indoor commitments.
Stay connected to the beach volleyball community in the off-season.
Gain valuable competition experience to complement training.
Test partnerships and strategies ahead of the summer season.
Experience fast-paced tournaments in a fun, condensed format.
Athlete Pathway Connection
The Winter Beach Tour is an important step in keeping athletes engaged and prepared between summer seasons. It complements training programs such as Winter Drop-In Training and Year-Round Training, giving athletes the chance to apply skills in real competition while building toward the OVA Beach Tour, Provincial Team tryouts, and international opportunities.
WINTER BEACH TOUR PAGE
King & Queen of the Beach
Among the OVA’s offerings, one event stands out for both its creativity and community spirit: King & Queen of the Beach. This unique format mixes and matches partners throughout the tournament, giving athletes the chance to experience new strategies, build communication skills, and connect with others, including the chance to meet potential partners in the beach volleyball community.
The benefits extend beyond the results sheet. Players improve adaptability by adjusting to different partners and develop leadership through clear communication.
This is an amazing opportunity for players entering the sport to meet fellow competitors in their division, learn from them, make friends and find or try out a partner to continue playing with in the summer.
For many, the friendships, partnerships, and connections made at King & Queen of the Beach are as valuable as the skills gained on the court. With its emphasis on fun, variety, and growth, this event has become a highlight of the winter season.
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Program Objectives
Provide athletes with the chance to explore different playing styles and assess on-court chemistry.
Create opportunities for athletes to discover new potential long-term partnerships.
Develop adaptability, teamwork, and leadership by requiring athletes to adjust quickly with different partners.
Strengthen connections within the beach volleyball community through mix-and-match play.
Maintain a fun, competitive environment that is engaging and meaningful for athlete development.
Athlete Benefits
Discover Partnerships: Unexpected pairings may lead to discovering a strong teammate for future events.
Improve Adaptability: Adjusting to different partners builds versatility in communication and role-sharing.
Game IQ Growth: Exposure to different strategies broadens tactical understanding of the game.
Leadership Development: Athletes are encouraged to step up, communicate clearly, and take initiative.
Community Building: Meet new peers, expand your network, and strengthen the beach volleyball community.
Fun & Engaging: Keeps competition fresh and exciting, with constant opportunities for growth.
Training Pathways: Building Skills Year-Round
Year-Round Beach Training: Full-Time and Integrated Programs
For athletes who want to pursue high-performance pathways, the OVA’s Year-Round Beach Training program provides an unparalleled opportunity. Athletes can choose between full-time immersion or an integrated model that balances beach training with their indoor commitments.
Both groups benefit from consistent on-court sessions led by Team Ontario Beach coaches, as well as integrated sport science support including strength and conditioning, nutrition, and therapy services. The program also offers international training exposure through potential December and March Break camps, creating experiences that mirror the environments of international competition.
Designed for athletes born between 2008 and 2011, Year-Round Beach Training emphasizes technical skill development, tactical growth, and holistic preparation for future National Team opportunities. By training in the true “off-season,” athletes experience noticeable improvements that position them for success when summer arrives.
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Athlete Eligibility
Male and female athletes born 2008–2011
Full-Time Training Group
October 5, 2025 – April 26, 2026
Average of 4 on-court beach practices per week
Monitored Strength and Conditioning program including coach-led sessions 3x per week
Integrated Training Group
November 11, 2025 – April 26, 2026 (Integrated)
Average of 2 beach practices per week, coordinated with indoor schedules (with flexibility for single or additional sessions depending on the week).
Athletes with no club S&C program receive a monitored program from OVA’s Sport Science Lead; self-led sessions are supported and tracked.
Winter Drop-In Training
Not every athlete can commit to a year-round program, which is why the OVA also offers its Winter Beach Drop-In Training program. Using a punch-pass system, athletes can choose sessions that fit around their schedules while still developing their skills in a supportive environment.
Drop-In Training is perfect for indoor athletes who want to supplement their club seasons, beach players looking to stay sharp, or newcomers curious about trying the sport. Training emphasizes whole-skill development. Serving, passing, setting, attacking, and defending, while also building transferable athletic qualities like balance, endurance, and decision-making.
With locations in both Toronto and London, Drop-In Training is an accessible and low-barrier entry point into the beach volleyball community.
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Dates: November 10, 2025 – April 25, 2026
Location:
TORONTO - Volleyball Canada’s Beach High-Performance Facility, Downsview Park
LONDON – The Beach Hangar
Schedule:
Available at http://ovabeach.punchpass.com
Registration Opens:
October 2025
Attendance:
First-come, first-serve reservations with limited spots
Age Categories
18/17U – Born 2008–2009
16/15U – Born 2010–2011
14/13U – Born 2012–2013
Indoor Teams on the Sand
Beach volleyball training is one of the most effective ways to strengthen an indoor team. Training on sand develops qualities that transfer directly back to the court: better ball control, smarter decision-making, stronger core stability, and explosive power for jumping. Because every rally demands movement, balance, and precision, athletes leave the sand better prepared for the physical and mental demands of the indoor season. This opportunity is available in both Toronto and London indoor beach facilities.
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Why Indoor Coaches Should Consider Sand Training
Ball Control & Decision-Making: Sand forces athletes to read plays earlier and make clear choices, improving their ability to adapt under pressure.
Athletic Development: Builds power, endurance, balance, and stability that translate directly into improved indoor performance.
Conditioning: Endurance and explosiveness are trained naturally through play due to the sand.
Team Bonding: The different environment brings teams closer together and creates shared experiences that carry back indoors.
Meaningful Contacts: Every athlete gets more touches, more decisions, and more chances to contribute.
Why Athletes Benefit
More Touches = Faster Improvement: With only two players covering the court, every athlete is constantly involved.
Increase Your Jump Indoors: Training on sand builds leg power that makes jumping indoors feel lighter and easier.
Stronger Endurance: Longer rallies on sand prepare athletes to perform when matches go the distance.
Lower Impact on Joints: The sand challenges athletes while reducing stress on knees and ankles.
Develop All-Around Skills: Passing, setting, hitting, defending, athletes get to do it all and return indoors with more confidence and creativity.
Fun & Memorable: Athletes enjoy the challenge and energy of training on sand, and it strengthens team chemistry.
Training Options Available
Indoor Teams on the Sand: A single booking option for club teams to experience sand training. Perfect for team bonding, skill development, or introducing athletes to a new challenge. Teams can book just the courts or choose to have a Team Ontario Beach coach lead the session.
Indoor Integrated Year-Round Training: A season-long option for indoor teams to make sand training part of their plan. Adding one sand training day alongside regular indoor practices helps athletes build long-term gains in ball control, endurance, and explosive power.
How teams can use this opportunity
Include sand sessions at key points in the season: pre-season for conditioning, mid-season for variety and team connection, or pre-Championships to sharpen ball control and resilience.
Use it as a tool for athlete development without needing to change your entire training plan, even a few sessions can create lasting impact.
Give your team a unique training experience that athletes enjoy, while still serving the objectives of your indoor season.
Targeted Teams and Tall Maples
For athletes preparing for the highest levels of play, the Targeted Teams/Tall Maples program offers a structured season plan focused on optimizing physical and mental preparation. Guided by the OVA’s integrated support team, these athletes receive tailored programming aimed at future Olympic pathways and long-term international success.
TEAM ONTARIO TARGETED SUPPORT TEAMS AND TARGETED TALL MAPLES
International Camps
March Break Beach Camp
As winter gives way to spring, the OVA takes its programming one step further by offering the March Break Beach Camp. Athletes ages 15–18 will travel for six days of learning, training, and enjoying beach volleyball in an international outdoor setting. This camp is designed to give athletes valuable pre-season training just ahead of the summer competition season, while also providing families with the option to combine it with a March Break vacation.
Here, they refine their technical and tactical skills while also learning to manage external factors like wind, heat, and sun, critical experiences for athletes with aspirations of playing at the highest levels. Families also benefit from the camp’s dual appeal, often combining it with a vacation while athletes enjoy high-quality training in an exciting new setting.
A Comprehensive Athlete Pathway
What makes the OVA’s indoor beach programming so impactful is its ability to serve athletes at every level and stage of development. Whether you’re a curious newcomer attending a drop-in session, a high-performance athlete in the Year-Round Training Group, or a team looking to build chemistry on the sand, there is a pathway that connects you to the sport.
Competitions like the Winter Beach Tour and King & Queen of the Beach provide the chance to apply skills in a real-game setting, while training programs create an environment for technical growth, physical development, and community building. For those pursuing elite opportunities, targeted programming and international camps provide the preparation needed for national and international stages.
The expansion of indoor beach volleyball programming in Ontario signals a new era for the sport. By offering both Toronto and London as training and competition hubs, the OVA is broadening access and meeting the demand of a growing beach community. More importantly, these programs ensure that Ontario athletes are no longer limited by the seasons.