2024-2025 AAU Beach Volleyball Age Divisions
Graduation Based Divisions for Beach Volleyball
Graduation-based divisions align athletes by their high school graduating class rather than traditional age groups, ensuring fair competition and simplifying the recruiting process. Below is a dedicated section explaining how these divisions work and their benefits.
What Are Graduation-Based Divisions?
In graduation-based divisions, players compete in groups according to the year they are expected to graduate from high school, such as the "Class of 2024" or "Class of 2026." This structure ensures athletes face peers at similar academic and developmental stages, rather than only grouping by birth year.How Graduation-Year Divisions Work
- These divisions are used throughout the season and reset with the academic year (typically in the fall). Players remain in their designated division through the entire year, preventing mid-season reclassifications.
Why Use Graduation-Year Divisions?
- Consistency for Recruiting: College scouts often look for talent based on graduation class, so this division makes it easier for athletes to be identified and tracked over time.
- Fair Competition: Graduation-based divisions prevent younger athletes within a birth year from being disadvantaged by slightly older players, ensuring fairer match-ups.
- Aligns with School Calendars: These divisions better accommodate athletes balancing sports with academic commitments, since tournaments can be structured around typical school timelines.
- Reduces Eligibility Confusion: Unlike birthdate-based cutoffs (e.g., January 1), graduation years align athletes with their academic peers, reducing confusion about eligibility.
Comparison of Graduation-Based Divisions to Age-Based Divisions
| Graduation Division | Equivalent Age Division | Typical Age at Start of Season |
| Class of 2025 and 2026 | U18 | 16-18 years |
| Class of 2027 | U16 | 15-16 years |
| Class of 2028 | U15 | 14-15 years |
| Class of 2029 and 2030 | U14 | 13-14 years |
| Class of 2031 and 2032 | U12 | 11-12 years |
| Class of 2033 and below | U10 | 9-10 years |
Common Questions
- Can athletes play up?
Yes, athletes are often allowed to compete in divisions higher than their graduating class. - What happens if an athlete repeats or skips a grade?
Athletes typically remain in the division aligned with their new expected graduation year. - Do all beach volleyball organizations use this system?
AVP America, JVA, BVCA, P1440 primarily use graduation-based systems, particularly in recruitment-focused events
Graduation-year divisions provide a straightforward and transparent way for athletes, parents, and coaches to navigate competitive beach volleyball. These divisions create consistency across events, align with recruiting efforts, and ensure athletes are fairly matched with their academic peers.
Once a player participates in a club or varsity program for any university, college, community college or junior college, they are ineligible to play in the West Coast Sports Festival, and/or qualifying events to the West Coast Sports Festival.
Age waivers are NOT allowed at the National Championships or Super Regionals with the exception below.
Local District Directors can modify age divisions or grant waivers for local tournaments. Please contact your Local District Directors for information.
