You, the athlete,
are the focus
We see you. The hours you put in to perfect your craft. The money you spend to travel to tournaments. The sacrifices you make to follow your dream. Without you, there would be no sport! Each player deserves to feel like they matter.
Why do we do it?
Our mission is to help athletes feel known, loved, and respected by showing them the love of Christ through well-run tournaments. Volleyball players are not just volleyball players. Most have other jobs to make a living and fund their beach volleyball dreams. They are friends, significant others, moms, and dads. Most of all, they are children of God. They were made by a Creator who cares about more than just their success on the volleyball court.
The Winter Challenge Tournament each year provides an opportunity for beach volleyball players to feel that they are more than just a ranking. They are valued and taken care of. Their lives matter.
How do we do it?
With the help of generous donors and sponsors each year, this is what we provide for the athletes:
Full payout (entry fee goes straight back to the players)
Dinner the night before the tournament
Breakfast the day of the tournament
Lunch during the tournament
Dinner at the conclusion of the tournament
Full match-play
Real, paid referees the whole day
Sponsors on site
Athletic trainers and PT’s on site (for free!)
Volleyballs on every court
Tournament t-shirts
Sponsor goodie bags
A FUN and ENCOURAGING competitive atmosphere the whole day!
What’s the Format?
Modeled after the college “dual” style, this tournament format is different than most. Here’s how it works:
Players put together their own “big” team.
“Big” teams are composed of three pairs each.
Each gender will have 6 “big” teams.
Once all teammates are registered, teams are seeded based on points. Same goes for the “big” team seeding.
Dual-style match play: whichever “big” team wins at least two out of three matches wins each dual.
The 1 seed plays the other team’s 1 seed, the 2 plays the 2, and the 3 plays the 3.
“Big” teams are assigned a t-shirt color