Matchformat:

Games will use ralley-point scoring and will be to 21 points. Court switches games will occur every 7 points. The third set will be to 15 points with court switches every 5 points.
Play-off matches will be rally-point scoring to 15 points. Court switches games will occur every 5 points. The third set will be to 11 points with court switches every 4 points.
Officiating Duties for our league play.
Due to the more relaxed nature of beach competition, most matches will be self-refereed or teams may have their coaches act as referee. However, a convenor will be on site and available to mediate disagreements.
General Overview of Beach Volleyball Rules.
Serve contacting the net is not a fault. It is not a fault when the serve contacts the net.
Service tossing error (no longer a difference). No service tossing errors are allowed under outdoor rules. If the server releases the ball for service and does not complete the service, the team will be penalized with a loss of rally.
Block counts as a team contact in outdoors doubles and triples. For doubles and triples competition only: Blocking does constitute a team contact, and any player may make the second contact of the ball after the block. Indoors, the block is never considered one of the team's three allowable contacts.
Stricter calling of sets on the first ball. Note that it is illegal in beach rules to double contact the first team hit if you use your fingers to direct the ball-- regardless of whether the ball is hard-driven. In other words, the sloppy double-contacted first-ball sets that are legal indoors are still illegal outdoors. Other double contacts (that do not use the fingers to direct the ball) are legal on the first ball provided they occur in one attempt to play the ball. You can use open-palm "beach digs" which momentarily lift or push the ball if you are defending a hard-driven ball (i.e. attacked ball, or fast-moving ball off a block).
No open hand tips/dinks. In doubles, triples, and 4's, this is a no-no outdoors. Alternatives include palms, heel of the hand, locked straight fingers, knurled fingers, or the back of the hand.
Setting over. For doubles and triples competition only, any ball that is intentionally set into the opponent's court must be contacted with two hands above the shoulders, and set directly forward or backward in relation to the player's body. An exception is granted if you cleanly "side set" your teammate and the ball is blown over the net by the wind.
You switch sides within games. Wind, sun, and variable lighting on outdoor courts at night all point to the need for switching sides within games. Rally games to 21 points or more switch on multiples of 7. Rally games to 15 switch on multiples of 5.
No penalty for serving out of order (doubles only). If an out-of-order server is discovered, no penalty is charged. The offending player continues serving, and that team's service order is simply reversed such that no one player serves 3 times in a row.
No position or back-row faults (doubles, triples, 4's). In 2's, 3's, and 4's competition, players can start and play anywhere. Only the service order must be obeyed. This conveniently removes all concern about back row attacks/blocks. In 6's competition, however, the indoor rules apply.
Stricter screening rule (2's and 3's). Unlike the indoor rule which prohibits only groups of 2 or more passive players from screening, the outdoor rule prohibits individual player screening as well, "On an opponent's request, a player must move sideways or bend over or down [to prevent screening]." Of course, it's illegal for a single players to wave their arms, jump, or move with the server in both outdoor and indoor rules.
Can retrieve a ball from opponent's side of the net Indoors, once you've hit the ball completely across the net (either inside or outside the crossing space), your team can no longer play it. Outdoors, however, your partner may be able to bail you out of a shamefully shanked pass that crosses the net outside of the crossing space. A ball completely crossing the net below the net or entirely outside the antennas (posts) may be recovered within the limits of the three-team contacts. A ball completely crossing the net above the net and within or over the antennas (posts) may not be recovered.
No center line. There is no center-line in outdoor volleyball. You can penetrate under the net provided you do not interfere with your opponent.
Lower ball pressure. Outdoor ball pressure is 2.5-3.2psi. Indoor balls are much harder at 4.3-4.6psi.
No antennas. Indoor rules strictly stipulate the use of antennas to define the crossing space over the net. Outdoors, however, antennas are rarely used except in pro competition. In the absence of antennas, the posts act as antennas for all purposes except player contact.