Coaching changes everything – Ios Futures and the evolution of Beach Volleyball

The landscape in Beach Volleyball is changing. The International Federation is introducing coaching in more and more events, with the Ios Futures becoming part of this category. The head coach of the Greek women’s national teams, Stathis Chandrinos, spoke about how this development affects the sport, noting that it could raise the overall level of Beach Volleyball through the inclusion of coaches.

He also highlighted the emerging talent in Greece, with young pairs gaining international experience through tournaments, noting that there is plenty of talent in the country and that the main challenge is opportunity.

Another year in the Ios World Tour stop, but with coaching now allowed on court. What changes does this bring?
First of all, I would like to congratulate the organisers; the hospitality here in Ios is excellent. Regarding coaching, this already existed in age-group events and in some specialised competitions such as the Nations Cup. Now it is gradually being introduced across all tournaments, and I believe it has the potential to change the entire sport. Having a coach on court who can calm the athletes during the intensity of a match is, in my view, a positive development for the sport.

Can this change the overall level of the sport?
Absolutely. Until now, all in-game decisions were made by the athletes themselves. Now there is a coach – a calmer “third set of eyeballs” – who can provide additional information and guidance during matches.

The coach is also closer to the action now. Does that change anything for them?
The coach is much calmer in this setup. It is different being in the stands compared to being courtside. You experience the intensity up close, you can observe details from the opposing team, and you can pass that information on to your players.

Some argue that part of Beach Volleyball’s beauty is that players must handle these decisions themselves. Is that a valid point?
That was certainly the reality. High-level athletes are capable of making those decisions and carrying that responsibility on their own. However, they will still do so, even with a coach’s support. At the highest level, athletes can improve even further with coaching assistance, especially because difficult moments will always come.

What kind of guidance can a coach give in windy conditions like these?
There are certain principles that must be followed in windy conditions: serving choices, angles depending on court side, passing technique, the type of set – usually lower and adjusted to the wind – as well as defensive positioning and attacking decisions. These are general rules that all teams try to follow in order to gain an advantage. The teams with better ball control usually benefit the most.

Two young players, Charisaki and Fragkioudaki, are part of the Greek national team setup. How valuable is this experience for them?
They are still young athletes. Ahead of them are the Balkan U18, Balkan U20, and World U18 Championships. Every point and every set helps build their character and prepares them for the major tournaments ahead. All these matches are extremely valuable for them.

They had a strong match but lost in a painful way. Is that also a learning experience?
Yes, it is. Their opponents, Eberle and Konstantinova from Latvia, are European medallists. It is a very strong team, and we competed with them on equal terms. We could have won 2–0, but the way we lost came down to managing the final points. We lacked patience to close the match. However, this strengthens their character and helps us move forward.

There are more young teams emerging in Greek Beach Volleyball. Is there enough talent for the sport to grow at a high level?
In my opinion, there is talent. Alexoglou and Paschalaki achieved something last year (crowned U18 European champions in 2025) that had not been done in almost 30 years in Greece – something very significant. Their effort was excellent and not accidental; they worked intensively over the past years towards that goal. Charisaki and Fragkioudaki are already competing at international level. There are also younger players coming through the national team programmes who, in 1-2 years, you will see competing at a very high level. There is talent, there is willingness, and there is coaching support. What remains is to help these athletes compete in as many high-level tournaments as possible.