Beach volleyball is a team sport played on a beach court divided by a net between two teams of two or more players. The goal of the game is to send the ball over the net and ground it on the other team’s side of the court, much like indoor volleyball. Each team cooperates with the other to keep the other team from putting the ball down on their half of the court.
Teams may use up to three touches to send the ball back across the goal, and players are not permitted to touch the ball twice in a row unless it follows a touch off an attempted block. There are only two more touches before the ball must be hit over after making a block touch. With a serve, the server hits the ball over the opponents’ net from behind the back court boundary into play. The rally continues until one of the following occurs: the ball is grounded on the playing court, it is declared “out,” or a return attempt is mishandled. The winning team earns a point and gets to start the subsequent rally. All during the match, players serve in the same order, switching to a new server whenever the receiving team wins a rally.
The contemporary two-player game was invented in Santa Monica, California, whereas beach volleyball is thought to have started in 1915 on Waikiki Beach in Hawaii. Since the Summer Olympics of 1996, it has been a recognized Olympic sport. The FIVB Beach Volleyball World Championships and the FIVB Beach Volleyball World Tour are put on by the Fédération Internationale de Volleyball (FIVB), which also serves as the sport’s worldwide regulatory body.
History
Indoor volleyball, created in 1895 by William G. Morgan, is a subgenre of beach volleyball. Most likely, beach volleyball was invented in 1915 at the Outrigger Canoe Club on Waikiki Beach in Hawaii[5]. The first game of beach volleyball was played there, according to a member of the Outrigger Canoe Club who was interviewed in 1978. George David “Dad” Center reportedly put up a net. New jetties were built at Santa Monica, California, in 1920, resulting in a sizable sandy area for use by the public. This sowed the seeds for the growth of beach volleyball in that area. People quickly started playing recreational games on the public portions of the beach and at exclusive beach clubs as the first permanent nets started to appear. Beginning in late 1922, eleven of these beach clubs debuted in the Santa Monica region. In 1924, the first interclub contests were held.
Difference from Indoor Volleyball
Unlike indoor volleyball, which has six players on the field at all times, beach volleyball only has two players per side. Beach volleyball courts are 8 by 8 meters on each side, but indoor volleyball courts are 9 by 9 meters. This is another difference between the two types of courts. Like an indoor volleyball, the beach ball is softer and slightly bigger. The regulations of beach volleyball are largely the same as those of indoor volleyball, with the exception that you are permitted to pass beneath the net to hit the ball so long as you don’t obstruct your opponent’s shot. The block always counts as the ball’s first contact in beach volleyball. In contrast to indoor volleyball, players are not compelled to switch places or rotate during beach volleyball matches. The players’ dress varies depending on where the games are being played as well. Swimwear is often the attire for beach volleyball, and there are no shoes allowed.
Beach Volleyball – Equipment
The following list contains the essential gear needed to play beach volleyball safely and with enjoyment.
Net
In a game of beach volleyball, a net is used, and the players constantly attempt to shoot the ball over the net. The beach volleyball net is around 8 feet tall for males and 7 feet 4 inches tall for women. For teenagers, the net’s height varies.
Beach volley ball is played with a net that is 28 feet long. The net is cushioned on both ends. Typically, the referee stand is linked to the net during formal competitions. A 4-inch wide canvas border is also present on the top and bottom of the net.
Ball
A ball is the focal point of play because volleyball is the name of the sport. Beach volleyball balls are round and are either covered in leather or flexible synthetic material.
Bright color stripes on the ball give it a lovely and alluring appearance. The ball is about 300 grams in weight. The ball has about 0.200 kilogram of air per square centimeter inside. The ball’s circumference shouldn’t be less than 65 cm or larger than 70 cm.
Knee Pads
For athletes who are playing beach volleyball, knee protectors are crucial. Knee pads are a key piece of equipment when playing beach volleyball. They give the player’s leg stability so he can play to his fullest capacity.
One of its main benefits is that it shields players from harm. A player can use knee caps to relax his knee if it is injured.
Uniforms
The player belonging to same team or same country has same dress. Players normally prefer to wear swimsuits while playing beach volleyball.
Due to some unfavorable practices, some conservative parties have raised their voices about it and the governing body federation international de volleyball (FIVB) has changed some rules in ladies dress. While playing beach volleyball on a nice and smooth sandy surface, players are advised to wear sporting shoes for the safety of their foot.
Sunglasses and Sun Protection
The players are highly concerned with protecting their body, especially their eyes, since it has previously been established that these games are typically played outside in the open sun. They cover their eyes with sunglasses.
However, the eyeglasses they wear shouldn’t have any power. For the players’ safety, this is also a rule. They apply sun cream to their bodies to shield them from the damaging rays of the sun.
Scoring
At beach volleyball, a team scores points when they are successful in hitting the ball in such a way that the opposition team is unable to legitimately return it. An illegal return involves striking the net, striking the ball more than three times in one rally, or not striking the ball at all.
During the first two sets, teams must switch ends and move to the opposite side of the court every seven points. During the third set, they also mandated a side changeover after every five points.
When 21 points have been scored in total, such as when the score is 14-7, for example, a timeout is taken.
Rules of Beach Volley Ball
As a court sport, Beach Volleyball involves a number of strict rules, including:
•Players, including blocks, are only permitted to touch the ball a maximum of three times before returning it across the court.
•Hand touches, tips, and dinks are only a few of the actions and blows that are forbidden in beach volleyball.
There is no set position for players, so they can move to whatever section of the court they choose at any moment as long as it is on their side. Players are allowed to cross below the net, but this will be considered a foul if it tampers or interferes with the opposing team’s play.
The benefits of beach volleyball
Beach volleyball is not only a ton of fun, but it also has several advantages over other sports. You work out your entire body since all of your muscle groups must be used. Your joints won’t be overly stressed because to the soft sand. Beach volleyball is a fantastic team sport for families, friends, or couples. What could be more pleasant than working out outside against the beautiful backdrop of the sea? Treat yourself to a well-earned drink with spectators or other players, your old friends or new, after your game and your “exercise.”
Player specializations
While there are no fixed positions, competitive players generally have specialized defensive and offensive roles.
On defense, players may specialize as either a blocker or a defender:
Blocker: A blocker, who stands at the net, is in charge of removing a portion of the court (such as a line or an angle) through their block. Blocking involves a variety of skills, including height, jumping prowess, timing, and positioning.
Defender: A defender’s job is to take up a position in the part of the backcourt that is unprotected by the block in order to dig the hard-driven spike or pursue the soft shot. Digging abilities, agility, and speed are crucial components of defense.
Some successful teams don’t have any specialists, and the two players alternate between blocking and defending. Split blocking is a technique of play that enables teams to save energy because more energy is needed on the sand.
On offensive, players frequently focus on playing on the court’s right or left side. This makes choosing shots and receiving serves more consistent. As it is simpler to spike a ball that has not crossed one’s body line, left-handed players typically prefer to play on the right side, while right-handed players typically prefer to play on the left side. [31] A player is said to be playing on the on-hand side when they are doing so on the opposite side of their handedness, and they are said to be playing on the off-hand side when they are doing so on the same side.
