Beach volleyball is a sport that is played on a beach and usually in summer. To play it, 2 players are needed per team. The game is won in 2 sets of 21 points each. The aim of the game is to send the ball across the net and prevent the opponent from doing the same.
Equipment
- 1 volleyball,
- 1 net,
- Boundaries of the court.
Set up
- Form two teams of equal numbers.
- Mark out the court; it is 16 metres long and 8 metres wide.
- Place the net in the centre of the field.
- The top of the net should be 2.43 metres from the ground in a men’s game and 2.24 metres in a women’s game.
How to play?
- Beach volleyball is played by sending the ball over the net or by preventing the opponent from sending the ball over the net.
- The ball can hit the net by passing it to the other side.
- The game starts with a serve hit by the server.
- The rally between the two teams ends when :
- The ball touches the ground.
- The ball is kicked out of the court.
- One of the teams fails to return the ball.
The service
- A game starts with a serve from the server.
- If the serving team scores the point, the server does not change.
- If the serving team scores the point, the next serve goes to them.
- Rounds of service alternate between the players every 7 points in a clockwise direction.
Passing
- The ball can be played with any part of the body.
- The ball must be hit cleanly and accurately. It is not allowed to hold the ball.
- A player may not kick the ball twice in succession.
- A team is only allowed to kick the ball three times, including against, before sending it to the other side.
Fouls
- A foul earns the opponent a point.
Playing faults
- The ball is sent into the net or under the net.
- The ball is sent out of the playing area or beyond the opponent’s court.
- The player hits the ball twice in a row.
- The team hits the ball more than three times.
- The ball bounces into your part of the court.
Technical fouls
- The team forgets the clockwise rotation of the players.
- During the serve, the player has one foot in his court. The service is always done outside the court.
- The player, whether attacker or defender, touches the net.
- The player has one foot in the opponent’s court.
- The contact with the ball is prolonged, giving the impression that the ball is being held.
Points
- A team scores 1 point when it wins the rally.
- The game is played in 2 sets.
- A set is played to 21 points.
- To win a set, you must be at least 2 points ahead of your opponent.
- In case of a 20-20 tie, continue playing until the 2-point gap is reached.
- In case of a tie, a final set of 15 points with a minimum difference of 2 points is played.
