Okay, so I’ve been getting really into beach volleyball lately, especially with all the Commonwealth Games hype. I decided to dive in and really experience it firsthand. So, here’s how my little adventure went.
Getting Started
First things first, I needed to, you know, actually find a place to play. I’m not exactly living on a tropical beach, so this took a bit of searching. I found a local sports complex with a couple of sand courts. Score!
Next, I needed people to play with. I’m not exactly a pro, so I rounded up a few friends who were also pretty new to the game. We figured we’d all learn together, and that way, no one would feel too bad about messing up (which, spoiler alert, we all did a lot of).
The Actual Playing Part
The first few times we played, it was… rough. Let me tell you, running in sand is WAY harder than it looks on TV. Those Commonwealth Games athletes? Beasts. Absolute beasts.
- Serving: We whiffed a lot. Like, a LOT. Sometimes the ball would go backwards. It was embarrassing, but we laughed it off.
- Setting: Getting the ball to actually go where you wanted it to? Surprisingly difficult. We spent a good chunk of time chasing after wayward sets.
- Spiking: Okay, this was the fun part, even if most of our “spikes” were more like gentle taps over the net. Every now and then, though, one of us would connect and it felt amazing.
- Diving: I tried to be all dramatic and dive for a ball. I ended up face-planting in the sand. Good times. My friends got that on video. It haunts me to this day.
The Aftermath
After a few sessions, we started to get the hang of things(sort of). I’m not at the point to compete with any players. Our serves became (slightly) more consistent, and we even managed a few actual rallies. I definitely developed a new appreciation for professional volleyball. It also gets me excited to watch the games again.
The biggest thing, the soreness. Oh my goodness, the soreness. Muscles I didn’t even know existed were screaming at me. But, hey, it was a good kind of pain. It meant I was actually doing something. And it’s a great way to get exercise.
All in all, it was a blast. I’m no Commonwealth Games athlete, but I had a ton of fun, got some exercise, and learned something new. And that, my friends, is what it’s all about. Highly recommend giving it a try, even if you end up spending more time picking sand out of your ears than actually playing!
