Okay, so today I wanted to try and really understand the rules of beach volleyball. I mean, I’ve seen it played, looks fun, but I figured there’s gotta be more to it than just hitting the ball over the net, right?
First, I dug around online for some official-looking rule sets. I found some stuff, but honestly, it was all a bit…dense. Lots of technical jargon, you know? So I decided to simplify things.
My Simplified Beach Volleyball Rules Breakdown:
- Two players per team – That much I knew. Makes sense for covering the sand.
- Best of three sets – You gotta win two sets to win the match.
- First two sets go to 21 points – You need a two-point lead to win, though. So it could go past 21.
- Third set (if needed) goes to 15 points – Same deal, gotta win by two.
- You can use any part of your body– Head, shoulders, knees, and toes! As long as it’s a clean hit.
- No holding or throwing – It is clear.
- You get three touches per side – Usually a bump, a set, and a spike, but you can mix it up.
- Blocks count as a touch – This was news to me! So if you block, your team only has two more touches left.
- Switch sides every seven points (or five in the third set)– Keeps things fair with the sun and wind.
After getting a basic handle on the rules, I rounded up a buddy and we headed to the beach. We found a net and just started playing, trying to keep my simplified rules in mind.
It was…messy. We definitely weren’t pros, lots of missed hits and awkward dives. But, we started to get the hang of it. Remembering the three-touch rule and the block-as-a-touch thing made a difference. We even managed a few decent rallies!
The side-switching thing? Super helpful. One side of the court had the sun right in our eyes, so it was good to rotate.
By the end, we were exhausted, sandy, and definitely not ready for the Olympics. But, I felt like I actually understood the game a bit better. And more importantly, we had a blast. I’d definitely recommend giving it a try, even if you’re a total beginner like me. Just don’t expect to be perfect right away!
