The Game of Beach Volleyball

By Sydney Garrison

Beach volleyball is one of those wonderfully versatile sports that can be a strenuous and exciting game to play and watch, or, on the other end of the spectrum, can just be about some friends getting together to have a great time. It’s really easy, all you need is sand, a net and a bunch of people, of any age or fitness level, that want to have fun.

Beach volleyball can be played with as little as two people on each team, making a total of four people. However, if you are less skilled and experienced in the game, it will be easier to play with a larger team. The more players you have, the less ground each person will be responsible for covering and the more time they will have to recover in between shots. If you only have a few players, you will each get quite a workout running for the ball after each volley. If you are looking for that relaxing, fun, low key experience, opt for larger teams. This will also give you more of an opportunity to socialize.

Beach volleyball is similar to regular volleyball in its rules and execution. However, even seasoned volleyball players do not realize how much more difficult it is to run and jump on sand. Since it is harder to move quickly on sand than a hard surface, play will be much slower than regular volleyball on a court. When an athlete trains for beach volleyball, they will focus on building lower body strength as well as upper body. While they need to be able to hit the ball with a great deal of power and accuracy, strengthening their legs is extremely important. This improves their ability to move quickly and accurately in the sand despite the resistance. Powerful legs are important in regular volleyball, however the ability to jump high and land without injury is imperative to the game of beach volleyball.

Injuries are very common among new and seasoned beach volleyball players. Misjudging the resistance of the sand can lead to skinned knees and elbows. Often, a player will dive for the ball and forget that they must protect themselves from the impact and the resistance of the sand.

Whether you are in it for the competition, or just to have a great time with your friends, beach volleyball can be extremely exciting and fun. You may even start out with friends and fall in love with the sport.

Sydney Garrison is an avid cyclist and sports enthusiast. She is also a partner in an online bike rack store.

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