BEACH VOLLEYBALL

CHARACTERISTIC

Beach Volleyball is a sport played by two teams on a sand court divided by a net. The
team has three hits for returning the ball (including the block touch). The objective of the game is
to send the ball over the net and to ground it on the opponent's court side.

In Beach Volleyball, the team winning a rally scores a point (Rally Point System). When
the receiving team wins a rally, it gains a point and the right to serve. The serving player must be
alternated every time this occurs.

HISTORY

The true birth of beach volleyball most likely begins on the beaches of Waikiki Beach in
Hawaii. It was in 1915 when George David Center played volleyball with his friends on sand for
the first time. He set up a net on Waikiki Beach and encouraged his colleagues to play a game of
six versus six.

But most accounts place the sport's origin in Santa Monica, California, where the
first volleyball courts are put up on the beach. In 1927, five more clubs were established in
California. It is also in Santa Monica, California where The first official two-
man beach volleyball tournament was organized by Bernie Holtzman and was played with no
prize money. As a result, Southern California was designated as the origin of beach volleyball.

The connection between the sport, entertainment, sex appeal, and the arising marketing
trend became stronger and stronger – and "beachmania" was born.

Although aiming to preserve the fun factor, the California Beach Volleyball Association
released its first regulations in 1965. This standardization of rules and superior entities was
required to ensure the quality of the sport. It has been an Olympic sport since the 1996 Summer
Olympics. Fédération Internationale de Volleyball (FIVB) is the international governing body for
the sport and organizes the FIVB Beach Volleyball World Championships and the FIVB Beach
Volleyball World Tour.

By 1998, the sport had been added to other multi-sport events including the Pan
American Games, Central American Games, Southeast Asian Games, Goodwill Games and
Universiade. In 2001, the FIVB began organizing the annual FIVB Beach Volleyball U21 World
Championships, with the annual FIVB Beach Volleyball U19 World Championships beginning
the following year.

BASIC SKILLS

1. Service Types: Underhand, Sidearm, Overhand

2. Dig Pass
3. Block
4. Spike/Attack
5. Miscellaneous Pass
6. Fall, Roll and Dive
7. Setting
8. Overhand Pass/Palm
STANDARDIZED FACILITY AND EQUIPMENT

1. Ball - The ball shall be spherical, made of a flexible material (leather, synthetic leather or
similar) which does not absorb moisture, i.e. more suitable to outdoor conditions since
matches can be played when it is raining. The ball has a bladder inside made of rubber or
a similar material. Approval of synthetic leather material is determined by FIVB
regulations.
 Colour: light uniform colour or a combination of colours.
 Circumference: 66 to 68 cm. Weight: 260 to 280 g.
 Inside pressure: 0.175 to 0.225 kg/cm2
2. Court – The playing area includes the playing court and the free zone. It shall be
rectangular and symmetrical.
 Dimension: The playing court is a
rectangle measuring 16 x 8 m,
surrounded by a free zone, which is a
minimum of 3 m wide on all sides. The
free playing space is the space above
the playing area, which is free from all
obstructions. The free playing space
shall measure a minimum of 7 m in
height from the playing surface. The
surface must be composed of levelled
sand, as flat and uniform as possible,
free of rocks, shells and anything else
which can represent risks of cuts or
injuries to the players.
 Lines on the Court: All lines are 5 cm
wide. The lines must be of a colour
which contrasts sharply with the colour
of the sand.
 Boundary lines: Two side lines and two
end lines mark the playing court. There
is no centre line. Both side and end lines are placed inside the dimensions of the
playing court. Court lines should be ribbons made of a resistant material, and any
exposed anchors should be of a soft, flexible material.
 Zones and Areas: There is only the playing court, service zone and the free zone
surrounding the playing court. 1.4.1 The service zone is an 8 m wide area behind
the end line, which extends to the edge of the free zone.
3. Net – Placed vertically over the middle of the court there is a net whose top is set at the
height of 2.43 m for men and 2.24 m for women. Its height is measured from the centre
of the playing court with a measuring rod. The net height (over the two side lines) must
be exactly the same and must not exceed the official height by more than 2 cm.
4. Antennae – An antenna is a flexible rod, 1.80 m long and 10 mm in diameter, made of
fibreglass or similar material. An antenna is fastened at the outer edge of each side band.
The antennae are placed on opposite sides of the net.
5. Side Vertical Markers – Two coloured bands, 5 cm wide (same width as the court lines)
and 1 m long, are fastened vertically to the net and placed directly above each side line.
They are considered as part of the net.
6. Flag lets – Flag lets are used to signal if the ball is either in or out.
7. Score sheet – The score sheet is used to indicate the scores of the teams.
TERMINOLOGIES

1. Attack/Spike – is the offensive team attempting a score. Hitting the ball at the net level or
above that is driven downward.
2. Block – Blocking is the action of players close to the net to intercept the ball coming
from the opponent by reaching higher than the top of the net, regardless of the height of
the ball contact. At the moment of the contact with the ball, a part of the body must be
higher than the top of the net.
3. Dead Ball – ball is dead the play stops from the whistle of the referee
4. Foul - Violation of the rules
a) Stepping on the end line
b) Outside – The ball is out when:
 Falls on the ground completely outside the boundary lines (without touching
them)
 Touches an object outside the court, or a person out of play
 Touches the antennae, ropes, posts or the net itself outside the side bands
 Crosses completely the lower space under the net.
c) 4 hits/touches – a team hits the ball four times before returning it.
d) Double Contact – a player hits the ball twice in succession or the ball contacts
various parts of his/her body in succession.
e) touching the net
f) holding
g) overreaching
h) 8 seconds violation
5. Game – It is commonly called as the end set which happens when one team reaches 21
points.
6. Holding – happens when the ball momentarily stops at the hands or arms of the player.
7. Dig Pass – is to bat a ball to a teammate.
8. Service – is the act of putting the ball into play.

RULES OF BEACH VOLLEYBALL

As a court sport, Beach Volleyball involves a number of strict rules, including:
 Players are allowed to touch the ball three times maximum before they return it across
the court – blocks included.
 There are a number of moves and hits that are classed as illegal in Beach Volleyball,
including “hand touches”, “tips” and “dinks”.
 Players are permitted to cross below the net in Beach Volleyball – but this will be
classed as a foul if it tampers or interferes with the opposing team's play.
 There is no set position for players, meaning they can move to any part of the court
they wish at any time – provided it is on their side.

DUTIES and RESPONSIBILITIES OF OFFICIATING OFFICIALS

1. REFEREE
a. Implements the rules of the game and directs it.
b. Has authority over other officials.
c. Has the power to decide any matters involving the game.
d. Is authorized to issue warnings and sanctions to the players.
 2. UMPIRE
a. Assist the referee.
b. Controls the work of the scorer.
c. Supervises each of the players in the bench and reports any misconduct to the referee.
d. Controls the number of timeouts and substitutions of both teams.
e. Checks the actual positions of the players on the court in accordance to the line-up
sheet.
f. Assist the referee in all contacts of the ball under the net/antenna.
3. SCORER
a. Fill up the information of the team members in the score sheet.
b. Records points scored by both teams.
c. Monitors the servers and informs the referee if they committed a violation while
serving.
d. Records team substitutions and timeouts.
4. LINESMEN
a. Indicates if a ball is in or out of the court.
b. Informs the referee if players received an “out” ball.
c. Monitors if the ball touches the antenna.
d. Monitors players outside the court while the other player is serving.

SCORING SYSTEM
 Beach volleyball matches are best of 3 sets played to 21 points, 15 points for a deciding
set.
 Switching sides: Unlike in indoor volleyball, beach volleyball teams switch ends of the
court every seven points (every five points on a deciding set). This ensures that neither
team has an advantage due to environmental factors such as wind and sun glare.

DIFFERENCES BETWEEN INDOOR VOLLEYBALL AND BEACH VOLLEYBALL

1. Beach Volleyball Beginner Tip #1: Court Sizes

Court sizes for indoor and beach volleyball are very different. Indoor courts are
18m x 9m, with a parallel attack line that is 3m from the center line. Back row players
must stay behind this line when hitting the ball. Beach courts are smaller--16m x 8m and
there is no attack line. A player may hit the ball from anywhere on their side of the net. If
you wonder why the beach court is smaller, try a quick lateral sprint through the sand and
see how much speed (and breath) you lose. A smaller court ensures that the ball will stay
live longer and rallies will be more entertaining.

2. Beach Volleyball Beginner Tip #2: Balls

Indoor volleyballs are made of leather and are heavier than outdoor balls. Indoor
volleyball is a game of power and the heavier balls move quicker and can be hit harder.
Beach volleyballs are softer, lighter and a bit bigger than indoor balls. The lighter weight
allows them to float more in the air, allowing good players to use the weather to their
advantage. If you want get serious, or at least look serious when you're playing, buy the
yellow-and-white-striped Wilson beach volleyball. This is the official ball of the
Association of Volleyball Professionals (AVP -- aka the pro beach circuit).

3. Beach Volleyball Beginner Tip #3: Players Per Side

Indoor volleyball is played with six per side. Each person has a specialized
position and there are complex rotations and switches going on throughout games to
ensure that each person remains in their designated position. Beach volleyball is typically
played with doubles. There are no specialized positions, only a left and a right side. Most
beach players are well-rounded and can hit, dig and block. At the higher levels, one
player is dedicated to blocking and one to digging, but if you're just learning, gr ab a side
and share the responsibilities. If you want to be taken seriously, don't play with more than
two per side. Packing as many friends as possible on the court and blasting Lady Gaga
from your boom box on the sideline are dead giveaways that you're just out for fun rather
than skill development.

4. Beach Volleyball Beginner Tip #4: Scoring

With indoor volleyball, a match consists of five sets, or games. The first team to
reach 25 points wins the set. Three sets wins the match, and the fifth tiebreaker set, if
necessary, is only played to 15 points. Teams switch sides after every game. In beach
volleyball, a match consists of a series of best-of-three game, with each game played to
21 points. Two sets wins the match, and the third tiebreaker set, if necessary, is also
played to 15 points.