This afternoon, our students enjoyed a game of Beach Volleyball!
There’s no better way to spend a warm afternoon than playing a game of Volleyball at the beach, and this afternoon, our students did just this! The students enjoyed working up a sweat before cooling off by dipping their toes in the beautiful water at Cotton Tree beach!
Basic Principles of the Game
Knowing and understanding the basic tenets of beach volleyball can be helpful for beach newbies and veterans alike. That being said, here is an outline of the principles of the sport:
Don’t Let the Ball Hit the Floor on Your Side of the Net
The primary objective in volleyball is make the ball hit the floor on the opponent’s side of the court, while simultaneously preventing it from dropping on your side. Beach players go to great lengths to keep the ball from hitting the sand—and they have the scrapes and bruises to prove it.
3 Contacts/Hits per Side
Each team is allowed a maximum of three contacts before it must send the ball back over the net. The preferred sequence is a dig (an underarm pass made with the forearms), followed by a set (an overhead pass with the hands), and then an attack (overhead one-handed hit directed over the net and towards the opponent).
Teams are also permitted to block the ball as it comes over the net. The resulting contact does not count towards the three contacts per side. In theory, this means that a team could technically contact the ball four times (with the first contact being a block) without penalty.
Two Players on a Team
In beach volleyball, teams are comprised of two players. The responsibility for serving alternates between the two teammates. Because two people are responsible for covering the court, players usually choose a partner with a complementary but opposite skill set. For example, a player who is an excellent hitter but sub-par passer would want to choose a teammate who was an above average passer.
No Player Can Hit the Ball Twice in Succession
The rules state that no player is allowed to hit the ball multiple times in row. While this principle appears to be straightforward, it can get a little confusing: If the double contact occurs on a team’s initial hit it is a legal play. However, the double becomes illegal if a player makes two separate attempts to hit the ball. In other words, you may “double the ball” (volleyball slang for hitting the ball twice) as long as it is on your team’s first contact and you made a single motion to contact the ball.
If you want to know more about the ramifications and applications of this rule, check out the guide on ball handing.
A Player May Not Cause the Ball to Come to a Rest During Contact
Volleyball can be categorized as a “rebound” sport because the rules prevent participants from contacting the ball for a prolonged amount of time. Players are not allowed to carry, palm or throw the ball.
The Net is Off-Limits
No part of the body or uniform is allowed to touch the net, but participants are permitted to play the ball out of the net during a volley and a serve. Also, in beach volleyball it is perfectly legal to cross under the net as long it does not interfere with an opponent’s attempt to play the ball.
Our students “winners” pose!
We know the students had a blast playing Beach Volleyball! We hope to play again soon!
Not studying with us yet, but would like to?
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