There are a lot of similarities between beach volleyball and indoor volleyball. For starters, they are equally exciting to follow, especially with some international competitions currently in progress. The size of the court as well as the net and ball are also similarities between these two types of volleyball games.

On the other hand, there are a lot of differences between the two sports too. In this article, we are going to take a closer look at those differences.

Environment

One of the biggest differences between beach volleyball and indoor volleyball is the environment in which these two games are played. As the name suggests, beach volleyball games are played on the beach, with sand as the main surface. This poses some extra challenges for athletes.

Sand is not the only source of challenge for beach volleyball athletes. Since the game is played in an uncontrolled environment, weather conditions, lights and other aspects can also affect the game greatly. The heat, for instance, often leads to athletes not being able to perform optimally.

Indoor volleyball is much more controlled than that. The surface is solid and treated for maximum grip. The lights come from the right angles for maximum viewing distance and most indoor courts now have climate control for the benefit of players and viewers alike.

Number of Players

The number of players in these two variations of volleyball is also different. Beach volleyball is played by two teams of two players, while indoor volleyball games are played by two teams of 6 players each. While this may seem like a minor difference, the difference in the number of players actually affects the whole dynamic of the game.

With two players covering the court, the number of possible 3-contact combinations is also much more limited. Players need to be more creative in developing offensive and defensive strategies in order to win the game. Stamina and speed are the two most important factors in this case.

Indoor volleyball, on the other hand, relies more on precise ball control and power. With 6 players on the field, there are 36 possible combinations to play and more options to complete the 3-contact cycle. As a result, indoor volleyball strategies are more precise, despite looking rather chaotic when seen on the court.

Volleyball Betting

When it comes to betting, both indoor volleyball and beach volleyball offer a lot of excitement and betting opportunities. The number of bets available for these two sports differs due to the differences in the nature of the games. Indoor volleyball games usually come with more types of bets to choose from.

It is also worth noting that most bookmakers offer indoor volleyball bets. If you check out the full Betfair review by Betenemy, you will find that the bookmakers like Bet365 allows volleyball fans to place bets on most – if not all – major indoor volleyball games on the betting platform.

These are some of the differences between beach volleyball and indoor volleyball. Both forms of the sport are still very exciting to follow and you will be able to catch the latest updates from both sports right here on Volley Country.