Thousands of people in the US enjoy playing volleyball. If you’re one of these people and you usually play indoors, then why not think about switching surfaces this summer? Volleyball can be played on an inside court or on the beach. Before trading your normal inside environment for the beach, there are a number of things you need to know:
1. The Court Size
Indoor and beach volleyball courts are different sizes:
- Indoor courts are usually 18m x 9m in size. There is a parallel attack line, which is located 3m from the centerline. Players who play at the back of the court are expected to stay behind this line when they hit the ball. Many indoor matches are played on volleyball courts that have specially installed volleyball floors. This flooring allows players to move quickly and also helps keep them safe.
- Outdoor beach courts are smaller. They are usually 16m x 8m and there isn’t an attack line included. Beach volleyball players are allowed to hit the ball from anywhere on their side of the court. The beach volleyball court has been made smaller as it’s much harder to run in sand. A smaller court will allow the ball to stay in play for longer and will make rallies more entertaining.
2. The Balls
There are some huge differences between the types of balls used in indoor and beach volleyball:
- Indoor balls are made of leather and are quite heavy. Indoor volleyball is a game of strength and power and the heavier balls can be hit harder and will move quicker.
- Beach volleyballs, on the other hand, are much lighter, softer and larger than indoor balls. This enables them to move through the air easier and allows experienced volleyball players to use the weather to their advantage.
3. The Number of Players
There are some differences between how many people can play indoor and beach volleyball:
- Indoor volleyball usually has six players on either side of the court. Each of these players has a designated area on the court in which they must stay.
- Beach volleyball is usually played with only two players on either side of the court. These players don’t specialize in positions but often choose to play on the right or left side of the court. Beach players need to be able to dig, block and hit. If you’re an experienced volleyball player, you may decide to have one player dedicated to digging and one player dedicated to blocking.
4. The Scoring
The scoring between indoor and beach volleyball is also different:
- Indoor volleyball matches consist of six games or sets. A team has to reach 25 points in order to win a set. Teams have to win three sets in order to win the match. If a tiebreaker set is needed, it should only be played to 15 points. Teams are expected to change places after each game.
- Beach volleyball matches consist of best-of-three games. Each of these games is played to 21 points. The winner is the first team to score two sets. If a third set needs to be played, it is only played to 15 points.
Indoor and beach volleyball both have a number of similarities and a number of differences. Now you know the basic rules and differences why not give it a go?
