Rules of beach volleyball are related to the playing court, players, balls, nets and posts, and playing procedures. They are formed by the American Volleyball Association and the Federation of International Volleyball.
Conformance to the rules will be mandatory at all levels of the game from the volleyball clubs to the Olympics. They streamline the sports procedures and simplify administration.
Beach Volleyball Rules – Court and Net Rules
- Playing Court:
Beach volleyball court size should be 16 meters in length and 8 meters in width. The exterior free space from end-lines and side-lines should be at least 5 meters without any obstacles. Space within the court should be flat and dry. It should be free from stones, seashells and other harmful and obstructing objects.
- Sand Quality:
Quality sand should be free from dirt and dust, unevenness, compactness. Sand particles should not stick to the skin. The flat playing area should be free from surface tension and hardness. At the same time, it should not be brittle and sink-in due to players’ body weight and constant movement on court.
- Net Standards:
7-feet-11 5/8″ is the net height for men’s volleyball. 7-feet 4 1/8″ are the net height for women’s volleyball. It should be resistant to UV, heat, shocks, and humidity. The mesh should be square and even in dimension. Synthetic material like PVC or nylon can be sued for the volleyball net fabric. The cord ends should be crimped and the eyelets should be made of metals like brass, or stainless steel. The cord should be made of metal like steel and coated with PVC.
- Pole Standards:
Anodized metal with lockable winches is the basic requirement for the beach volleyball poles. Adjustments should be made from a single-point without using any ladders. Recommended thickness of the round pole is 3.5″ Color can be according to the choice of sports organizers. However, it should not reduce the visibility of the volleball while playing.
Outdoor Volleyball Rules That Apply on Players
- Uniform:
Shorts and T-shirts/jerseys of the official club/team uniform are mandatory for players. Jerseys can have numbers from 1 to 20. It should be printed on the front and back at the center. It should be clearly visible and have a size of 15cm in front and 20cm on back.
- Shoes:
Protective shoes should weigh 9.8OZ per pair for women’s volleyball players. It can be between 12.6 OZ and 14.2 OZ for men’s volleyball players.
Knee-pads: Knee-pads should have a snug and cover the knee completely.
They can be made of shock absorbing materials like high-density foam like polyurethane and cotton or mesh shells. The size should cover the upper, middle, and lower part of the knees completely.
- Elbow-Pads:
Beach volleyball elbow pads can be made of shockproof foam that has good joint compression quality. It should absorb sweat and allow free air circulation.
- Team-Size:
Every team should have two players who should be present always in court. There is no provision for substitution. One player should be positioned at the back row right corner of the court while serving. The players can move all over their court without any restrictions on position.
Rules That Apply on Volleyball Beach Balls
The beach volleyball should have a circumference of 68 centimeters and weigh 280 grams.
The air pressure should be between 0.175KG per square centimeter and 0.225 KG per square centimeter.
The rectangular panels should be 18 in numbers. Latex bladder, cushioning middle layer and genuine (or synthetic) leather can be the external layer.
How To Play Outdoor Volleyball: Playing Procedures
- Scoring:
There will be three games in the match. The team scoring 21 points first with a difference of minimum two points from the opponent wins the game. The ball should touch the opponent court ground to score a point. It can also bounce off from the opponent players’ body without reaching the server side court.
The teams switch sides after reaching seven points in the first two games and five points in the third game. Play starts after the toss to win the first serve. If the match tied at a 1-1 game, the final game shall be played for 15 points with the minimum two-point difference for a win.
- Duration:
Total duration of the match should not exceed four hours. If there are obstructions which push the duration beyond four hours, teams replay the entire match or the decision can be taken by the match referee, depending on the situation.
- Service Order:
Service order will be determined by the team captain. Rotation of players for each service is mandatory in the team. Fault in the order shall result in loss of point and service. The task of monitoring belongs to the scorer.
- Hits:
Every team has a maximum of three hits before it should pass onto the opponent court. Forth hit is a fault which can result in loss of a point. Every player shall hit the ball only once. Double-contact will be a fault. The players are not supposed to catch the ball while it is in play.
The hits should pass over the net. Hitting the ball under the net is a fault. Hitting the ball into the opponent court from outside the net area or without passing over the net is a fault.
- Blocking:
Ball blocking should be done over the net along its length. The player may have extended contact with the ball during this time. But has to be continuous and in a single action. It should be done in overhand position by extending the fingers. Ball touching the arm will be a fault.
- Spikes:
Players can spike the ball from anywhere within their courts. It should be done over the net without making any physical contacts with the opponent players. It has to hit the ground or the opponent player within the court space.
Final Words
We have listed the main beach volleyball rules that govern the players, court, ball, and the playing procedures. You can apply them while playing the games at the club levels, tournaments, and professional matches.
You can also follow the rules while training. They help you in becoming a disciplined and organized player for the future.
