Whether you have enjoyed a game of beach volleyball before or you are completely new to the sport these tips we are about to share can help you improve your skill and quality of the game. Beach volleyball is a sport loved by many, especially those who tend to live in warmer climates such as Florida or California.
However, one of the main components of the sport (besides a volleyball of course) is the sand court, so as long as you have one you are good to practice. Sand courts can typically be found near any beach or most lakes depending upon the area. Let’s break down our favorite tips so that you are prepared for your next beach volleyball game.
1. Prepare Your Body to Move
When it comes to physical endurance, beach volleyball will test you and your limits. You will use your whole body to play the game, whether you are running across the sand, diving for the ball, spiking it across the net, or simply returning it. Your core, arms, and legs will be put to the test during a game of beach volleyball.
This is why it’s important to warm up before playing or do some more intense workouts if you are looking to play professionally. Key skills to have are endurance, stability, agility, and speed. The matches wear on your body and can go on for a while.
A general competition will be a best of three, with the first two games going until one team gets twenty-one points. Then if a third set is needed, that one will go until someone reaches fifteen points. Between the toll on your body and the weather conditions you may play in, exercise is essential.
Some popular warmups and training exercises to help prepare players for a game of beach volleyball are backpedals, sprints, shuffles, and ladder drills to name a few. Other exercises to try out are knee hugs, cross-over leg swings, leg kicks, and quad stretches. Most exercises can be beneficial for training, warming up, or cooling down your body since many different muscles will be used.
Although just running on the beach and getting used to the feel of sand on your feet can also help as you begin to play. Taking up yoga can also help with your flexibility and agility. Positions such as downward dog, the cat and cow move, child’s pose, and more are great for stretching your body and easing tension.
2. Equipment is Essential
When we say equipment, we do not mean rackets, padding, or anything that may be needed for a football or soccer game. The equipment needed for beach volleyball is quite simple, but you need it otherwise you will be burnt from the sun.
Now, this may sound crazy to some, but if you think about it any sand court you are playing at (weather permitting of course) will have its own net up for you to use. Meaning that you only need to bring your beach volleyball with you. Similar to a soccer game where you show up to the field and there are goals with nets in them for you to use. Sand courts just have volleyball nets up for you to use.
However, we do recommend other “equipment” such as sunscreen (preferably sweat-proof), a hat or visor, and sunglasses. These will protect not only your skin from getting burnt but also your eyes from UV rays. It’s important to protect your body, especially if you are going to be outside playing in the sun for long durations of time.
3. The Basics Are Enough to Begin
Beach volleyball overall is quite similar to volleyball, a sport that many of us have played once or twice in our life. Whether you have played it with friends or played it in gym class growing up. Most people have some sort of experience with the sport which comes in handy when it comes to learning beach volleyball.
Having prior experience allows you to learn more of the technical aspects of the game as you continue to play. Knowing how to hit the ball, what the boundaries are, that you are meant to dive for it, and more can take you far in a game. The one main objective is to keep the ball from touching the sand on your half of the court.
If you are brand new to the sport though, you can even play with teams of four or six to start. This will allow you to understand the basics and begin to improve your technique without having to worry about covering half of the court yourself. Or safe yourself from having to spring up from a dive to ensure that you can hit the ball when needed.
It may not seem like much but starting slow and working your way up to covering more of the court and getting more hits is a good way to improve your game. The professionals always seem to cover the court well, because they worked their way up to that level of play and you can too if that’s your end goal.
Can you tip in Beach Volleyball? Find out here.
4. Ease Into It
Start by dipping your toes into the sport. There’s no need to rush into it, similar to how the basics are enough to start playing. You cannot just jump into a sport and begin playing match after match all day long in the heat.
Begin by playing a match or two with your friends here and there to get used to the conditions. The sand can get quite hot under your feet, the sun beats down on you, you will be covered in sand, sweating, and overall exhausted after a game. So, starting slow is the best way to avoid injuries and wear out your body.
You can begin by taking a beach volleyball with you as you hang out with friends, family, or just go about life. Practice setting the ball, spiking it, having control as the wind changes, and more. This will allow you to become familiar with the ball and the idea of the sport without enduring the strenuous toll it can take on your body right away.
Start spending more time out in the sun, day by day. Make sure you are doing activities through this process and those can get more difficult as you go as well. You can begin with twenty minutes of walking in the sun, then maybe thirty minutes of walking the next week. Perhaps you then move on to ten minutes of running or jogging next.
Just make sure you are building up your exposure to the sun because heat exhaustion and sun poisoning can put a damper on any plans you have of playing for a few days. Ensuring that you are staying hydrated as you spend more time outside is also essential to ensure that your body can keep up.
Easing into the sport rather than jumping straight into it will help ensure that you can enjoy the sport for the long haul.
Our favorite tips for playing beach volleyball are to ease into the sport, ensure that you have the necessary equipment, make sure that your body is prepared for the activity, and just know the basics to begin. These tips will help to ensure that you can enjoy the sport the right way for a long time. Slow and steady really can help you win when it comes to learning sports.
Please note: This blog post is for educational purposes only and does not constitute legal or medical advice. Please consult a legal expert or medical professional to address your specific needs.