Beach volleyball is not only a challenging sport and a great workout; it's also a terrific way to spend a day having a blast with good friends. So what is it about this popular game that makes it perfect for both serious competitors and casual enthusiasts, and how does somebody go about getting started?
Southern Californian Dennis Collins works in the Safety, Health & Environmental Affairs Department for DIRECTV Inc, and has been active in all aspects of USA Beach Volleyball for over 25 years. In addition to competing as an AAA California rated player and winning a number of sanctioned tournaments up and down the coast, Collins has trained, coached & analyzed over 5000 beach and indoor Volleyball players. Here he shares reasons why the sport is so popular and offers tips to get beginners started:
- High-energy and low contact.
Beach volleyball is a combination of power, speed, finesse and strategy. Collins sees it as a particularly fun and sexy sport as you can jump around, and dive or lunge for balls, and there's little chance of real injury as you're always landing on sand.
- Cheap to get started.
Unlike other sports and activities from skiing and snowboarding to surfing, beach volleyball requires almost no equipment or monetary investment. Many beaches have nets already set up, and all you need to play is some beach clothes and a ball.
- Fun in small or large groups.
When you see people playing volleyball on the beach it's generally a game of doubles, but it's just as fun to play with four or six people to a side, so the sport is perfect for both small and large groups of friends.
- Ball handling basics.
When the ball comes over the net, you should position yourself behind the ball and push it toward the net. Try to keep your hips and your shoulders square to where you want the ball to go.
- Must win by two.
A typical game is played to fifteen points, but a team must win by two points or more. You can't beat a team fifteen-fourteen; you must keep playing until the score is sixteen-fourteen, seventeen-fifteen and so on.
For more information about volleyball, check out the following organizations or websites:
The California Beach Volleyball Association
www.cbva.com
Volleyball World Wide
www.volleyball.org
Volley Central
www.volleycentral.com
USA Volleyball
www.usavolleyball.org
AVP Pro Beach Volleyball Tour
www.avptour.com
Beach Volleyball Database
www.bvbinfo.com
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