Beach volleyball

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Team sport played by two teams of two players on a sand court divided by a net

Beach volleyball is a team sport played by two teams of two players on a sand court divided by a net. Like indoor volleyball, the objective of the game is to send the ball over the net and to ground it on the opponent's side of the court, and to prevent the same effort by the opponent. A team is allowed up to three touches to return the ball across the net, and individual players may not touch the ball twice consecutively except after a block touch.

History

Beach volleyball originated in the early 20th century on the beaches of Santa Monica, California. The first official two-man tournament was held in 1948. The sport gained popularity in the 1980s and 1990s, leading to its inclusion in the Olympic Games in 1996.

Rules

The rules of beach volleyball are similar to those of indoor volleyball, with a few key differences:

• Each team has only two players, and there are no substitutions.
• The court dimensions are smaller, measuring 16 meters by 8 meters.
• Matches are played best of three sets, with the first two sets played to 21 points and the third set (if necessary) played to 15 points.
• Players are not allowed to "dink" or "tip" the ball over the net with an open hand.

Equipment

The primary equipment for beach volleyball includes:

• A volleyball specifically designed for outdoor play.
• A net that is 2.43 meters high for men and 2.24 meters high for women.
• A sand court that is free of rocks, shells, and other debris.

Competitions

Beach volleyball is played at various levels, from amateur to professional. Major competitions include:

• The FIVB Beach Volleyball World Championships
• The AVP Pro Beach Volleyball Tour
• The Olympic Games

Notable Players

Some of the most notable beach volleyball players include:

• Karch Kiraly
• Misty May-Treanor
• Kerri Walsh Jennings

Related Pages

• Volleyball
• Fédération Internationale de Volleyball
• Olympic Games
• AVP Pro Beach Volleyball Tour

See Also

• List of beach volleyball players
• History of volleyball
• Volleyball techniques and strategies

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