Beach volleyball has evolved from the popular social games of volleyball played on many beaches around the world. This version, rather than being played on indoor hard courts, is played on sand courts, which are either formed naturally or built specifically for the purpose. Instead of a team of six, each team consists of only two players, but otherwise the rules are almost identical with some exceptions including:

 

• The court is 8 by 8 meter, not 9 by 9 as in indoor volleyball
• Overhand finger passes are not allowed when receiving or attacking. Exceptions are receiving a hard smash or when attacking and the trajectory of the ball (both before and after the pass) is perpendicular to the passing player's shoulders.
• The standards of double hits when using overhand finger passes is much stricter than in normal volleyball.
• The block always counts as the first contact
• The disallowance of the dink play where a player uses their finger tips to redirect the ball into the opponent's court instead of a hard spike
• Stricter rules around double-contacts during hand setting
• Looser rules on serve return

One of the facets of beach volleyball is the use of hand signals by players to indicate to their partner what sort of play they intend to make. These signals are made behind the back, to avoid the opposition seeing the signals. Generally, a closed fist means the player will not attempt a block, one finger means the player will attempt to block an opponent's spike down the line, and two fingers means the player will attempt to block an opponent's spike into the angle.

The standard attire of female competitors makes beach volleyball events popular with editors of tabloid newspapers, as well as TV.

Learn more about Beach Volleyball:

• History
• Beach Volleyball in the Olympics
• Controversy
• Famous Players
• Additional Links