I.1.1. Rules of beach volleyball

Beach volleyball is played by two teams of players on a sand court divided by a net. The objective of the game is to send the ball over the to the opponent's court, and to prevent the same effort by the opponent. A team is allowed up to three touches. The ball is put in play with a serve and the rally continues until the ball is grounded on the playing court, goes "out", or is not returned in three touches. The team winning a rally scores a point.

Playing area

• Size: the playing court is a rectangular measuring 16 x 8 m, surrounded by a free zone which is a minimum of 3 m on all sides. The free playing space above the playing area has to be free from all obstructions up to 7 m in height.

(http://www.brsz.hu/dokumentumok/229/nemzetkozi_SR_meretek.jpg)

• Playing surface: The surface must be composed of levelled sand, as flat and uniform as possible, free of rocks, shells and anything else which can cause injuries.
• Lines on the court: Court lines (side and baselines) should be ribbons 5-8 cm wide, made of a resistant material that contrast sharply with the colour of the sand. There is no centre line.
• The service zone is the area behind the end line, bounded by the end lines and extending to the edge of the free zone.

Net and posts

• Placed vertically over the middle of the court there is a net made of 10 cm square mesh that is 8.5 m long and 1 m wide.
• The top of the net is set at the height of 2.43 m for men and 2.24 m for women. Its height is measured from the centre of the playing court.
• Side bands: two coloured bands, 5 cm wide (same width as the court lines) and 1 m long, are fastened vertically to the net and placed above each side line.
• Antennae: an antenna is a flexible rod, 1.80 m long and 10 mm in diameter, made of fibreglass or similar material. The top 80 cm of each antenna extends above the net and is marked with 10 cm stripes of contrasting colour. The antennae are considered as part of the net and laterally delimit the crossing space.
• The two posts supporting the net are 2.55 m high and preferably adjustable. The posts are rounded and smooth, fixed to the ground without wires and must be padded.

Ball

• The ball shall be spherical, made of a flexible material (leather, synthetic leather, or similar) which does not absorb moisture, i.e. more suitable to outdoor conditions. Circumference: 66 to 68 cm. Weight: 260 to 280 g.

Teams

• Team composition: a team is composed exclusively of two players.
• Only the two players recorded on the score sheet have the right to participate in the match.

Calculating scores

• To score a point: a team scores a point by successfully grounding the ball on the opponent’s court, and when the opponent team commits a fault or receives a penalty.
• To win a set: A set (except the decisive 3rd set) is won by the team which first scores 21 points with a minimum lead of two points. In the case of a 20-20 tie, the game is continued until a two-point lead is achieved (22-20; 23-21; etc).
• To win the match: the match is won by the team that wins two sets. In the case of a 1-1 tie, the deciding 3rd set is played to 15 points with a minimum lead of 2 points.

The toss

• The toss is taken in the presence of the two team captains. The winner of the toss chooses either the right to serve or the side of the court. A new toss will be conducted for the deciding set.

Positions

• At the moment the ball is hit by the server, each player must be within its own court (except the server).
• The players are free to position themselves. There are no determined positions on the court.
• There are no positional order faults.
• Service order must be maintained throughout the set. Players must alternate when serving.

Ball in play

• The ball is in play from the moment of the hit of the service authorized by the 1st referee.

Exercises for beach volleyball in the video below:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F0Y2sI47PYY

Ball positions

• The ball is ”in” when it touches the surface of the playing court including the boundary lines.

• The ball is ”out” when it: falls on the ground completely outside the boundary lines (without touching them); touches the antennae or the posts; crosses the vertical plane of the net, but outside the area that is between the antennae after a serve or the third hit of the team; touches an object outside the court, or a person out of play.

 Playing the ball

• Team hits: A hit is any contact with the ball by a player in play. Each team is entitled to a maximum of three hits for returning the ball over the net. A player may not hit the ball two times consecutively. When two teammates touch the ball simultaneously, it is counted as two hits.
• Characteristics of the hit: The ball may touch any part of the body provided that it is not simultaneous. The ball must not be caught or thrown.
• Faults in playing the ball: four hits, double contact, assisted hit, catch.

Playing the ball and hits in the video below:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vLjkAhMygUo

Ball at the net

• While crossing the net, the ball may touch it.
• A ball driven into the net may be recovered within the limits of the three team hits.

Reaching beyond the net

• In blocking, a player may touch the ball beyond the net, provided that he/she does not interfere with the opponent’s play, before or during the latter’s attack hit.
• After an attack hit, a player is permitted to pass his/her hand beyond the net, provided that the contact has been made within his/her own playing space.

Service

• The ball shall be hit with one hand or any part of the arm.
• The first service of a set is executed by the team determined by the toss.
• Only one toss or release of the ball is allowed. Moving the ball in the hands is permitted.
• The server may move freely within the service zone. The server must hit the ball within 5 seconds after the 1st referee whistles for service.

Execution of the service in the video below:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZSc-aeZiKaA

Faults of the attack hit

• A player hits the ball within the playing space of the opposing team.
• A player hits the ball ”out”.
• A player completes an attack hit on the opponent’s service, when the ball is entirely higher than the top of the net.
• A player completes an attack-hit using an overhand pass which has a trajectory not perpendicular to the line of the shoulders. The exception is when the player is attempting to set to his or her teammate.

Block

• The first hit after the block may be executed by any player, including the one who has touched the ball during the block.
• In blocking, the player may place his/her hands and arms beyond the net, provided that this action is executed after an opponent has executed an attack hit.
• To block an opponent’s service is forbidden.

Time-out

• Each team may request a maximum of one time-out per set (except for the 3^rd set). All requested time-outs last for 30 seconds. When the sum of the points scored by the teams equals 21 points one additional 30-second “Technical Time-Out” is applied automatically (except for the 3^rd set).

Blocking and setting the ball in the video below:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2YmW59d3g2k