- According to the Beach Volleyball Database the first documented game of beach volleyball happened in 1915 at the Outrigger Canoe Club on Hawaii's Waikiki Beach. The game quickly spread to California and by 1924 impromptu leagues had formed that began sponsored matches. While the game gained popularity and was played for recreational purposes around the world it didn't become officially recognized by The Federation Internationale de Volleyball, which regulates how volleyball is played at the international level, until 1987. Beach volleyball made it's first appearance at the Olympic level in the Summer Olympics of 1996 in Atlanta, Georgia.
- A game of beach volleyball is very similar to a normal game of indoor volleyball except that it is played at a sandy location such as an outdoor beach and it must be played without shoes, socks, or sandals. The players serve the volleyball by hitting it with a closed fist over a net just over two meters high and the opposing team attempts to strike the ball to return it to the original team's side. If the ball hits the sand then the other team on the other side of the net earns one point. Beach volleyball uses a system of "plays" much like football but the plays are specified to team members by flashing a specific hand symbol behind the back rather than shouting a code.
- Regulations for beach volleyball set the play area at eight meters wide by sixteen meters long. Each game has three matches and the first team to score 21 points or win two of the three matches is declared the winner, although the winning team must have at least two more points than the losing team. The Federation Internationale de Volleyball has specified that women must wear either a one piece swimsuit or two-piece bikini as their uniform and men are required to wear a t-shirt and shorts.
- Beach volleyball that is played at the Olympic level only allows for two members on each team. The two members can position themselves anywhere on the field that they want and they can move around at any time. Beach volleyball that is played at the lower levels or just for fun usually uses the standard volleyball configuration of six members per team that rotate around between each match.
- Beach volleyball has several key rule differences from standard volleyball. In a beach volleyball match the players are actually allowed to go under the net and onto the other team's side, although they are not allowed to prevent the other team from hitting the ball in any way. The players in a beach volleyball match also do not have to switch positions like in a standard match and a team can never be cited for an error in the rotation process.
