How to Play Beach Volleyball

The same rules apply as in the indoor game - you've just got a ton of sand slowing you down.

Difficulty:

Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• Volleyballs
• Nets

1. Bring an all-weather, outdoor volleyball and a net system of regulation size to the beach.

2. Gather a minimum of four players (two per side).

3. Set up your court away from sunbathers, in an area where the ball will not continually roll into the water.

4. Play games to 15 points, earning a point only when you win a rally where you serve.

5. Serve only once per turn and within the court lines (draw a line in the sand to mark these), or forfeit the ball to your opponents.

6. Hit the ball a maximum of three times before it must go over the net to your opponents.

7. Bump the ball to a setter, who sets the ball for the spiker, who spikes the ball over the net (see "eHow to Bump a Volleyball,' "eHow to Set a Volleyball' and "eHow to Spike a Volleyball'). Do this without grabbing the ball or allowing it to rest in your hands. The same person cannot contact the ball twice in a row unless the first touch is off a block at the net.

8. Avoid touching the net at all times or lose the ball, and possibly a point.

9. Rotate player positions clockwise whenever your team has won a change in possession (called a 'sideout,' it's when it's your turn to serve).

10. Play a set of three or five games. The team that wins the most games in the set is the winner.

Tips & Warnings

• The less advanced the participants, the more players you'll need to cover the ground and have long rallies. It's tough to get around on sand.

• Drink lots of water and wear plenty of sunscreen.

• Try not to kick up too much sand if it's windy and there are people lying on the beach nearby.

• The most important rule to enforce is keeping players away from the net - opposing players who land on, or crash into, each other at the net can cause serious injuries.