Beach Volleyball vs. Sand Volleyball: What's the Difference?

Author : Western Materials | Published On : 04 Sep 2024

The names beach volleyball and sand volleyball are often used interchangeably. This has raised questions like what should it be called. Beach volleyball has a long history and it began in 1920 with the first permanent beach volleyball nets in Santa Monica, California. The first inter-club competitions began in 1924.

There are various differences between beach volleyball and regular volleyball at the competitive level. However, most of the time, "beach volleyball" and "sand volleyball" can often be a source of confusion for those unfamiliar with the sport. That is why it is important to note that these terms refer to the same game that was first approved as an Olympic sport in 1996.

Here in this post, we will answer where the term came from and how it got two names.

The beginnings

The popularity of beach volleyball can be attributed to its origins as an extension of regular volleyball, which gained traction in the 1920s. The inaugural recorded volleyball game played on a beach was held on Waikiki Beach in Hawaii, where a member of the Canoe Club erected a volleyball net.

Beach volleyball was played in a similar manner to indoor volleyball in the beginning. It has six players per team and various team positions during each round. One of the first major departures from this format was a reduction in team size from six to two.

This game is often attributed to Paul Johnson of the Santa Monica Athletic Club, who played the first doubles volleyball game while waiting for other players to arrive.

The presence of two team members effectively negates the height advantage of the taller player, which is offset by the shorter player's enhanced mobility and speed. This version of the game is the foundation of the sport as we know it today.

The other notable differences from indoor volleyball include a smaller court size (to facilitate team sizes) and a slightly larger but less inflated ball that can withstand outdoor conditions. Furthermore, as there are only two players on the team, there are no official roles or set positions that players must assume during a serve.

Moving from beach to sand

As beach volleyball became more popular, more schools and other facilities started to have teams. They built sand courts instead of training on the beach. This is where the term "sand volleyball" came from. The sport was popular in schools and colleges, so the name stuck.

In 2009, sand volleyball was announced as one of the most popular emerging sports. The NCAA formed Sand Volleyball Division I, showing it was now a top college sport.

Changing names

After four years of competitive play in the NCAA, the sport was renamed "beach volleyball" to match the name used worldwide.

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