Basics of Beach Volleyball

         Beach volleyball is totally different than indoor. Different rules, different strategies, and different skills to learn. Although there are different rules you have to have the same mindset to compete in either sport. In order to be successful in beach volleyball you need to know the important rules and learn some of the strategies.

         The rules involved in beach are very different from indoor. The main difference is the rule about setting. In beach you are not allowed to set the ball unless it has absolutely no spin (which is pretty much impossible). You also can not open hand tip the ball like you can in indoor. The other main rule is that if you are blocking and you touch the ball you and your partner only have 2 contacts to get it back over the net, where in indoor you would have 3 contacts.

         Obviously in beach volleyball you are playing in the sand and usually you are playing doubles with a partner. This leads to some strategies that can help you succeed in this awesome sport. The first tip is to either serve/ hit to the player that can’t pass or the player that is the least offensive threat. This will give you a better opportunity to score that rally. Serving and attacking to the person who is not as good at passing will most likely make their side become out of system, giving you a free ball. Serving and hitting to the person who is the least offensive threat will give you a better chance at digging their attack. If you are playing a team where both players can attack and pass decently then you can try serving in between them and that will usually get them out of system. Other strategies include blocking, going over on the second ball, and using smart shots. In beach blocking can be a little tricky and it takes a lot of practice to get used to it, but it is really fun when you stuff block someone in beach J If you and your partner decide to block, the person blocking tells the defender what part of the court he/ she is going to be blocking. The defender is then responsible for the other part of the court. For example if I was blocking the cross court shots for both hitters I would hold up 2 fingers on each hand (1 finger on each hand means I am blocking the line shots) and my partner would defend the line shots. Some smart shots in beach are a short pokey (tipping it with your knuckles) or a high roll shot to the deep corners. These shots will cause the other team to scramble for the ball and give you an easy ball back over.

         I hope this helped with some of your beach volleyball questions. Have fun and stay hydrated while playing!

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Qualities of a Setter

          Being a setter is probably the most rewarding position in volleyball, in my opinion. Setters get to be involved in every play and decide the offense his/ her team is running. There are 3 important skills a setter needs to have, leadership, patience, and a high volleyball IQ.

            A setter should always strive to be the leader of their team. As a setter you are a part of every play, therefore running the offense on your team. You should be the leader of your team on and off the court. On the court you need to encourage your teammates to be the best that they can be, pick up your teammates if they are down, and always communicate. Off the court a setter should lead by example and make smart decisions especially when you are in season.

            A setter needs to be patient and stay calm during practice and games. Sometimes you are going to be in a practice or a game and things won’t go your way, like you know you aren’t playing the best. Just stay calm and always try your best. It is okay to get upset with yourself but you shouldn’t let it affect how you play and you shouldn’t show it when you are playing. You WILL have bad days sometimes but don’t worry about it! Always keep your head up and look forward to the next day.

            Having a high volleyball IQ is very important for setters. As a setter you need to be able to adjust your thinking and your strategies according to your competition and who your hitters are at the time. You also should be able to realize quickly what is going on and who is on the other side of the court.  For example if there is a huge middle blocker that is slow you should set away from him/ her so your hitters have a better chance of success.

            If you are a setter or thinking about becoming one I hoped this helped you make your decision J

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College Recruiting- Volleyball

            Do you want to play volleyball in college and don’t know where to start? Well you have found the right place. College recruiting can be a stressful process but with a few good tips you can start off in the right direction. You should first decide, what major you want to study, how far away you want to be from home and what division you want to play.           

Picking a major that you are interested in is the most important thing. I know all you want to focus on is the top volleyball schools but you need to stop and think what you will be doing the rest of your life. Most of us won’t be playing volleyball for the rest of our lives, unless you are Kerri Walsh, so make sure what you decide to major in is something you would enjoy doing every day. You should also consider how much time you will have for volleyball in your schedule. If you are going into a difficult major make sure you consider that most of your time will probably be consumed by studying and practice. If you are like me and volleyball already consumes your life, than this probably won’t be a problem. 

          Choosing what division you want to play in is also a very important step in this process. You have many options ranging between NAIA and Division 1. Choosing a division will mostly be based on what level of volleyball you want to be involved in. Division 1 is considered to be the highest level of competition in college volleyball, therefore it is very difficult to get a scholarship. You should also consider the amount of playing time you would get at a D1 school. If a coach couldn’t guarantee playing time for you would you still want to go there? Some players decide that they would enjoy their volleyball career better if they played at a D2 or D3 school, rather than sit on the bench at a D1 school. These would all be appropriate questions to ask a coach if you are interested in their volleyball program. Also, don’t forget that no matter where you are at in your career or how old you are it is never too early or too late to start the recruiting process. Don’t be afraid to just call a coach and ask if they are looking to recruit your position! It can be a little scary and nerve-racking the first time you call but the coaches understand and once you get the hang of it it’s a piece of cake.

          Good luck with your recruiting and visit my blog again for more information about the best sport out there J

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