From the beach to Olympic gold. Beach volleybal = hot! 🥵 We explain to you why! 🤩

Once upon a time ...

In 1920, on the beach in Santa Monica, California, a group of friends played a game of volleyball. While the original sport was celebrating its 25th anniversary at that time, a new variation was born out of this game of volleyball: beach volleyball. Now, more than a hundred years later, beach volleyball is very popular worldwide. This summer we enjoyed this spectacular sport during the Olympic Games in Paris.

But what exactly are the differences from traditional volleyball? And what makes beach volleyball so special and unique? We would like to sum it up for you in five key points!

Few players, but lots of action

Unlike traditional indoor volleyball, beach volleyball is played with only two players per team. This means that both players must have all-round skills; they must be able to attack, defend, block as well as pass. This makes the sport physically and mentally very challenging. Not to mention lots of action!

Sand as an extra challenge

Beach volleyball requires a different set of skills compared to indoor volleyball, especially because of the sand. The soft sand makes it more difficult to move and jump quickly. This creates an additional physical challenge. Players therefore train intensively to optimize their strength and jumping ability.

A mix of strength and technique

Despite the small teams and open space, beach volleyball is not just about brute force. Strategy and precision are just as important. Winning a point requires clever placement of the ball, anticipation of the opponent's movements and perfect communication and cooperation with your partner.

Playing on bare feet

Unlike many other sports, in beach volleyball you usually play barefoot. The sand helps with grip and shock absorption, but can also be a challenge when it gets very hot. In some cases, cold water is even sprayed over the sand to prevent players from burning their feet!

A sport for everyone

One of the most appealing aspects of beach volleyball is that it is accessible to everyone. Whether you are a professional athlete or just want to enjoy a game of volleyball on a summer day, the beach provides the perfect setting. The sport combines physical challenge with the fun of being outdoors, making it ideal for people of all ages and skill levels.

What do you need for beach volleyball?

Beach volleyball, just like traditional volleyball, is played with a system consisting of two poles and a net tensioned between the poles. Unlike the indoor system, the poles of a beach volleyball system are resistant to sand, moisture and UV rays. The posts are anchored to the ground with wooden beams buried in the sand. The net is equipped with two antennas to mark the edges of the playing field up in the air. The ground must also be marked with line markings. Beach volleyball is played with a special waterproof ball that also has bright colors to make it more visible in the air. For extra safety for the players, the poles can be fitted with protective padding.

From recreation to the professional arena

Although beach volleyball initially began as a recreational activity, it soon grew into an organized sport. Small tournaments were organized in Southern California in the 1930s, and official matches were registered beginning in 1947. The sport became especially popular in coastal areas such as Brazil and Hawaii and broke through internationally in the 1980s with the establishment of the professional circuit.

The 2024 European Championship in the Netherlands

From Tuesday 13 to Sunday 18 August 2024, the Netherlands hosted the European Beach Volleyball Championship for the fourth time in history. Days after the Olympic Games in Paris, The Hague, Arnhem and Apeldoorn were playing cities for this major sporting event.

Martins Plavins and Kristians Fokerots from Latvia pulled off a stunt by crowning themselves European champions. German beach volleyballers Ehlers and Wickler, who recently won silver at the Olympics, were considered favorites for the European title, but lost the game. The bronze was for the Dutchmen Van de Velde and Immers, after a true thriller against Italy they took the win. On the beach of Scheveningen, the match was decided in three sets under loud cheers from the audience present.

The Netherlands has a rich history with prestigious beach volleyball events and also hosted the World Beach Volleyball Championship in 2015. “Beach volleyball has created a positive vibe in the Netherlands,” said tournament director Bas van de Goor. Read all about the 2024 European Beach Volleyball Championship on this website.