by Erik Dodge

Created on: March 26, 2010   Last Updated: March 29, 2010

With women’s sand volleyball now approved by the NCAA, women all over the nation have another opportunity to play collegiate volleyball and earn an athletic scholarship. For indoor players, the transition to playing under the sun offers a unique set of challenges and opportunities. Skills players have indoors can transition to the beach, but it takes a more complete skill set to succeed on the sand.

Most skills, such as passing, setting, and spiking, should be no different in sand volleyball than they are in indoor volleyball. What will change is your footing. Sand makes it more difficult to move quickly and to jump to block or spike, so indoor players making the transition to sand volleyball would be wise to focus some attention on their footwork.

Experienced players have a great feel for moving in the sand and develop the ability to anticipate, to stay in the best position. With only two players on the court, sand volleyball requires players to develop their all around game compared to the more specialized indoor game. If a sand volleyball player has any weakness in her game, opponents can identify and exploit them, often taking over the game.

To prepare for the transition from indoor to sand volleyball, the best place to go is the beach. Practicing at the beach offers players the chance to get familiar with moving, and jumping in the sand. Budding sand volleyball players need to work on every aspect of the game, especially those that are weakest. Don’t worry though, the best, and most fun, way to do this is to grab a few friends and simply start playing. Playing against good opponent is the best way for a player to test her skills and become a solid, all around sand volleyball player.  

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