What's the Difference Between Beach Volleyball and Sand Volleyball?
Beach volleyball and regular volleyball have many differences on a competitive level. However, the terms "beach volleyball" and "sand volleyball" can often confuse those unfamiliar with the sport. These terms refer to the same game that was first approved as an Olympic sport in 1996.
We're here to answer where the terms originated and how this sport ended up with two names.
The beginnings
Beach volleyball became popular in the 1920s simply as an extension of regular volleyball. The first recorded volleyball game played on a beach was on Waikiki Beach in Hawaii, where a Canoe Club member set up a volleyball net.
In the beginning, beach volleyball was played similarly to indoor volleyball, with six players per team and various team positions during each round.
One of the first departures 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.
Playing with two people on the team neutralizes the taller player's height advantage with the shorter player's mobility and speed. This version of the game became the sport as we know it today.
The other 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. Additionally, since there are only two players on the team, there are no official roles and set positions players must take during a serve.
Moving from beach to sand
As beach volleyball gained popularity, schools and other facilities began adding teams to their active roster. Since there wasn't always a beach (with good weather) to train on, they built sand courts instead. This is where the term "sand volleyball" originated. The sport's popularity in schools and colleges often meant this was the public's primary contact with the sport, and the name stuck.
When the sport was announced as one of the most popular emerging sports in 2009, it was known as sand volleyball rather than beach volleyball. Shortly afterward, the NCAA formed Sand Volleyball Division I, signaling its arrival to the top echelon of college sports.
Changing names
After four years of competitive play in the NCAA, new divisions were formed, and the name changed from "sand volleyball" to "beach volleyball." This change occurred due to the sport called beach volleyball on all other play levels across the world.
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