If you think of beach volleyball as just a fun game to play at the shore, think again. This competitive sport culminates each year with the finals of the U.S. Open of Beach Volleyball. Playing on sand rather than a hard surface with only two players per team lends additional challenges above and beyond traditional indoor volleyball, and it takes a lot of practice and specific drills to learn how to excel.
Shuffling
Walking on beach sand is difficult enough, but beach volleyball players must be surefooted and agile while playing on the sand. Shuffling, the act of moving sideways foot-to-foot without crossing feet, helps to build lower body strength while developing proper footwork. Make sure the players stay bent at the knees with their feet shoulder-width apart and arms bent and held slightly in front of them as they practice this move.
Jump Serve Training
Serving the ball properly with the right speed and at the proper angle can make or break a game. Practice short serves in your spare time to help perfect your technique. Instead of serving from the back line, move roughly one-third down the court and practice serving from there. Practice serving at different angles and speed, gradually moving back to the baseline. Try to keep up the same accuracy and speed when you have moved all the way back to the regulation serving point.
Volleying Drill
Although it may be tempting to practice your game by passing the ball back and forth with your teammate, balls are rarely passed directly to you in a game. During a game, you are moving across the court to meet the ball, digging in and returning it. With your teammate on the opposite side of the net, practice volleying to each other as if on opposing teams. This drill will help decrease your reaction time and help to make your returns more accurate. Although accurate returns and set-ups are important in any game of volleyball, it is even more important in beach volleyball where there are only two of you to return the ball.
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