In essence, beach volleyball and court volleyball are superficially similar games. Both take place on a court, which consists of two equally sized adjacent squares with a net extended along their line of convergence. Teams serve, volley and score points in the same way, with each team preventing the other side from scoring by deflecting the ball from their side, back over the net and onto the other team's side.
How Game Is Scored
Indoor court volleyball consists of five individual games, or sets, and the first team to win three sets ins the entire match. A team wins a set by scoring 25 points, and by scoring at least two more points than their opponents. Beach volleyball matches consist of only three sets, with the first team to win two sets being declared the winner. The first two sets are played to 21 points. If a third set is played, the first team to score 15 points wins. As with court volleyball, a team must have a two point lead to win a set. When a team reaches a winning score with less than a two point lead, the game continues until one team achieves this lead.
Court Composition
Indoor volleyball courts are 18 meters long by 9 meters wide, divided into two square sections by the net. The parallel attack line is drawn 3 meters from the net on either side and back row players may not cross it to hit the ball. Because running through loose sand requires more physical exertion than moving across a court, beach volleyball is played in a smaller area. Beach courts measure 16 meters by 8 meters and do not have an attack line.
Team Size
While team sizes can vary, the standard size for court volleyball is six. Players occupy specialized positions within their side of the court, including back row, front row and server. Players in these positions concentrate on performing specific moves during game play, such as hitting, blocking or digging. Team members rotate positions throughout game play so as to cycle through these positions. Beach volleyball is most often played with two members per team. Beach volleyball players do not specialize according to their positions, although more advanced players may choose to have specific players specialize.
Ball
Regulation court volleyball utilizes a smaller, heavier ball. It is typically made from leather, with its higher weight and less malleable surface, enabling players to hit it harder toward their opponents. A larger ball, made from lighter materials, is used in beach volleyball. The ball's lighter weight and larger surface area make it more susceptible to wind. Skilled players may use this to their advantage, using the wind to alter the ball's course after hitting it back.
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