For those that are not knowledgeable about sports, beach volleyball and indoor volleyball may not seem that different aside from the location. However, while both undoubtedly share similarities, they also have many differences that greatly separate the two sports. If you’re interested in playing, watching or would like to learn more, there are some key differences you should note.
First, the court conditions. This is the one most people are aware of; indoor volleyball takes place on a floor inside in the fall, whereas beach volleyball takes place on the sand outside in the spring. There is another differing aspect of the courts that most do not recognize, and it is the size. To account for the difficulty of moving on sand, beach volleyball courts are smaller, sized at 16m x 8m (52.5 ft. x 26.25 ft.), while indoor courts are sized at 18m x 9m (59 ft. x 29.5 ft.). It is a common misconception that the courts are the same size, or courts are bigger for beach volleyball due to their outdoor location.
“Well, I feel like they are similar, but one big difference is the setting of the games; one is indoors and the other is outdoors,” freshman communications major Jornea Honor said, “I feel like the rules differ in beach volleyball just because I feel like it has more space.”
Beach volleyball’s smaller court also accounts for its fewer players. As opposed to the standard six player team for indoor volleyball, beach volleyball is played in pairs of two players. In addition, the two players do not hold titled positions and cannot be substituted. In indoor volleyball’s traditional six-player teams, members are frequently substituted for those on the bench, and hold specific titles such as libero, setter and outside hitter.
“I do not really know much about beach volleyball,” freshman pre-nursing major Caraline Dubuy said, “but I do know that the dynamic is very different playing with five other people versus one person.”
One last difference between the two is the ball itself. To once again accommodate the hindered ability to swiftly move in sand, beach volleyballs are larger, lighter, and softer as opposed to their indoor counterparts. Indoor volleyballs, on the other hand, are smaller, heavier, and harder, giving them more speed and greater impacts on hard surfaces. Outdoor volleyballs are also carefully constructed to protect against the inevitable heat and moisture present during playtime.
It is important to avoid dismissing these two sports as the same. Although they share similarities, their varying regulations and components significantly separate indoor and beach volleyball.
