Olympic Fever à la Beach Volleyball!
Posted by alainaflute on August 5, 2012
Olympic Fever! Once every four years, there’s something in the summer air that makes you strangely interested in sports you’ve never seen, never heard of, and never followed. Beach volleyball isn’t one of those sports, though! I feel that a beach isn’t complete without a net. I dunno…there’s just something about watching beautiful people volley a ball over a net that makes for a great day at the beach. If you can’t make it to the beach to have your own volleyball showdown, the Olympics is one of those times you can catch it on TV or the internet. Check it out on London2012.com!
Here’s what World Book Advanced has to say about beach volleyball:
“Beach volleyball is a popular outdoor sport that follows the basic rules of indoor volleyball. Beach volleyball is played on sand with two players on a side. Some versions are played on grass, or with three, four, or six players on a team. The teams may be all male, all female, or coed (mixed). Rules vary slightly for each version.
Most games are played by rally scoring to 21 points. Under this system of scoring, the team that wins a rally earns a point, regardless of whether it was the serving team. Sometimes side out scoring is used, when a point can be scored only while serving. Then a game is played to 15 points.
Beach volleyball was first played in the 1920’s in the United States and became a competitive sport in California in 1947. The first world championships were held in 1976. The first sponsored professional tour started in 1980. Beach volleyball became a sport in the Summer Olympic Games in 1996.”
So, what are we waiting for? Let’s get our game on at the beach!
UDATE 8/9/2012: YAY! Team USA! Walsh, May-Treanor Three-Peat
Gunta said
Love volleyball, but never played it on the beach. My loss.
alainaflute said
It’s definitely been a while since I’ve played! Good times, though. 🙂
Gunta said
Yup… the extra years piled on are certainly a factor for me! Never could serve worth a damn, but it sure was fun.
Jody said
http://www.teamusa.org/USA-Volleyball/Features/2012/August/08/Walsh-MayTreanor-3Peat.aspx
Yay, Team USA!!