BEACH VOLLEYBALL
Beach Volleyball is a sport originated as a variant of the traditional indoor volleyball. It is played mainly
on the sandy beaches. Beach volleyball was in the beginning mostly just fun, but it has slowly grown into a
competitive sport, and has been played in the Olympics since 1996.
Beach volleyball first appeared in 1920's in Santa Monica on the beaches of California. It was accepted, and
from women and from men, and very quickly spread all over the world. In 1980's the sport became so popular
that it was recognized, in 1986. by FIVB as part of indoor volleyball. Only ten years later, beach volleyball,
first appeared at the Olympics in Atlanta and thus fulfilled its sudden transition from recreation to
competitive sport.
Because of the very demanding conditions of playing outdoors, such as sun, sand, wind, players must be well
prepared. As one team consists of only two players (on the surface of the ground 8x16 meters), and they play
on the same net height as indoor volleyball (2.24 for women and 2.43 for men), partners have to be very
compatible, or the opponent team will easily earn points on the weaknesses of one of the players.
In April of 2002, the dimensions of the field were officially changed, and were reduced from 9x18 to 8x16
meters. Also, the way counting points and the method of qualifying to the Olympic Games in Athens 2004.
have been changed. In beach volleyball the winner is the first team who wins two sets. The first two sets
are played up to 21 points on principle from indoor volleyball, every action ends in a point. The third set,
or a tie-break, is played up to 15 points, so that if the score is tied team must win with two points
difference. There is no upper limit, the game is played until one of the teams gets a two-point advantage,
no matter what the end result is.
It is characteristic for beach volleyball the use of the hands signals that a player shows his team-mate
which move he plans to perform. Players use these signals, performing it with hands behind back, preventing
the opponent to notice and identify the signals. Common signals are fist to indicate that the player will
not try to block, one extended finger, which indicates that the player will try to block possible parallel
attack, and two fingers to indicate an attempt to block diagonal.
All you need to play beach volleyball is a flat area on the sandy beach or field, volleyball net and ball.
As beach volleyball is mostly played on the beaches, players are accordingly dressed. Always barefooted,
and often dressed in bathing suits. Girls often have a split sports swimsuits, men's wear is usually wider
trunks and sleeveless shirts. Because of the sun players often wear sunglasses, or baseball caps.
BEACH VOLLEYBALL IN CROATIA
In Croatia, beach volleyball first started to be a competitive sport in 1992, when the first tournaments in
Umag and Porec were organized. In 199, first Open Championship in beach volleyball has been held in Umag,
and in 1996. first Croatian Cup in Split. In 1997, in Croatia the European championship in beach volleyball
was held. That year the first beach volleyball center was built in Zagreb. Today there is a Croatian
championship in beach volleyball that after initial problems transformed into an interesting event even
for television.
Beach volleyball tournaments are organized in attractive locations, such as Bol on Brač, and are always
accompanied by the whole show and infrastructure, and is already well known that where the beach volleyball
is played, there is a good party, where the players are, there are beautiful women (and vice versa).
VIP Tour is played throughout Croatia, in Zagreb, Umag, Poreč, Novalja, Zadar, Split, Makarska, Rab,
Pag, Medulin, Hvar, and even in Osijek and Đakovo. Swatch FIVB World Tour is played in Zagreb(Jarun).
Further development and popularization of beach volleyball in Croatia guarantees appearance of our players
(a couple Trimčevski-Perić is best known) on the international scene, the interest of rich sponsors and
more teams, which are trying, through qualification, to fight for their place in the sun on the major
tournaments.
Beach volleyball is one of the most beautiful summer sports, for which courts today grow out on the
beaches of Croatia. Today there is already over 400 as opposed to only 4 in the beginning. Beach volleyball
is a very dynamic team game that attracts a large number of athletes, amateurs, and observers, and thereby
becomes interesting for sponsors as well as interesting content for hotels and tourist industry.
Biograd (1) Bol (1) Cavtat (1) Daruvar (1) Duga Resa (2) Dugo Selo (1) Komiža (1) Kraljev vrh (1) Kukljica (1) Lopar (1) Pakoštane (1) Petrčane (1) Poreč (1) Pula (1) Rab (1) Rovinj (1) Split (1) Sveti Martin na Muri (1) Vis (1) Vrboska (1) Zadar (1) Zagreb (6) Čakovec (2) Žminj (1)