Here is your source to get familiar with Beach Volleyball's
jargon
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Ace (Pure)
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A served ball that lands within the playing
boundaries, which is untouched by the receiving team and scores a
point.
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Ace (Statistical)
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A served ball that a player on the receiving
team cannot handle or pass cleanly.
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Antennae
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A flexible rod placed vertically above the
outer edge of the sidelines to mark the outer limit of the crossing
space.
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Attack bit |
The action of directing the ball into the
opponents' court. Serving is not considered an attack hit.
Considered completed when the ball completely crosses the vertical
plane of the net or touches a block.
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Ball mark |
The disturbance or movement of the sand
created on the court surface by the contact of the ball with the
sand. This mark may be checked to determine if the ball is "in" or
"out". |
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Ball‑mark protocol |
A procedure initiated by the 1st referee for
establishing whether the ball has landed in or out of the court.
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Between rallies |
The time between the whistle to end the
completion of a rally and the whistle to authorize the service to
start the next rally. Under normal circumstances this is a maximum
of 12 seconds.
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Blocking |
Is the action of player close to the net to intercept the
ball coming from the opponent by reaching higher than the top of the
net.
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Bump (Pass) |
Technique of playing ball using forearms, hands together, to
direct the ball.
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Bump (Set) |
A forearm pass used as a set. |
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Carry |
A fault called if the ball comes to rest in
the course of contact by one player.
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Coin toss |
Action
by the referees where the team's captains choose the team to serve
and the starting side of the court of each team.
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Contacted ball |
A contacted ball is one that touches or is
touched by any part of a player's body or clothing.
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Court |
The playing surface divided into two equal
areas by a net. In its official form, Beach Volleyball is played on
a rectangular court 16 meters (52 feet, 5.921 inches) long and 8
meters (26 feet, 2.841 inches) wide.
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Court lines
(boundary lines) |
These lines delimit the playing area. They are adjustable
and made of resistant material, contrast in colour to the sand and
are 5‑8 centimetres wide. The ball must physically contact the line
to be considered as "in." |
Court switches
(side changes) |
The moment in which the teams change their
sides of the playing court. Occurs every 7 points (Sets 1 and 2) and
every 5 points (3rd Set).
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Coverage |
Most often refers to a backing up a partner's
hit when the block is up and the ball comes glancing back.
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Cross‑court/cut shot
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An offensive hit in which a player, instead
of hitting with power, slices the ball just over and nearly parallel
to the net.
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Crossing space
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The area above the net and inside the
antennas (and their imaginary extension upward) through which an
attacked or served ball must pass.
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Default
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Where a team is unable to commence the match
legally with its players. It forfeits the match and gains no points.
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Diagonals (Long/Short)
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The distance diagonally across the corners of
the playing court (long diagonal 17,89 metres) or across from one
corner to the corner immediately under the net (short diagonal 11,31
metres).
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Dig (Save)
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Ball brought up (saved) with any part of
body, particularly from a spike attempt. |
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Dink
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Ball played just over net or blocker's hands,
instead of spiking and is legal as long as it is not with open
fingers.
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Double fault
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Two faults occurring at the same time.
Results in a replay (the same person serving again with no point
scored).
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External space |
The imaginary space outside the antennas and
also not below the bottom of the net between the net poles. Not
including the crossing and lower spaces.
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Extension of sideline |
The imaginary line extended from the two
sidelines in a straight line from the corners until the edge of the
free zone. |
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Floater |
A serve that follows an uneven trajectory
("floats") over the net.
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Foot faults
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The illegal action of a player, who at the
time of serving or jumping to serve, has their foot under the line,
has their foot outside the extension of the sideline, or their foot,
contacts the playing court (line included).
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Free zone |
The area outside the playing court but inside
the panels, signage, etc., which delimits the outer edges of the
free zone. |
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Hard‑driven ball |
An attack hit that is travelling with
sufficient speed (quickly) and over distance such that a defending
player only has time to only play the ball in a reflexive defensive
manner. In such defensive action the ball can be slightly held
overhand with fingers.
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Hit ball
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A ball that is clearly hit and does not come
to rest upon contact.
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Illegal server
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When a player serves contrary to the service
order recorded on the score sheet and advice of the scorer. The
other team gains the right to serve and a point. |
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Incidental contact |
Contact by a player with an opponent that did
not have an effect on that player's ability to complete a subsequent
play on the ball freely.
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Incomplete team |
When a team commences but is unable to
legally complete a match with its two players, Le: because of
injury, the other team would the gain the match.
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Injury timeout
(5min recovery period) |
The time allowed for the player to recover
from an injury.
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Interference |
When a player through physical contact or
threat of contact prevents an opponent from a potential play on the
ball. It may be the next shot or a subsequent shot.
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Joust
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A classic confrontation above the net where
the two opponent players simultaneously contact the ball, holding it
with open fingers.
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Jump serve |
The action of a serving player, who at the
time of the service is not in contact with the ground. The action of
jumping must commence legally from within the service zone but on
landing may contact any part of the playing court or free zone.
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Kong block |
A huge one hand block used by Beach
Volleyball legend Randy Stoklos.
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Line judges
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Auxiliary officials responsible for assisting
the referees in determining faults esp. ball "in" "out" and
"touched". Either 2 or 4 people can be used, situated at corners of
the court.
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Lower space under net |
The area below the bottom of the net between
the net posts. It does not include the Crossing and External spaces.
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Match format |
The format for FIVB competition is best of 3
sets, the first 2 being played to 21 (with 2 point advantage) and
the 3rd set to 15 (with a 2 point advantage), both with no maximum
score.
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Momentarily overhand
with fingers / beach dig
/ beach defence |
A playing action (receiving a ball) that may
be legally used if the ball is hard driven. Players are allowed
legally to hold or carry the ball overhand slightly longer than is
usually allowed. The hands must be held with fingers up, Le.: not
inverted to point downwards. Net ‑ Piece of equipment that separates
the opponent sides of the court, placed vertically over the axis of
the centre of the court, made of small square meshes and hanging
from two poles by use of one cable at the top horizontal band and
one rope at the lower horizontal band.
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Normal playing
conditions |
Playing conditions which are free from
external interference from weather (e.g.: wind, rain). Generally
based on whether players can accurately hand set the ball.
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Off‑hand side |
Right‑hand player, playing right side. The
ball comes across the body on a set to hit.
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Offensive player
(attacking player) |
The player(s) from the team who currently
have committed the last contact. The player(s) on the same side of
the court as the ball.
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On‑hand side |
Right hand player, playing left side. The
ball is in front of a player on a set to hit. |
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Out of bounds |
The ball is out of bounds when it touches any
surface, object or ground outside the court.
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Overhand finger action |
The playing action of setting the ball or
passing the ball with 2 hands fingers spread, contacting the ball.
It is not legal to carry the ball with underhand finger action
(i.e.: wrists inverted).
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Perpendicular trajectory |
A ball that travels in a straight line from
the player's shoulders either forwards or backwards. The player's
position at the time of the contact determines the trajectory the
ball should legally follow in the case the player completes an
attack‑hit using an overhand pass.
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Play over |
The act of putting the ball in play again
without awarding a point.
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Point |
If the serving team sends a ball that is not
returned or lands in the receiving team's court, a point is then
awarded to the serving team. If the receiving team returns a ball
that is not returned or lands in the serving team's court, a point
is an awarded to the receiving team.
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Protest protocol
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The formal process under the control of the
Delegate(s) in which the validity of a team's protest is considered.
This may occur before, during or after a match.
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Protocol
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The time from the end of the previous match
to the commencement of the next match. |
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Rally |
The time that the ball is legally in play,
from the contact with the ball by the server, to the time of a fault
by either team or when the ball hits the ground.
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Replay (Tie ball replay) |
When the referee authorizes a service to be
made again with no point or side out being made to either team. This
could be as a result of simultaneous fault, incorrect decision or
external interference.
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Roll shot |
Legal technique using rigid, closed fingers
in an overhead single hand action to complete an attack hit. Usually
travels a short distance into the opponent's court.
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Roof block (stuff block) |
Block that puts the ball straight down on the
side of the attacking team.
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Rubber booties /
sand‑shoes / socks |
Personal player's equipment for protection of
their feet. Usually used if sand is too hot/cold or player is
injured. Requires the referee's permission before use. |
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Rules |
All players must know and abide by the "Rules
of the Game."
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Sand |
The material composing the court surface.
Must be flat, uniform, and safe for participants and at least 40
centimetres in depth.
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Sand anchors |
The device, which secures the lines, by use
of a cord, to the court, surface (50 centimetres below the ground
minimum). Material must be soft and flexible.
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Screen
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The action of preventing the player(s)
receiving serve from having a clear and unobstructed view of the
serving player. A screen is illegal and a screening player must move
if requested to move.
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Screening |
An attempt by a player to conceal the start
of a teammate's serve by obstructing an opponent's line of sight.
Screening is illegal.
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Serve |
The act of putting the ball into play by a
player who hits the ball with her hand or arm.
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Service order |
The order in which players can legally serve.
Recorded on the score sheet after the coin toss has been made (1st
and 3rd set) or before the start of the set (2nd set). Must be
maintained throughout the set.
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Service zone |
The area in which the player serves the ball.
Bounded by the base (back line), the extension of the two sidelines
and the outside of the free zone (usually delimited by panels).
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Shoot |
Two‑handed set shot used as dink or deep
placement shot.
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Side bands |
Two colour bands, 5‑8 cm wide (same width as
the court lines) and 1‑metre long, are fastened vertically to the
net and placed above each sideline. They are considered part of the
net.
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Side out |
Should the team that receives the service win
the rally they have scored a sideout and they win the right to now
serve.
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Simultaneous contact
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Contact of the ball made by two players at
the same instant. If made by two opponents over the net and the ball
remains held for a certain period of time, this is called a joust.
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Six pack (facial) |
Refers to a player who was hit directly in
the face by the ball.
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Sizzling the pits |
A spike that sneaks by the blocker's armpits.
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Sky ball |
A very high serve in its trajectory which is
used to gain advantage from wind, sun.
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Spike |
The play action of jumping and striking the
ball with one hand as an attack hit.
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Spiked ball
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A ball (other than a served ball) hit
forcibly from a height not less than the top of the net. Also known
as bury, crush, hammer, kill, put away or slam.
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Technical timeout
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An official 30‑second interruption to the
match that occurs in sets 1 and 2 when the sum of both teams' points
is 21.
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Three hits per side |
A team may contact the ball no more than
three times before sending the ball over the net and into contact
with either an opponent or his/her court. Successive hits or
contacts by the same player are illegal unless the player blocks at
the net.
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Timeouts
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When the ball is dead, a player may request a
timeout. Each team will be allowed one, 30second timeout per set
per team. Each timeout must be approved by the officials. |
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Tip/dink |
Illegal technique using open fingers (spread
fingertips) to complete an attack hit. |
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Toss |
The action of releasing the ball from the
player's hands in the service zone with the intention of hitting a
service.
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Warm‑up period
(Official warm up)
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The time before the match officially
allocated for teams to prepare on the court for the match. Commences
at the whistle (signal) of the ist referee after the signing of the
score sheet.
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Wipeoff |
The attacking hit that deflects off the block
of the defending team.
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Wind |
Weather condition. Strength should be low
enough to enable normal playing conditions. |
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