You might be surprised to learn that beach volleyball history had its start inside! In 1895, William Morgan, a YMCA coach in Massachusetts devised a sport that could be played indoors during cold northeast winters. The coach came up with a game similar to badminton that did not use rackets but a net. As he watched the players volleying the ball back and forth, volleyball was born.

Beach volleyball is believed to have started on the beaches at Santa Monica, California. Players on the west coast of the United States set up the sport and the rest is beach volleyball history. Volleyball began as a men’s sport, but by the mid 1900’s, it was passed on to a female sport. The Association of Volleyball Professionals served the sport into a competitive event for both male and female athletes.

Beach Volleyball is played from any number of people up to twelve. The height of the net depends on whether it is men or women’s action. A women’s net height is 7 foot 4 and one eighth. A men’s net is a mark below 8 feet high.

A sample of Beach Volleyball rules:

1. You may go completely under the net into your opponent’s court to play a ball as long as there is no interference with the other players.
2. The ‘let’ serve is now played on the beach.
3. Open hand, finger tip - called a Soft dink is not allowed.
4. When digging a hard-driven spike it can be double-hit and for a moment lifted.
5. The server must clearly release or toss the ball before contact for the serve.
6. Rotation of players is not necessary and no substitutions are permitted.
7. Traditional scoring to 15 -win by two- is in effect.
8. One former CBVA-rated player will be allowed to pair up with a novice level player.

Beach volleyball history took a professional turn gaining attention in the US with company sponsorship promotion. Jose Cuervo became a sponsor in the 1970’s. Prize money started attracting talented players. In 1981, Miller Brewing began advertisements of the game. The two companies helped shine light on Beach Volleyball for everyone.

In 1994, The Goodwill Games at St. Petersburg, Russia hosted the first Beach Volleyball match. In 1996, Beach Volleyball was held in the Olympics in Atlanta, Georgia.

Beach Volleyball players have won millions of dollars in tournament play. Today there are over 1600 tournaments held worldwide involving up to 7800 professionals.

Women’s beach volleyball received a boost in ratings with the 6-foot-3-inch bomb, Gabrielle Reece. Gabby Reece played high school volleyball. She went on to play college volleyball on a volleyball scholarship for Florida State University.

Gabrielle Reece’s dominant skill landed her record in beach volleyball history. In the Bud Light Pro Beach Volleyball League, she led the team in blocks for the first season and kills for four seasons. She went on to become captain of Team Nike, and named the League’s Offensive Player of the Year for two years in a row. Gabrielle Reece holds seven Olympic medals.

Beach Volleyball has continually jumped in popularity for the past hundred years. The sport has excelled at the Olympic Games, which produced a number of Gold Medalists for the US team. Today beach volleyball history continues, remaining a sport for people of all ages and ability to “take it outside“!

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