To encourage you or your DCs to play beach volleyball?

[Crickulum]

If you or your kids are looking for a new outdoor sport for summer, the UK's beach volleyball season is just starting up and there are lots of clubs offering lessons from beginner to advanced. Here's a map of clubs around the UK, though there might be more: www.google.com/mymaps/viewer?mid=1d6qYxYVvHGvx5Came4FhWDlFs5pgJ7Ck&hl=en

Also, if you look at the Volleyball England social media feeds they share information about club activities.

It's a great sport for juniors to get into, especially from around age 11 upwards, and especially if they're tall or like to jump (similar to basketball). Lots of people play indoor volleyball (6 a side) in winter and beach volleyball (2 a side) in summer.

There is a national network of tournaments at all levels, including junior tournaments. More info here: en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/UK_Beach_Tour

It's a young sport for the UK but has been growing since the 2012 Olympics built new facilities, and it will be part of the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham too. If your kids are keen and talented Volleyball England have a national talent pathway (for UK passport holders) with trials every year.

Nice you’re doing this
I’m very sporty, always have been abs always will be

But my word... I despise beach volleyball!

Here's a clickable link for the tournament info:
httpss://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UK_Beach_Tour

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UK_Beach_Tour

Unfortunately 0 anywhere near me on that map which is a shame seen as we have some lovely beaches.

@Hellocatshome if you're keen you could buy a portable net like this one. Good for the park as well as the beach: www.networldsports.co.uk/vermont-portable-volleyball-net-pro.html

In the mid-80s, my son's sex education at primary school included a video of naked people playing beach volleyball. We had been prewarned to expect probing questions but his only comment was that they sat and watched a film shot at Studland and did we know that you couldn't barbecue there? We regularly stayed at my mum's house in Studland and he'd been busy spotting landmarks. No mention at all of any dangly bits.
(sorry for the derail...)

Thanks that's a great idea for my kids

I remember that video. There was also naked beach tennis. Lots of dangly bits flopping around. I fondly remember telling my mum about it, who commented that you’d have to be a lunatic to be naked on a beach and you’d get sand everywhere.

My nearest beach is two countries away..

No need for a beach. There are a few places with sand courts around the UK (see the map) and you can also just set a net up on grass - that's what my kids did in the local park during lockdown and their school has portable nets too. They set them up on the field.

Volleyball England really needs a good funding and truly fund their grass roots. Volleyball is a incredible sport that offers many physical benefits long term and I'm
happy to see new places have opened up and it just shows that you don't need a beach to do this sport, just a court with sand in it :)

Yes, I agree @BusLaneLady. I think I saw that they got some funding recently. The new CEO has launched a new strategy and they've been advertising a few job roles too, so hopefully they're in a growth phase.

@Crickulum that's really good to hear! I can't wait to see their work because it's such a popular sport all around the world and such a shame that they weren't funded enough. There's so many CEV and FIVB tournaments that ENG can be part of in the next decade or so hopefully and we can host these tournaments in this country as well. I would love to see it start in primary schools with indoor volleyball and more places that offer the beach volleyball side and become the sport that everyone wants their kid to participate and become
athletes.

I'm put off any sport than had wearing bikinis compulsory for women in tournaments until 2012. I know the rule changed then, but it's such an ick factor for me that it ever was the rule.

YABU, we used to play this at school. Preferred Netball TBH.

@Hollyhocksarenotmessy

I'm put off any sport than had wearing bikinis compulsory for women in tournaments until 2012. I know the rule changed then, but it's such an ick factor for me that it ever was the rule.

I wouldn't want to play any sport in a bikini. Like you said, it's not the uniform any more. Some female players still do, and others don't.