Beach Volleyball FormationsOpen the interactive app →Beach Volleyball Formations: 2s, 3s and 4s
Where to stand and what to do on a standard 8 x 8 m sand court, for doubles, triples and quads. Beach has no rotations or overlap faults, so this guide is about formations: serve receive, the side-out, defense and block calls.
▶ Open the interactive beach appPick your format
Doubles (2s)
How to play beach doubles: split-court serve receive, the side-out, block line or angle, pulling, hand signals and when to switch sides, with diagrams.
Triples (3s)
How to line up in beach triples: 2 or 3 passer serve receive, a setter who blocks, line and angle defense, and playing with no block, with diagrams.
Quads (4s)
How to line up in beach quads: serve receive with 2 or 3 passers, the diamond defense, the double block and playing with no block, with diagrams.
Beach rules that differ from indoor
- The court is 8 x 8 m per side, with no attack line or center line.
- No positions or overlap faults: only the serving order is fixed, and teams switch sides every 7 points (every 5 in set 3).
- The block counts as one of your three contacts.
- No open-hand tips; hand sets over the net must go straight ahead or straight behind you.
Hand signals
| Signal | Call | What the defense does |
|---|---|---|
| ☝️ one finger | Block line | The blocker takes away the line. The defender covers the angle and chases shots over the block. |
| ✌️ two fingers | Block angle | The blocker takes away the angle. The defender covers the line and has to read the cut shot. |
| ✊ a closed fist | Pull (no block) | The blocker drops off the net to defend. Good against a weak set or a hitter who can't be blocked. |
| 🖐️ an open hand | Block the ball | The blocker blocks the hitter's arm wherever they swing. The defender stays in the middle and reads. |
| ✊🖐️ flashing | Serve this player | Opening and closing the hand tells the server who to serve. |
The blocker shows the signals behind their back before each serve: the left hand is the call for the opponent on the left (as you look at them), the right hand for the one on the right.
Frequently asked questions
How big is a beach volleyball court?
A standard sand court is 16 x 8 m: 8 x 8 m on each side of the net. That is smaller than an indoor court (9 x 9 m per side), and there is no attack line.
Are there rotations in beach volleyball?
No. Beach has no positions and no overlap faults; only the serving order is fixed. Teams line up however they like and switch sides every 7 points (every 5 in the third set).
Can you tip in beach volleyball?
Not with an open hand. Use a pokey (knuckles), a cobra (locked fingertips) or a roll shot instead.
Does the block count as a touch in beach volleyball?
Yes. On the beach the block is one of your three contacts, so after a block touch you only have two more.