Beach Volleyball 2s: Positions, Block Calls & Hand Signals

Doubles is the official beach format: two players cover the whole 8 x 8 m court. Most teams have a blocker and a defender, and whoever doesn't pass sets.

▶ Open 2s in the interactive app Defense animations

Serve receive and the side-out

BL = blocker
DF = defender

Serve receive: Split courtEach player covers their half, about 5 m off the net and 2 m in from their sideline. Whoever doesn't pass sets, and the passer attacks.

ServingThe defender serves (gold ring) while blocker waits at the net to block.

The pass goes high to the middle, about 1.5 m off the net. The set goes about 1 m off the net, and the hitter approaches from about 4 m back. Shots to know:

Hard angle: the hitter swings hard cross court (the angle).
Line: the hitter hits hard down the line.
Cut shot: the hitter cuts the ball sharply across their body, short to the far sideline.
High line: the hitter lofts a high line shot over the block into the deep corner.
Pokey: the hitter pokes the ball with the knuckles just over the block (open-hand tips aren't allowed on the beach).

Defense and block calls

Block lineBlocker blocks the line (one finger behind the back). defender takes the angle. (Hitter on the right; the shaded area is the block shadow.)

Block angleBlocker blocks the angle (two fingers). defender takes the line. (Hitter on the right; the shaded area is the block shadow.)

Pull (no block)Blocker pulls off the net (closed fist) to defend the short line. defender takes the angle deep. (Hitter on the right; the shaded area is the block shadow.)

Block the ballBlocker blocks the ball (open hand), right on the hitter's arm. defender stays in the middle and reads the hitter. (Hitter on the right; the shaded area is the block shadow.)

Shots that beat a block go over or around it, so the defense covers what the block leaves open. The app animates every call against hard angles, line shots, cut shots, high line shots and pokeys, and shows who digs each one.

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.

Serving order and switching sides

Beach has no positions and no overlap faults, but the serving order is fixed for the whole set: each time your team wins the serve back, the next player in the order serves (blocker, then defender, then around again). Sets 1 and 2 go to 21 and the third to 15, all won by 2. Teams switch sides every 7 points in sets 1 and 2, and every 5 in set 3. The app's Rules & Signals tab works out the next switch from the score.

Frequently asked questions

Who sets in beach doubles?

Whoever doesn't pass. The passer passes high to the middle, about 1.5 m off the net; their partner sets them, and the passer attacks.

What does block line or block angle mean?

Blocking line takes away the shot down the sideline, so the defender covers the angle (cross court). Blocking angle takes away the cross-court shot, so the defender covers the line.

What are the beach volleyball hand signals?

One finger means block line, two fingers block angle, a closed fist means no block (the blocker pulls off the net), and an open hand means block the ball. Flashing the hand tells the server who to serve.