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The playing area
The playing area is the court plus the free zone around it. Both are rectangular and symmetrical.
The court is 16 meters long and 8 meters wide (about 52 feet 6 inches by 26 feet 3 inches). An indoor court is 18 by 9 meters, so the beach court is 2 meters shorter and 1 meter narrower.
The free zone is the sand around the court. It has to be at least 3 meters wide on every side. The space above the playing area has to be clear of obstructions for at least 7 meters.
For FIVB, World, and Official competitions the free zone is 5 to 6 meters from the end lines and sidelines, and the clear height is at least 12.5 meters.
The ball
The ball is round, with a flexible cover (leather, synthetic leather, or something similar) that does not soak up water, so the match can continue in rain. A rubber bladder, or something similar, sits inside. FIVB decides which synthetic covers are approved.
| Property | Spec |
|---|---|
| Color | One light color, or a mix of colors |
| Circumference | 66-68 cm (about 26.0-26.8 in) |
| Weight | 260-280 g (9.2-9.9 oz) |
| Pressure | 0.175-0.225 kg/cm2 (about 2.5-3.2 psi) |
That pressure is lower than an indoor ball (0.30-0.325 kg/cm2), which is why a beach ball feels softer.
FIVB and Beach Pro Tour events use the Mikasa BV550C. The AVP uses the Wilson OPTX. Both sit in the size, weight, and pressure range above.
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Every ball used in a match has to match: same circumference, weight, pressure, type, and color. FIVB, World, and Official competitions use FIVB-approved balls unless FIVB agrees otherwise.
Those events also use a four-ball system, with six ball retrievers: one at each corner of the free zone and one behind each referee.
The net
| Who | Net height |
|---|---|
| Men | 2.43 m (7 ft 11 5/8 in) |
| Women | 2.24 m (7 ft 4 1/8 in) |
| 16 and under, girls and boys | 2.24 m (7 ft 4 1/8 in) |
| 14 and under, girls and boys | 2.12 m (6 ft 11 1/2 in) |
| 12 and under, girls and boys | 2.00 m (6 ft 6 3/4 in) |
Measure the height at the center of the court. The height over the two sidelines has to match, and it cannot sit more than 2 cm above the official height.
A standard net is 8.5 meters long and 1 meter wide, give or take 3 cm, hung tight. The mesh is 10 cm square. A canvas band 7 to 10 cm wide runs along the top and the bottom, preferably dark blue or another bright color. A flexible cable in the top band and a cord in the bottom band hold the net to the posts. Advertising on those bands is allowed.
For FIVB, World, and Official competitions, an 8.0 meter net with smaller mesh can be used, with branding in the space between the net and the posts, as long as players and officials can still see.
Side bands and antennae
Two colored bands, 5 cm wide and 1 meter long, are fixed vertically on the net directly above each sideline. They are part of the net. Advertising on them is allowed.
An antenna is a flexible rod, 1.80 meters long and 10 mm thick, usually fiberglass. One antenna sits on the outside edge of each side band, on opposite sides of the net. The top 80 cm sticks up above the net and is marked in 10 cm stripes, preferably red and white.
The antennae are part of the net. They mark the side edges of the space the ball must cross. A ball that touches an antenna, or crosses outside it on a serve or on the second or third contact, is out. The exception for a first-contact chase around the antenna is in Playing Actions.
Posts
The posts stand 0.70 to 1.00 meter outside each sideline. They are 2.55 meters high and preferably adjustable. For FIVB, World, and Official competitions they are 1 meter outside the sidelines.
Posts are rounded and smooth, fixed in the ground without wires, and padded. Nothing on them should be dangerous or get in the way of play.
Any extra equipment is set by FIVB regulations for that event.
The sand
The court has to be leveled sand, as flat and even as possible. Rocks, shells, and anything else that can cut or injure a player have to come off the court.
For FIVB, World, and Official competitions the sand is at least 40 cm deep (about 16 inches), made of fine grains that are loosely packed. It should be sifted so it is not full of stones, and not so fine that it turns to dust and sticks to the skin. A tarp over the center court is recommended if rain is possible.
The surface itself cannot be dangerous to play on.
Court lines
All lines are 5 centimeters wide and a color that stands out against the sand. They are ribbons, and any anchor that sticks out has to be soft and flexible.
| Line | What it does |
|---|---|
| Sidelines | The long edges of the court |
| End lines | The short edges. You serve from behind the end line |
There is no center line and no attack line. Both sidelines and both end lines sit inside the 16 by 8 meter court, so the lines themselves are in bounds. If any part of the ball touches a line, the ball is in.
Where you can stand
Beach has three areas that matter: the playing court, the service zone, and the free zone around the court.
The service zone is 8 meters wide, the full width of the court, behind the end line. It runs back to the edge of the free zone. The server can move anywhere inside it. At the moment of contact, or at takeoff for a jump serve, the server cannot touch the court, the end line, or the sand outside that zone.
Weather and lighting
The weather cannot put players at risk of injury. If conditions become dangerous, play stops. How a long stoppage is handled is covered in Interruptions and Delays.
For FIVB, World, and Official competitions played at night, the light on the playing area should be 1,000 to 1,500 lux, measured 1 meter above the sand.