Rannavõrkpall

Rannavõrkpall is a sport played by two teams of two players on a sand court divided by a net. It is a variation of indoor volleyball and is played during the summer months. The objective of the game is to score points by grounding the ball on the opponent's side of the court. Points are also scored if the opponent commits a fault.

The court is typically 16 meters long and 8 meters wide, with a net height of 2.43 meters for men and 2.24 meters for women. The ball used is slightly larger and softer than an indoor volleyball. Players wear minimal clothing, often swimwear, due to the warm weather conditions.

Rannavõrkpall involves unique skills and strategies compared to indoor volleyball. Players must be agile and have good stamina to move effectively on the sand. Blocking and defending are crucial as there are only two players per team. Communication between partners is essential for covering the court and executing plays.

A rally begins with a serve. Teams can hit the ball up to three times to return it over the net. Unlike indoor volleyball, a player cannot hit the ball twice in a row, except after a block. Setting the ball with an open hand is only allowed if the set is clean and the ball does not spin. Dinks, or controlled pushes of the ball, are also restricted and must be executed cleanly.

Matches are usually played in a best-of-three sets format. The first two sets are typically played to 21 points, with the winning team needing a two-point lead. If a third set is necessary, it is played to 15 points, again requiring a two-point advantage. Rannavõrkpall is a popular Olympic sport and is played professionally worldwide.