Learn beach volleyball – everything that actually helps on sand
Guides from people who stand in Berlin’s sand every day – from your first pass to tournament tactics. Honest, concrete and for every level from A1 to F3.
Getting started
Rules, your first session, indoor to sand, your level
See articles →Technique
Passing, serving, attacking, setting in the sand
See articles →Tactics
Hand signals, block & defence, playing in wind
See articles →Athletics & fitness
Sand athletics, warm-up, nutrition, winter training
See articles →Tournaments & travel
Dubai, Baltic Sea tournaments, Damper Beach Cup
See articles →Where to play in Berlin? Every court on the map
Theory only helps with sand underneath. The map shows every beach volleyball court and indoor hall in Berlin – the data comes live from the BeachTreff app.
Map of Berlin’s beach volleyball courts
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Orange dots are outdoor courts, green dots are indoor halls. Still looking for players? See Playing beach volleyball in Berlin.
Damper Beach Cup: tournament air on the Baltic Sea
A look at the Damper Beach Cup – how a tournament weekend runs, what to expect and why the drive from Berlin is worth it. More videos follow with every camp and tournament.
▶ Our YouTube channelAll articles
Conditioning for sand
Jump training in sand gives comparable gains with less soreness. The twelve-week plan in three blocks.
NewFitnessDrinking and sun protection in sand
Two litres of sweat per hour, one litre drunk – and the most common myth about reapplying sunscreen.
NewFitnessWarming up and avoiding injuries
Knee, ankle, fingers: where it really happens in sand, why absences are longer than indoors – and a routine in three stages.
NewFitnessFit for your beach camp in four weeks
Sand costs up to 2.7 times the energy. What changes in four weeks and what does not – with a weekly plan of three sessions.
NewTacticsWind: play it instead of against it
Tailwind, headwind, crosswind: what changes for serving, passing and setting – and why changing ends is your most important tactic.
NewTacticsBlocking and defence: who takes which ball?
Why your base position depends on the net and not on the block, when to peel, and why a block touch counts as a contact.
NewTacticsHand signals: the 4 signs and what they mean
One finger, two fingers, open hand, fist – the complete behind-the-back code, plus a four-week plan.
NewTechniqueTraining alone: four things without a partner
Serving, ball control, footwork, conditioning – what works alone, what does not, and a 45-minute routine.
NewTechniqueSetting on sand: what really counts as a double
The double contact rule without myths, a hand set/bump set decision guide and five drills.
NewTechniqueAttacking without jump height: the 5 shots that score
Cut, line, baby line, jumbo, poke – plus a reading table for what block and defender give away.
NewBasicsEquipment: what you really need
A beach ball has only two thirds the pressure of an indoor ball. Plus sand socks, sunglasses and the camp-day packing list.
NewRules · QuizBeach volleyball rules explained – with a quiz
The rules that actually cause arguments in recreational play. Plus a ten-question quiz and the official rulebook.
With quizGetting startedBeach volleyball for beginners: the complete guide
What you actually need, how the first sessions go and how to tell that you are getting better.
BasicsTechniqueLearn to pass: technique, 5 common mistakes, 5 drills
The foundation on sand. With error patterns you will recognise instantly and drills for solo or pairs.
DrillsTechniqueThe serve: technique, wind and the tactics that score
Float, jump float, topspin – plus wind rules and target selection, with a decision table for matches.
NewGetting startedThe 10 most common beginner mistakes – and how to fix them
All ten with concrete fixes, three mistakes that are not mistakes, and a self-test after your next match.
NewGetting startedYour first tournament: schedule, packing list and 5 classic mistakes
Which tournament suits you, how the day really runs, what to pack – plus a four-week preparation plan.
With videoGetting startedFrom indoor to sand: the 5 mistakes every indoor player makes
Why beach is a different sport – with an indoor/sand comparison table and an eight-week transition plan.
NewScenePlaying beach volleyball in Berlin: groups and player exchange
Where you can join in around Berlin, which groups exist and how to find people to play with.
GuideGetting startedWhat level am I? The A1–F3 system explained
All six levels with the signs you will recognise yourself in – plus a self-test.
NewTournaments & travelDamper Beachcup: a tournament weekend on the Baltic
Over 100 teams, tents on the beach, wind like nowhere else – schedule, level and what to bring.
New · with videoTournaments & travelBeach volleyball in Dubai
Free courts, floodlights until late and a season during the European winter – the complete guide.
Updated · with videoSomething is being built here
The first articles on this topic are in the works and will appear over the next weeks.
Check back soonTheory read. Time for sand.
You learn most not from reading but with a coach beside the court. Find your level and join the right camp – groups from A1 to F3.
