46 beach volleyball terms defined, including pokey, sky ball, joust, shank and sideout, each explained in a single line.
Two players, one net and a lot of sand produce their own vocabulary. What follows is beach volleyball terminology as it is actually used on the court: the words related to beach volleyball that get called between points, the words associated with the rules and the equipment, and the slang that only the doubles game has. The beach volleyball glossary further down repeats every term in one line if you just need the short version.
Must-Know Beach Volleyball Terms, Phrases and Slang:
- Ace
- Block
- Bump
- Dig
- Floater
- Joust
- Kill
- Overhand
- Pokey
- Rally
- Set
- Spike
- Stuff
- Underhand
- Antenna
- Court switch
- Double contact
- Foot fault
- Hand signal
- Line shot
- Off the net
- Overpass
- Sand timeout
- Serve receive
- Shank
- Sideout
- Sky ball
- Timeout
- Wind conditions
- Wrap shot
Beach Volleyball Glossary: Every Term A to Z
| Term | What It Means |
|---|---|
| Ace | A serve that lands in and is never touched, scoring the point outright. |
| Angle shot | An attack hit across the court on a diagonal rather than down the line. |
| Antenna | The flexible rod on each side of the net. The ball has to pass between the two to stay in play. |
| Block | Jumping at the net to stop an attack and send the ball back into the opponents' court. |
| Blocker | In doubles, the player who takes the net on defense while the partner covers the court behind. |
| Bump | The forearm pass, usually the first contact after the serve. Also just called a pass. |
| Bump set | Setting a teammate with the forearms instead of the hands, common in wind. |
| Court switch | Teams change ends at fixed point totals so wind and sun do not favor one side all match. |
| Cut shot | A sharply angled attack hit close to the net and away from the blocker. |
| Defender | The player who drops off the net to dig, working with the blocker as a two-person defense. |
| Dig | A defensive save on a hard-driven ball that keeps the rally alive. |
| Double contact | A fault where a player touches the ball twice in a row or contacts it unevenly with two body parts. |
| Doubles | The standard beach format: two players per side, no substitutions, no positional rotation. |
| Floater | A serve struck without spin so the ball moves unpredictably through the air. |
| Foot fault | Stepping on or over the line while serving. The serve is lost. |
| Hand set | Setting with both hands overhead. Judged strictly on the beach, so many teams bump set instead. |
| Hand signal | The sign a blocker gives behind the back before the serve, showing which line will be taken away. |
| Joust | Two opposing players meeting the ball above the net and pushing against each other. |
| Jump serve | A serve struck out of the air after a running approach, the hardest and riskiest serve. |
| Kill | An attack the opponents cannot return, ending the rally in a point. |
| Line shot | An attack hit straight down the sideline, usually when the blocker takes the angle away. |
| Match point | The point that would win the match for the leading team. |
| Net violation | Touching the net during a play. It costs the point. |
| Off the net | A set placed away from the net, giving the hitter more room and the blockers less to read. |
| Overhand | Any contact made above the head with the hands, from serves to passes. |
| Overpass | A pass that carries over the net by mistake and hands the other team an easy attack. |
| Peel | The blocker pulling off the net to defend instead of jumping, usually on a called signal. |
| Pokey | A soft shot poked over the net with the knuckles to drop the ball into open sand. |
| Rally | The whole exchange from serve to point, serve, pass, set and attack included. |
| Rally scoring | Every rally scores a point, no matter which team served. |
| Roof | A block that sends the ball straight down on the attacker's side. |
| Sand socks | Thin neoprene socks worn when the sand is too hot to stand on. |
| Sand timeout | A short stoppage to wipe sand off the body or out of the eyes, separate from the regular timeouts in many events. |
| Serve receive | Handling the opponents' serve and turning it into an attack. The first job of every rally. |
| Shank | A pass that comes off the arms badly and flies out of the play. |
| Short serve | A serve dropped just over the net to pull a player forward before the attack. |
| Sideout | The receiving team winning the rally, which gives them the serve. |
| Sky ball | A serve hit almost straight up so the receiver has to track it against the sun. |
| Spike | The hard downward attack, usually the third contact. |
| Stuff | A block that stops the attack dead and scores immediately. |
| Timeout | A short break called by a team to regroup or break the other side's run. |
| Tool | Hitting the ball off the blocker's hands and out of bounds on purpose. |
| Topspin serve | A serve struck with forward spin so it dives down inside the line. |
| Underhand | A serve struck from below with less speed but more control. |
| Wind conditions | The wind decides how teams serve, set and choose ends. Playing into it and with it are two different games. |
| Wrap shot | An attack steered around the blocker with a wrist-away motion. |
#1 Ace
An “ace” in beach volleyball occurs when a player serves the ball and it lands on the opposing team’s court without being touched, leading to an immediate point. It’s a showcase of serving skill and precision.
#2 Block
A “block” is when a player jumps near the net to deflect an opponent’s spike back into their court. This defensive play can turn the tide of the game and prevent the opposing team from scoring.
#3 Bump
The “bump,” also known as a pass, is the first contact after the serve, where a player uses their forearms to direct the ball to a teammate. It is a fundamental skill needed to set up plays.
#4 Dig
A “dig” is a defensive move where a player makes a save from a hard-driven ball, typically a spike, keeping the ball in play. Often diving or lunging, it’s a crucial skill for preventing opposing points.
#5 Floater
A “floater” is a type of serve where the ball is hit with no spin, causing it to move unpredictably in the air, similar to a knuckleball in baseball. This makes it challenging for the receiving team.
#6 Joust
A “joust” refers to when two opposing players reach the ball above the net at the same time and push against it. It’s a show of strength and timing, and the winner is usually the player who touches the ball last.
#7 Kill
In beach volleyball, a kill is a successful attack that is not returnable by the opposing team and results in an immediate point. Kills are a crucial part of offensive play and showcase a player’s power and precision.
#8 Overhand
This term refers to any action where the ball is contacted above the head with the hands, such as an overhand serve or an overhand pass. Overhand techniques require skill to execute properly without committing faults, especially under the stringent rules against “lifts” or “carries.”
#9 Pokey
A discreet shot in beach volleyball where a player uses their knuckles to poke the ball over the net, usually to find an open space in the opponent’s court. It’s an effective way to catch the defense off-guard.
#10 Rally
The exchange of plays between the two teams from the service to the point, including a sequence of hits (serve, pass, set, and spike) from each side. Rallies showcase the continuous action that defines volleyball.
#11 Set
The strategic placement of the ball by the second player to enable the third player to attack. A good set is crucial for an effective spike and maintaining the offensive momentum of the team.
#12 Spike
A forceful downward shot, usually the third hit, aimed at an opponent’s court to score or gain a tactical advantage. Spikes demonstrate a player’s power and precision and are often crowd-pleasers.
#13 Stuff
Also known as a “block,” a “stuff” occurs when a player jumps at the net to deflect an opposing player’s attempted spike. A successful stuff stops the attack and can score a point instantly.
#14 Underhand
A serving technique where the ball is hit with an underhand motion, generating less power and speed but more control and placement. It’s often used strategically to catch opponents off guard.
#15 Antenna
The antenna in beach volleyball is a flexible rod attached to the outer edge of the net, extending vertically above it. The ball must pass between the antennas for a play to be considered valid. If the ball goes outside the antenna, it is out of bounds.
#16 Court switch
In beach volleyball, players switch sides of the court at intervals of 7 points in a set (or 5 points in a deciding set) to ensure no team has a consistent advantage due to external conditions like wind and sun. This switch helps maintain fairness.
#17 Double contact
A violation where a player hits the ball twice in succession or the ball makes contact with separate parts of the body in a non-simultaneous manner. This error usually results in a point for the opposing team.
#18 Foot fault
Occurs when a player steps on or over the baseline or sideline while serving the ball. This mistake is comparable to a service error in tennis, and the serving team will lose the serve or point as a result.
#19 Hand signal
A non-verbal communication method players use behind their backs to indicate the type of block they intend to execute. It’s a crucial tactic for team strategy, keeping the opposition guessing until the last moment.
#20 Line shot
A type of attack where the ball is hit down the volleyball court’s sideline, aiming to land near the boundary line. It’s often utilized to exploit gaps in the opposition’s defense, especially when blockers cover the angle.
#21 Off the net
A play or position in which the ball is set away from the net, giving hitters more room to maneuver and attack. This can make it harder for blockers and defenders to predict the ball’s trajectory.
#22 Overpass
A pass that unintentionally goes over the net to the opposing team, often setting them up for an easy attack. It’s considered a significant error that usually results in a point for the opponents.
#23 Sand timeout
A specific timeout in beach volleyball where players can request a brief stoppage of play to wipe sand from their bodies or eyes, or to adjust to sand conditions on the court. Unlike regular timeouts, these may not count against the allotted timeouts per team, depending on the tournament rules.
#24 Serve Receive
The action of receiving and controlling the opposing team’s serve with the intent to set up an attacking play. Mastery of the serve receive is crucial for transitioning from defense to offense and maintaining rally momentum.
#25 Shank
An errant pass or reception of the ball that goes awry, typically due to poor contact or misjudgment. Often leading to a loss of point, it’s a moment players try to minimize with consistent practice and focus.
#26 Sideout
Occurs when the receiving team successfully wins a point on the serving team’s service. Gaining a sideout allows the receiving team to take control of the serve and attempt to score points.
#27 Sky Ball
A serve that is hit extremely high into the air, creating a difficult trajectory for the opposing team to judge. It’s often effective in sunny or windy conditions, as it can make the reception more challenging.
#28 Timeout
A strategic break in the game called by a team to regroup, plan, or disrupt the opponent’s momentum. Each team has a limited number of timeouts per set, making their use a key part of game strategy.
#29 Wind Conditions
A natural and significant factor in beach volleyball, impacting the game’s dynamics such as serving, passing, and hitting. Players must adapt their strategies and techniques to accommodate for the direction and strength of the wind.
#30 Wrap Shot
A strategic attack in beach volleyball where the player hits the ball around the opposing blocker, typically using a wrist-away motion. The wrap shot is used to exploit the angles, making it difficult for the defender to anticipate and return the ball.
FAQ
What is it called when a beach volleyball serve lands without being touched?
An ace. The serve lands inside the lines with no defender making contact, so the point is scored immediately and the server keeps serving.
What is it called when two players reach the ball above the net at the same time?
A joust. Both players push against the ball over the net and the rally continues from whichever side it falls on. Neither contact counts as a team touch.
What are beach volleyball players called?
Simply players, or beach volleyball players. On defense they are described by their job in the rally instead: the blocker takes the net, the defender covers the court behind.
What do you call the shot hit with the knuckles in beach volleyball?
A pokey. The player pokes the ball over the net with the knuckles instead of an open hand, which is legal where an open-hand tip is not, and drops it into open sand.
They fall into three groups: contacts (bump, set, spike, dig, block), shots (cut, line, pokey, sky ball, wrap) and rules (antenna, double contact, foot fault, sideout, court switch). The beach volleyball glossary above lists all of them.
What are some Beach Volleyball terms for beginners?
“Ace,” “Bump,” and “Spike” are some Beach Volleyball terms beginners should start with. They cover serving, defensive, and attacking plays crucial to understanding and enjoying the game.
What are some funny Beach Volleyball terms?
“Sand timeout” and “Sky ball” are some funny Beach Volleyball terms. They add character to the game with a playful take on taking a break and serving the ball high into the air.
What is a famous Beach Volleyball phrase?
“Sideout” is a famous Beach Volleyball phrase, often used when the receiving team wins the point and the service, signifying a shift in momentum and opportunity to score.
