Beach Volleyball Rules

Quick-reference guide for beach doubles (AVP rules, condensed). Whether you’re brand new or crossing over from indoor, this covers everything you need to know before stepping on the sand.

The Basics

  • 2 vs 2 — no substitutions
  • Rally scoring (point on every serve)
  • Sets played to 21 points (cap at 23)
  • Deciding 3rd set played to 15 (cap at 17)
  • Must win by 2 points
  • Switch sides every 7 points (every 5 in the 3rd set)
  • Coin toss determines first serve or side choice

Hitting & Ball Handling

  • 3 contacts allowed per side
  • A block counts as the first touch
  • No open-hand tips or dinks — use knuckle, roll shot, or poke instead
  • Sets must be clean — no lifts, carries, or double-contacts
  • Exception: double-contact is allowed on the first team contact from a hard-driven ball
  • Setting over the net must travel square to your shoulders

Serving

  • Serve from behind the endline
  • One toss per serve attempt
  • Let serves (net contact) are in play

Net Play

  • No centerline violation — you can cross under the net as long as you don’t interfere with the opponent
  • Touching the net during play is a fault
  • A block counts as a touch (3 contacts total, not 4)

Court Etiquette

  • Players call their own lines — in or out
  • Hand signals behind the back to communicate serving strategy with your partner

Playa de Pineland House Rules

  • Have fun — this is the beach, not the Olympics
  • Be supportive — hype up good plays, yours and theirs
  • Welcome newcomers — everyone started somewhere
  • Rotate in — share the court and mix up teams
  • Call your own fouls honestly — integrity over winning
  • Keep it lighthearted — trash talk is fine, bad vibes are not
  • Clean up after yourself — leave the court better than you found it
  • Respect the neighbors — keep music and noise reasonable