A beach is not just for sunbathing - all you need is a ball, a net and you are ready to play! Lying on the beach doing nothing can sometimes be a bit of a drag, and when you've built enough sandcastles to last you a lifetime, a game of volleyball is the perfect solution! You can have as many players on a team as possible.

Players use their hands and arms to hit the ball over the net with a maximum of three touches to get it over. Points are scored by hitting the ball onto the ground of the opposing team. Beach volleyball courts are quite small. They are typically 8 metres by 16 metres so there's not that much running round, so everyone is free to join up. Beach volleyball can get very exciting and be a crowd pleaser as it becomes the spectacle of the beach. Why not join other families to start a game with you and this can help you meet and interact with other families whilst on holiday!

Beach Volleyball is very popular in Brazil, California and Australia although inland countries with no coast also play volleyball on special indoor arenas. The Urban Beach Tour hold annual events right throughout the country, where British players and guest international star players play on specially created beaches in town centres and hold training sessions for beginners. This has helped the game to become one of the most popular British Summer-time sports. To find out more about the Urban Beach Tour, and to find out the nearest town to you, visit the website by clicking here.

If you want to take volleyball up as a regular hobby and would like to find out more about it as a sport, then visit the Volleyball England Website, by clicking here. The website has a great range of information on volleyball at all levels and also has information about coaching. If you want to find a club in your local area, click here.

If you want to get involved with the game, but don't want to particpate in the actual matches, there are other ways you can get involved. The Volleyball England site is always advertising for volunteers to help boost the image of this great family game. For more information about the chance to get involved, click here.