Beach Volleyball Betting Guide: Tips for the Summer Season

Beach volleyball is incredibly popular around the world. Whether it is played for fun, on an actual beach or not, it is something to try out. As we are slowly reaching into the summer season in 2021, complete beach volleyball betting is more useful than ever. We collect the biggest upcoming events, market, rules to follow, players to learn about. Get involved in beach volleyball from our ultimate betting guide, and try your luck at your favourite sportsbooks. 

Online sportsbooks in the UK feature beach volleyball frequently. Our choice is the trusty Unibet Sportsbook, where you can browse all the major volleyball events. In this beach volleyball betting guide, we will show you what Unibet features and how to read the odds on the upcoming 2021 FIVB World Tour. Of course, we detail other major championships and competitions to follow. Without further ado, let us give some insight on the rules of beach volleyball, why is it great to bet on, and how to make the most out of it.

What beach volleyball is and how it came about

Beach volleyball most likely originated in 1915 on Waikiki Beach in Hawaii, while the modern two-player game originated in Santa Monica, California. It has been an Olympic sport since the 1996 Summer Olympics. It is a team sport where two teams play against each other on a sand court divided by a net. We all played indoor volleyball in high school, and the rules are quite similar. The objective of the game is to send the ball over the net and to ground it on the opponent’s side of the court. Each team works in unison to prevent the opposing team from grounding the ball on their side of the court.

What was once just a seaside diversion for families and individuals has become a worldwide form of entertainment. Beach volleyball is relatively new on the Olympic stage. But in a short amount of time, it has increased its visibility and created its share of stars. Focusing on the odds of the FIVB World Tour women, we mention the current stars of the game, and official rankings to help you bet on beach volleyball.

Beach volleyball betting guide #1: What are the rules?

In each betting guide, the first thing we recommend is to understand the rules of the game and understand them well. Before you start wagering, bettors should know the game back and forth. Why? If you could play this game yourself, predicting outcomes is so much easier and safer. Also, before each big event, odds on sportsbooks change a lot. To understand and the fluctuation of odds, your best chance is to understand what is going on during a game. Following the happenings of the game help you predict more likely outcomes. So let us simply lay down the rules of beach volleyball! Luckily, FIVB provides the most up to date and detailed handbook on the rules of beach volleyball, to really dig deep into specific conditions.

In Beach Volleyball, the main objective is to hit the ball in a tactical way so that the opposing team cannot return it in a “legal” fashion. One team will begin the game by striking the ball over the net, which is known as a “serve”. Both teams will then compete in what is known as a “rally”, where the ball exchanges hands and flies above the net between both sides of the court. A rally finishes when one team cannot return the ball, and a point is marked for the team that forced the error. The team that reaches 21 points (by two clear points) first is declared the winner of a set, and two set wins are required to emerge victorious in the overall match (Source: rulesofsports.com).

Players, scoring and winning

To guide yourself through a beach volleyball match when betting, there are three things to really pay attention to. The players, scoring and what determines to win. Each Beach Volleyball team consists of two players. The matches happen on a sand-based court measuring 26.2 ft square. A net measuring 7 ft 11 inches high is placed at the centre of the court during male matches. In female matches, the net is set at a slightly lower height of 7 ft 4 inches. The posts on either side of the net are an equal distance from each side-line to the post padding.

In Beach Volleyball, a score happens when a team manages to hit the ball in a certain way so that the opposing team cannot return the ball legally. An illegal return involves hitting the net, hitting the ball too often during one rally (three touches are permitted), or failing to strike the ball at all. After every 7 points during the first two sets, teams swap ends and move to the other side of the court. During the third set, after every 5 points, they also switch to the other side. After a total of 21 scored points, there is a timeout. For instance, when the scoreline reads 14-7.

In Beach Volleyball, the first team to win two sets is the winner. An individual set is won by scoring 21 points – or 15 points in the final set – by two clear points. So, for example, if the score reads 21-20, the set will continue until one team leads by two points (e.g. 24-22).

Technique

Professional players must master their serve technique to maximise their chances of winning. Striking the ball hard enough and in the right place makes it more difficult for the other team to return. After serving, the second most important skill is the attacking style. Players can “attack” the ball in a variety of different ways, including using different parts of the hand to help the ball land in specific areas of the court. Defending is all about blocking the ball so it doesn’t reach the floor. Teams use special block signals to tell them what defending technique they are about to use. Players practice these communications before matches.

There are, of course, some very specific rules players always have to follow. They can touch the ball three times maximum before hitting back. There are some illegal touches, such as  “hand touches”, “tips” and “dinks”. Players can cross below the Beach Volleyball net unless it interferes with the other team’s play. There is no set position for players, meaning they can move to any part of the court they wish at any time – provided it is on their side.

Biggest beach volleyball betting markets

Online gambling sites in the UK remains one of the leading and most liberal online betting markets in the world. Volleyball is the 5th most popular sport in the world ranking, and it even dominates the Olympics. Sportsbooks like Unibet Sportsbook covers leading tournaments. In Beach Volleyball, the FIVB oversees three competitions, namely: the FIVB Beach Volleyball Continental Cup, the FIVB Beach Volleyball World Tour and lastly the FIVB Beach Volleyball World Championships. The Beach Volleyball Major Series formed part of the FIVB Beach Volleyball World Tour.

For the next FIVB match in Cancun, Unibet Sportsbook offers great odds in both the men’s and women’s category. In the upcoming match, Brazil and Germany will compete. As the odds show, the Brazilian team, with players Agatha Bednarczuk Rippel and Eduarda ”Duda” Santos Lisboa are the favourites. Their odds are 1.35 as opposed to the German team which is currently at odds 2.95. The Brazilian team definitely shows great potential and the safest bet, considering their previous championship results!

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