rererees official hand signals in beach volleyball

If you read my blocking article you will understand the importance or rather the role of the blocker, that being to take an area away from the hitter to make it easier for the defender to pick up the ball.

Well to start with the basics these hand signals show what the blockers are planning on blocking. What do the hand signals behind the back mean Now there is a very good reason as to why they do this and when you learn what they mean you will understand how these simple hand signals can make a huge difference to how many points you win or lose as a pair. So take a moment to memorize the signals outlined above, and you’ll be fluent in beach signals in no time flat.So if you are relatively new to volleyball but have watched some more experienced players in action, you may have wondered why they are doing these weird signs on their bums. They can be a great alternative when the situation prevents you from yelling out to your partner. Instead, think of hand signals as a supplement. Hand signals cannot and should not take the place of vocal communication between teammates. This type of communication can help your team gain an edge on the opponent because it allows your partner to be prepared for the upcoming play. For example, if the blocker would like the serve to go to the right side of the court, then she will put the flashing signal on the right side of her body. When the non-serving partner wants to suggest a location for the server, he or she will wiggle or flash a signal on the side of the court to which they would like their teammate to serve. Information about the serve can also be communicated via hand signals. The best teams are constantly in communication about every decision. But beach volleyball veterans know better. To the unsuspecting observer, there doesn’t seem to be a whole lot of communication between partners before and during the serve. Open hand: The blocker plans to match up with the hitter, deciding where to block based on the opposing team’s set and the hitter’s approach and arm swing.Two fingers: The blocker plans to block an opponent’s “angle” attack.One finger: The blocker plans to block the opponent’s line attack.Closed fist: No block should be attempted for the opponent on that side of the court.Here are the most common blocking signals:

For example, if a player signals two fingers on the right side of her body, that means she plans to block “angle” on the right side of the court. Each hand refers to the type of block that the players will set on the corresponding side of the court. The signals are generally made behind the back to hide them from the opponent and are given with both hands by the serving player’s partner prior to the serve. Since it’s not strategically sound to yell out where you plan to block, this information is often conveyed through hand signals. This information will make it much easier for your partner to play defense. In beach volleyball, it’s important to let your teammate know where you plan to block. Outlined below are a few of the most common hand signals used on the sand court and their corresponding meanings. In those cases, it’s best to use hand signals. For example, it probably isn’t in your team’s best interest to scream out where you plan to serve the ball, but that’s definitely information your partner would find useful. There are, however, a few instances when you may need the exchanges between you and your partner to be more discreet. Because there are only two players to cover the court, there is nothing more important to team success in beach volleyball than communication. If you’re looking to spend a peaceful and quiet day at the beach then you should probably steer clear of the sand courts.

Rererees official hand signals in beach volleyball