Yes. This is another article about sand volleyball. For those are only in to indoor volleyball, don’t look past this post, there’s a little in it for you.

As you know by now, I LOVE SAND VOLLEYBALL! Let me take this opportunity to “count the ways.”

1. Megan Fox tan: Ok, maybe this isn’t appealing to all but I do appreciate those few morning rays that have recently replaced my powder bronzer.

2. Think about Timing: When you first step on to a sand court, you think like an indoor player: “I have time to get there.” But, you will quickly realize that you don’t and you better get your butt movin’ (especially in doubles). In any hit in the sand, you have to get there sooner. Which means 1. Read the ball of the serve or hit. 2. If you know your partner is gonna take the first contact, you better jet to the net to set (like that rhyme?). 3. A quick approach is much slower in the sand and the sets are not always perfect, so you have to be ready to adjust.

3. Shots: Much of sand volleyball relies on shots (unless you have raw power and mad skills like Phil Dalhausser-below).

Who can hit zones of the court the most effectively? He will be the winner in sand. Unless he’s Donnie, playing against his wife, who dug him 3 times the other day. (Sorry Donnie, I can’t help that I’m awesome).

4. Ball Control: This is kind of a combination of Shots and Timing. You must read, be in the right spot at the right time and execute with almost perfect form. In other words, there is almost no room for error in sand volleyball. You only have one other player to chase down that shank and it’s very difficult to “book it” in the sand. Plus, if you keep shanking it, you might get a little hostility from your winded partner.

“I used to hate playing sand volleyball because it’s so hard. But, I can’t believe how much it has helped my indoor game. I feel more confident passing and digging now because sand forced me to better at reading the hitter.” – player from my team.

5. Speed, Agility, Vertical: Think all that jumping and running and diving in the sand is for nothing? Play sand volleyball for a few weeks and then hit the gym. You will be more stable, moving quicker and jumping higher than you ever have!

6. Communication: With only 2 players, it’s either you or her. Blocking angle or line? Who’s taking this pass? Where does the set need to be? Sand volleyball is not like indoor, where you have a full team and system. You must constantly communicate with each other if you want to compete.

7. Killer workout: In the summer, I play sand volleyball just twice a week for 2-3 hours. I’d say I’m in pretty good shape, but by the time I get into the third hour, my legs are jell-o and my lungs are heavy. Plus, I googled it, and playing sand volleyball burns 500 calories/hour!

Indoor players: If you’re still reading this, thanks for sticking in there! In case you haven’t figured it out by now, all of the above points will improve your indoor game (ok, except the tan, that’s an added bonus). Timing, Shots, Ball Control – I’m always preaching about ball control to my players and sand volleyball is the ultimate training method to practice ball control – Communication.

So before, you dismiss sand volleyball as a game to played by beer-gutted neighbors at a block party, think about how much a few hours a week can improve your indoor game… and your figure.