The game of beach volleyball has been much more popular than the indoor version in recent years. While beach volleyball and indoor volleyball share the same basic rules, they do have a few differences. Below are the main differences between beach volleyball and indoor volleyball.
Summary Table
| Beach Volleyball | Indoor Volleyball |
| Played on the beach | Played indoors |
| Tends to be versatile | Tends to be regulated |
| Power-oriented game | Fast-paced and skill-based game |
Definitions
Beach volleyball is played on a sandy beach using a small ball made of PVC. It is played by both men and women and it is an individual sports game. The players don’t wear any protective gear and they are allowed to use their hands, feet, hips, knees and head during the game.
Indoor volleyball is a popular sport in many countries outside of United States. It was developed to be played indoors as opposed to the beach volleyball. Indoor Volleyball is also played by both men and women using a large ball made of rubber.
Beach Volleyball vs Indoor Volleyball
Beach volleyball is played on sand or hard ground, with two teams of 6 players each. The beach variation was developed in the 1950s by the U.S. Navy as a game to be played on the beach, and is now a popular recreational sport in many countries.
Indoor volleyball is a game played by two teams of 6 players each on a volleyball court with wood floors and walls reinforced with steel beams or cables at both ends. It has been played in different forms since the mid-19th century, and is now one of the most popular indoor sports worldwide.
Beach volleyball players have to wear different clothes compared to indoor volleyball players. The most common difference is that beach volleyball players wear bathing suits, while the indoor volleyball players wear shorts and T-shirts. Another difference between them is that beach volleyball is played in water, while indoor volleyball games are played on a court.
In beach volleyball, the playing area is a rectangle whose sides are not straight and are concave. The net is made of a large number of holes that allow the ball to pass through freely.
While in indoor volleyball, some sections of the net are made from steel while others are made from mesh to ensure that no ball is allowed to go through them. The playing arena for the indoor game is normally a rectangle, which is divided into four quarter-segments by cross-walls and team walls.
Both of these sports require a great deal of endurance as well as agility. You will find that the beach volleyball is a more power-orientated game while indoor volleyball is more fast paced and skill based with less power and force.
You can play beach volleyball on a beautiful sandy beach or any other wetland area with lots of sand. In contrast, indoor volleyball doesn’t make you worry about getting sunburnt or skin cancer since you’re playing the game indoors.
