By Leo Keegan

June 26th, 2016. Was it just another day?

Before we answer that, let’s flashback to April 2th, 1995. It was the start of a 3-year period in which Sinjin Smith did not play an AVP tournament. One significant factor was Sinjin was working to grow beach volleyball internationally, playing and supporting the FIVB. And because of that, Sinjin Smith was persona non grata on the AVP. Imagine that, the most influential male beach volleyball player of all time was not playing on US soil.

But time heals all wounds, and on August 24th 2001 at the Manhattan Beach Open Sinjin was celebrated as one of the game’s greatest players of all time as he played in his last AVP tournament (finishing 9th) and retired. All of the past tension and conflict was just that -- in the past.

How many more fans would beach volleyball have if Sinjin had played in AVP tournaments during those years between 1995 and 1998? How many more battles between Randy Stoklos, his former...

Can you tell me what you think is the most important position in baseball? For most, I'd expect the answer to be pitcher. History would say you're correct. So why is it so obvious that pitching is the most critical element of building a baseball team, but serving in beach volleyball is so routinely ignored? Or, if not ignored, not prioritized? 

Serving is no different than pitching. It's the only closed loop skill in the game, meaning you have control from start to finish. You control where you serve from, what kind of serve you're hitting, where you want to hit, what kind of toss you want to use. 

It's also...

Today we introduce to you Olympic Gold Medalist and Beach Volleyball Super Coach, Rich Lambourne

Come to one of our 7 Day Training Camps! 

Every 7 Day Training Camp Booking Includes:

• 7 Nights accommodations according to camp dates. Sunday to Sunday.
• 30+ Hours of Instruction and Training.
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• Introductions to current professional beach volleyball players.
• Practice matches.
• Sit court-side at AVP and FIVB World Tour practices!
• One Full video analysis session.
• Chance to enter local tournaments when available.
• Discounts at partner restaurants.
• Camp t-shirt, lanyard, water bottle, backpack, giveaways and prizes!
• Local knowledge, outings and more!!!

https://www.volleycamphermosa.com/7-day-training-camps/

Coach Donny Hui just interviewed beach volleyball pro Mark Burik on YouTube show, THE DIG.  Mark is a professional beach volleyball player (AVP and FIVB World Tours), an athletic performance trainer, entrepreneur, and beach volleyball coach, as founder of VolleyCamp Hermosa and Better at Beach.com.

“Learn about Mark’s story of going from a serious baseball player, to picking up volleyball in college on a club team, to walking onto a Division 1 program, to becoming a professional volleyball player,” Coach Donny says. “Mark provides insights into his thought processes and work ethic that will inspire you to achieve your own goals!  Feel free to share this video with your friends to inspire them as well.”

Take it to the next level: Learn about our 7-day beach volleyball training camps.

We also have awesome online training tools and eBooks to elevate your game into greatness.

Transcript of The Dig #6 – Coach Donny’s...

There are, essentially, three major shots and swings in beach volleyball. There's the hard swing angle, which is essentially everyone's default swing in beach volleyball. Then there's the high line, which is typically option No. 2 after the hard swing to the angle. 

Then there's the cut shot. 

The cut shot is at once a lower percentage shot than a high line -- there's less room to make it a great shot -- and also one of the tougher shots to dig for the same reason. There isn't much room for the defender to dig it well. It's a skilled shot...

When you love beach volleyball and you’re overdue for a vacation by the sea, might as well combine the two and make dreams come true. The best destinations deliver thrilling beach volleyball action and soul-satisfying scenery, which is one of the hallmarks of a great vacation. So where to go?

Beach volleyball can obviously be played anywhere you can find sand and a net. In the 2012 Olympic Games held in London, approximately 4,000 tons of sand were trucked into a 15,000-seat stadium for the beach volleyball event. But there’s nothing quite like a beach volleyball destination with a stunning ocean view.

If you’re going to take vacation time to play beach volleyball, might as well travel where the action is at its best and the scenery is most beautiful. With these goals in mind, we’ve rounded up the Top 10 Beach Volleyball Destinations throughout the world. Each of these destinations offers the best beach volleyball you can find on the planet, amid...

You don't always need a full team to practice against in beach volleyball. Sometimes, as is the case with this drill for serving and defense in volleyball, you only need a ball, and one other partner. 

Below, we describe the serve, dig, set, retreat transition drill. 

Serve, Dig, Set, Retreat, Transition Drill

This drill is excellent for just you and a partner, or you and a coach. 

In order to play defense, the server needs to serve to a specific spot. That way, we can start getting into a game rhythm with only two people on the court. This not only helps with the efficiency of...

Hand setting in volleyball can be a challenge until you’ve mastered proper technique.

We clock a lot of hours every month coaching beach volleyball and it turns out there are 7 common mistakes players make again and again in their hand sets. Overcoming these 7 deadly sins on the court can make the difference between crushing it in a match or getting crushed. 

To help, we’ve put together this video demonstrating the 7 deadly sins of volleyball hand setting, but more importantly, proper technique that puts you in charge of the volleyball – and ultimately the court. So don’t be the player with “dainty lady” hands, or a slapper. A balloon catcher, or ol’ “crab hands.”

Be sure to check out our other beach volleyball training videos for coaching tips from pro volleyball players. Lots of good stuff to learn and review. You’ll find great volleyball drills and clear, entertaining explanations on how to do everything...

Defense in beach volleyball can get a little weird sometimes. If you were to ask someone the fundamentals of how to play defense, they'd respond, almost immediately, with: use both hands. 

"If you can use one, you can use both," is the old adage from coaches. 

While they have a point -- if you can use two hands, we do recommend you to use both, as it will result in cleaner, more accurate digs -- there are also situations where you can't use both arms or hands. If you're on the run, chasing down a high line shot, sometimes you can...