When we talk about beach volleyball players the main factor which is argued the most is height, but few actually discuss players weight which is also a very important factor…
Indeed, if a player is (for example) overweight, then he would find it hard to yield the necessary pace and to execute moves that require high level of athleticism.
In this article I breakdown the perfect weight range for both male and female players and how weight can play a role deciding your future in the sport.
Perfect weight range for male beach volleyball players.
Male players in both indoor and beach volleyball have approximately the same average body weight.
A study that has been conducted throughout the period of six years (2000-2006), on 625 male and 617 female players has shown some interesting results …
The male average height was 193 centimeters (6”3), with the average weight of 88-89 kilograms (186 pounds). The average BMI was 23.8-24.1, while the average age range was 29-31 years.
We can see here that the weight is proportionate to the athlete’s height. For instance, if a player has the height of 190 centimeters (6”2), he would weight on average about 85-86 kilograms (189 pounds).
If a player has a height of about 185 centimeters (6”0), it would be best for him to weight 80-81 kilograms (178 pounds). The difference is four to five kilograms, according to height for male players.
Quick Recommendation: To learn more about the attribute requirements for beach volleyball, I highly invite you to check this complete resource. There are some elements that even amateur and semi-pro players don’t know about.
Perfect weight range for female beach volleyball players?
The same result of the research that was conducted during the period of six years (2000-2006) has taken samples form 617 female players.
The female players had an average height of 177-179 centimeters (5”8), the average weight of 66-68 kilograms (170 pounds), a BMI of 19.2-21.1 and an average age range from 27-29 years.
Here we can see the difference between male and female players. The difference is obvious. Female players unlike their male counterparts have a lower weight to height ratio of 9 to 11 kilograms, which is more than 50% higher than males.
Important Tip: If you are an amateur and not used to hot sand while practicing, the you definitely need to use sand socks. They will also give you a more stability and strength when jumping which would results in better performance overall. For example, these quality sand socks are reliable and will help in that regard.
Is player weight a criteria in beach volleyball recruiting guidelines?
There are no strict weight criteria when it comes to playing beach volleyball.
For an overweight beginner player, the sport can be a tool in helping him get slimmer, but a slightly overweight player that knows the game can be accepted from a coach, the weight can always be regulated later.
Semi-professional players are not required to be slim or in the boundaries of the average weight, but you will rarely see any overweight players, because they practice regularly, and if they have a professional career in mind, they will have a healthy died as well.
That does not mean that in the lower ranked games there are not any overweight players that play well. They might stumble upon some setbacks because of their weight, but if they have a semi-professional career in mind, it is unlikely that they will stay overweigh.
Even if they do not have a career in mind, the weight will be regulated with enough practice.
You can learn about how most sand volleyball players stay in shape …
Does beach volleyball help lose weight?
Absolutely, beach volleyball is one of the most effective ways to lose weight. It may not seem that way, but it is one of the most effective ways for sure!
Beach volleyball is played, as we all know, on the beach, on a sandy court. The sand plays a major role for overweight people because it restricts movement to some extent which push them to yield even more effort, thus burning even more fat. That alone can help overweight people lose some weight.
When we combine the sand that restricts the movement with the nature of beach volleyball we get a perfect formula for losing weight.
Beach volleyball requires speed, agility and a sense of competitiveness that is why it is the perfect sport for overweight people.
One more ingredient that is good for beach volleyball is the sun. The sun and its heat helps you sweat a lot. The sweat helps releasing water and salt (which traps water in the organism), and the human body can trap a lot of water inside it.
Throughout sweating you will lose body mass, but the fat is burnt away by burning calories, meaning that you need to play beach volleyball extensively and mix it with other disciplines like, running, swimming and occasional gym activities.
Is it Ok to play beach volleyball being Fat?
You can play beach volleyball if you are overweight any time. Beach volleyball is a friendly sport for all shapes and sizes, every man can play beach volleyball if he wants. For overweight people however, this could be a little bit challenging!
So, it is OK to play beach volleyball if you are overweight, but do not be shy or demoralized by your shape and size, no matter what it is. Round up some friends, go to the beach, take a ball and start playing.
If you like it, you can always join a local volleyball club for regular practices and an even better chance of losing weight.
What attributes and moves are impacted the most being overweight?
Stamina
The first attribute that can be impacted is stamina. It is a key factor for any sport and as such it plays a big role when it comes to the overall gameplay and proper execution of moves.
Being overweight can have a big impact on your stamina. Your weight will use up a substantial portion of your stamina just to keep you going.
Your weight will have an impact on your endurance and stamina, as well as on your cardio levels.
Explosiveness
The second attribute that can be impacted by your weight is explosiveness. Being overweight has a negative effect on the explosiveness of players.
Your explosiveness will diminish with every additional pound you have. Your performance may get sluggish and dull.
Explosiveness is tightly in line with stamina. Without enough stamina you cannot be explosive enough and your reaction time will also be slowed down. Being overweight carries a heavy price in beach volleyball, if one factor is impacted seriously, then all factors will be impacted, just like a chain reaction.
Jumping
Jumping is a key factor in beach volleyball. Without the ability to jump you cannot execute moves like spiking and front blocking!
That does not mean that you cannot jump at all, but for beach volleyball, that will not be enough.
Hitting
Hitting is tightly connected with the ability to jump high enough. If you cannot jump high enough you cannot perform a proper hit.
Final Thoughts …
If you are a beginner, then don’t really pay too much attention to your weight in the first couple weeks or even months of practice …
You might even notice that within that initial period your weight will get regulated by its own without doing anything intentionally.
However, if you notice after several months that you are still overweight, then at that time you might check with your coach on what should be done to lower that slowly and steadily.
Finally, I think you will definitely find this article on why beach volleyball players are shiny very interesting …