Endurance Volley: When to Pace, When to Push, and the Case for the Easy Point

Beach volleyball is anything but an endurance sport. Unless you're 48, at a beach volleyball camp with two training sessions before 1pm every day, and the week ends with a full-day tournament you actually want to win. This is how I pace myself, when I push, and why I'll keep playing the ball over on the first touch, even when it makes people angry.

Photo: Sunset Beach

A month ago I was at a Sunset Beach camp, and I've been writing this post in my head ever since. I call the approach Endurance Volley. One of my opponents had a few other words for it on Saturday. We'll get to that.

The Problem: Camps Are Built for 25-Year-Olds

A typical camp day: morning session, short break, second session, lunch. Then (if you're anything like me) "just a few games" in the afternoon because the sun is out and the courts are free.

At 25 you can do that for seven days straight. At 48 you can do it for about three, and then your calf, shoulder or lower back sends a very clear message.

So I set myself two goals for the week:

1. Don't Get Injured

An injury on day three ruins the rest of the week, and possibly the next two months of your season.

2. Have Energy for Saturday

The camp ended with a full-day local tournament. I wanted to arrive with legs, not leftovers.

Everything else came second, including looking good in drills.

When to Pace Yourself

Pacing isn't being lazy. It's choosing where your jumps go.

Chase quality, not volume, in drills. If the drill is 20 approach-and-swing reps, I do 12 at full intensity and the rest at a controlled tempo, focusing on footwork and arm swing rather than height.
Skip (most of) the extra afternoon games. The hardest one. Pickup games are half the reason I go to camps, but two hours on top of two morning sessions is where most of my old injuries came from.
Warm up and cool down. Every time. Ten minutes before, ten minutes after. Boring. Effective.
Sleep, water, food. Two sessions before 1pm burns energy fast. Real breakfast, more water than you think you need.
Don't dive for balls you can't reach in training. It teaches you nothing new and costs you a lot.

When to Push

Pacing only works if you know when to stop pacing.

The Last Reps of the Day

Fatigue meets technique. That's where good habits get built, or broken.

What You Came to Fix

For me it was my first touch in reception. Full focus there, every session.

Tournament Day

Everything else in the week was preparation for it.

Saturday: Losing, and "Prison Volley"

My partner for the week was Robin, a French player I'd trained with every day. By Saturday we understood each other's game.

Our elimination match was against a Spanish team. We lost the first set. In the second set we were behind again, one bad run away from packing our bags.

This is where Endurance Volley turned into something more useful. I also call it Prison Volley, because it's a little dirty.

Twice in the middle of that second set, on our first sideout touch, I bumped the ball straight back over the net. No set, no attack. Just a controlled first-touch ball into the open space while their defence was still getting into position.

Both times it worked.

Two points don't sound like much. But in a set you're losing, they change everything. They break the other team's rhythm, make them hesitate on every serve, and give your own team a reason to believe.

We won the second set. Then we won the third.

After the match, one of the Spanish guys shook my hand, looked me straight in the eye and said:

"F*** you."

Why Is the Easy Point Frowned Upon?

I get part of it. At a camp, the whole point is to learn the game, and the game is built on three touches: pass, set, attack. If you play everything over on one or two, you never practise the part you came to improve. In drills and practice games I'd never do it, and I'd be annoyed with a partner who did.

But a tournament isn't a drill.

The Case For It

It's legal. The rules let you play the ball over on any contact.
It's a skill. Reading an out-of-position defence and placing a first-touch ball under pressure takes ball control and game sense.
It costs almost no energy. No approach, no jump, no landing. That matters in your fourth match of the day.
It punishes a weakness. If a team leaves the court open, that's their problem to solve.
Everyone in the bracket wants to win. We just found a way that day.

The Fair Point Against It

If it's all you do, you're not really playing beach volleyball, and you'll stop getting better. Use it as a weapon, not a crutch. And never in drills.

So, to my Spanish friend: I understand the frustration. Losing to two touches when you were winning on three hurts. But next time, maybe keep someone home.

My Endurance Volley Rules

If you're over 40, or just not 25 anymore, take these to your next camp week:

Decide your goal before day one. Learning, fitness or peaking for the final tournament: they need different pacing.
Treat drills as quality reps, not maximum reps.
Protect the end of the week. The best sessions are often the last ones. Arrive there healthy.
Always warm up. Always cool down.
In training, play three touches. In matches, play to win. Including the easy point.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it legal to play the ball over on the first or second touch?

Yes. In beach volleyball you can send the ball over on any of your three contacts. Just watch the handling rules: an open-hand tip (dink) is a fault, and a hand set over the net only counts if it travels perpendicular to your shoulder line. A controlled bump or a closed-fist poke is the safe choice.

How many sessions a day can I handle at a camp?

It depends on your age, fitness and goal. Most camps run one or two sessions a day. If you're older or coming off a long break, plan rest blocks between sessions and be selective about extra games, especially in the first half of the week.

How do I choose a camp that matches my energy level?

Check the training intensity. Camps range from relaxed holiday weeks to hardcore performance camps. On MyNextCamp you can filter by intensity and level before you book.

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See you on the beach. And if we meet across the net, keep someone home.