Play volleyball, indoors or on the beach
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A team gets three touches to send the ball back over the net, and the ball must be hit, never caught. Clubs run coached beginners' blocks indoors and on sand, and some city leagues help players without a team find one.
ModerateUnder £100 / $130A few weeksIndoors or outWith othersUK and US
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What you learn
Volleyball England describes three forms. Indoor volleyball is six a side, played in sports halls or on grass, on an official court of 18 by 9 metres (59 by 29.5 feet). Beach volleyball is played outdoors on sand. Sitting volleyball puts disabled and non-disabled players, men and women, on court side by side.
The basic rules come first. A team has at most three touches before the ball goes back over the net, and the ball must be hit rather than caught.
Beginners' blocks are coached. Richmond Volleyball in London runs a five-week block for adults new to the game. SideOut's beach training in Leyton, east London, is for beginners and intermediates, who sign up individually and are allocated to groups of at most 10.
Ways in compared
| Where | Format | Cost (as last listed) |
|---|---|---|
| Richmond Volleyball, London | Indoor; five-week coached block for adult beginners, Fridays 6pm to 7.50pm (June to July 2026 run) | £60 for the block |
| SideOut, Leyton, London | Beach; weekly 90-minute coached session for beginners and intermediates; club membership required | £59 a month, or £14 a single session (April to August 2026 run; £12 a session in the October 2026 run) |
| Town of Gilbert, Arizona | Co-ed indoor league; nine weeks, seven games and a play-off tournament; upper and lower leagues | $375 a team, referees included |
| City of Boise, Idaho | Co-ed sand league, four a side; power, competitive and recreational divisions; 16 and over | $174 a team, plus $20 non-resident fee |
City leagues take teams, so players without one can join Gilbert's free-agent list, which team managers use to find players. In the US, USA Volleyball advises that your region is the first call with membership questions.
How to start
- Use Volleyball England's club finder in England, or call your USA Volleyball region in the US, and ask which clubs run adult beginners' sessions.
- Choose indoor (six a side in a sports hall) or beach (on sand), and book a short coached block before joining a league.
- If you have no team for a city league, ask about the free-agent list, which managers use to fill places.
Where to go
- Volleyball England: volleyball for beginners, with the club finder UK
- Richmond Volleyball: adult beginner sessions (London) UK
- USA Volleyball: ways to play US
- City of Boise: co-ed summer sand volleyball league (Idaho) US
We opened these links on 11 November 2026 and found them to be what we say. Dates, places and prices are on the official page, where they stay up to date.
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Plan it with dates
Pick a day, or a month, and we will set out how to get ready, step by step, with a date and a reason for each. Courses and classes have start dates and can fill up, so the plan begins with finding and booking one. Kit comes after the first session, once you know what you need.
Questions people ask
How do I start playing volleyball as an adult?
Look for a club's adult beginners' block. In England, Volleyball England's club finder searches by postcode; Richmond Volleyball's five-week block for new adults cost £60 as last listed.
How big is a volleyball court?
Volleyball England gives an official indoor court as 18 by 9 metres (59 by 29.5 feet).
Can I join a volleyball league without a team?
Often, yes. The Town of Gilbert, Arizona, runs a free-agent form for adult leagues, and team managers use the list to add players.
How much does beach volleyball training cost?
At SideOut in Leyton, London, coached beach sessions cost £59 a month or £14 a single session as last listed, and players need club membership.
Where this comes from: Volleyball England, Volleyball for beginners – how do I start playing?; Volleyball England, Play volleyball; Richmond Volleyball, Adult beginner volleyball summer sessions; SideOut, Beach volleyball beginners training; USA Volleyball, Play; USA Volleyball, Membership FAQ; Town of Gilbert, Adult volleyball leagues; City of Boise, Co-ed summer sand volleyball league; Volleyball England, Stalwarts call time on NVL careers. Opened 11 November 2026.
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