No partner of your own? No problem – a beach volleyball camp without a fixed playing partner

You fancy playing beach volleyball, but you don't have anyone to hit the net with as a pair? That's exactly what our camps are made for. You arrive alone or as a pair, we group you by level, and on the very first training day you're in the sand with changing partners – no ready-made duo needed in your luggage.

Why is this even an issue in beach volleyball?

In indoor volleyball it's easy – you play six-a-side. But in beach volleyball there are only two players on court. That makes the sport so direct and communicative at the net, but in everyday life it creates a very practical hurdle: if you don't have a fixed playing partner, you often think a camp isn't for you. Many of our guests know the feeling from indoor volleyball, where a whole team comes along – on the beach, that natural connection is often simply missing.

How do you get into the game with us without a partner of your own?

Grouping starts before you arrive: you receive a player questionnaire in advance that helps us roughly assess your level. On the first training day our coaches take another quick look at how you move at the net and in reception, and then put you in a training group at a similar level for good. Within this group, the pairs keep changing throughout the week – one time you're playing with the wiry indoor player from Hamburg, the next with the guy who's only been playing on the beach since this spring.

Who is this especially interesting for?

Three groups especially often come to us without a fixed pair: indoor volleyball players who want to transfer their technique to fine sand but don't have a beach partner of their own; solo travellers who simply want to play rather than organise; and groups of friends with an odd number where one person would otherwise be left out. The same principle applies to all three: if you want to play, you get grouped in, not left out.

What is the social scramble on the first day?

At many locations, the so-called social scramble is on the programme right on arrival day: you play set by set with changing teammates, and after each set the teams are reshuffled. That way you get to know a lot of different players in a single afternoon – and afterwards you already have a good idea of who you'd like to keep playing and training with for the rest of the week. For everyone arriving without a partner, that's often the moment the camp week suddenly feels really easy.

Do I need a certain level for this?

No. Grouping by level makes sure you're neither overwhelmed nor underchallenged. Whether you're just switching from indoor to the beach or have already played a few tournaments – you'll end up in a group where your level matches the pace of the others. That applies to our locations in Ravenna and Rimini on the Italian Adriatic just as much as to our Sunsation Beach camp in Gandía on Spain's Costa del Azahar or our camp in Durrës on the Albanian Riviera.

Does this change my training too?

Yes, and for the better: because you play with different partners over the course of the week, you automatically get different perspectives on reception, setting and defence. A fixed partner matters for tournaments at home – at camp, you learn faster when you keep adjusting to someone new. Our coaches deliberately guide this rotation instead of just letting you play "somewhere".

Does grouping by level turn it into a performance training camp?

No, quite the opposite. Top coaches, nice people, small groups and a chilled atmosphere remain the core of our camps – grouping by level simply makes sure nobody is overwhelmed or underchallenged at the net. It's about everyone being able to play, not about who has the best stats at the end.

Frequently asked questions

Do I absolutely need my own playing partner to join a camp?

No. You can sign up on your own, and we'll put you in a suitable training group based on your level.

How do you find out what level I am?

First through a player questionnaire that you receive before arrival. On the first training day our coaches also take a quick look at your basics in reception, setting and attacking and then place you for good.

What is the social scramble on the first day?

A format where you play set by set with changing teammates. That way, on the very first day you get to know lots of different people you can keep playing with during the week.

Will I play with the same person all week?

No, within your level group the partners change over the week so you get to know different playing styles.

Is this also suitable for former indoor players with no beach experience yet?

Yes, that's actually one of the most common starting points. The basic technique is similar, and we'll specifically practise the switch to sand, wind and playing as a pair with you.

Can I still travel and play together with my partner?

Of course, that works just as well. You can sign up as a fixed duo or – depending on your level – be placed in different groups now and then.

Conclusion

Not having a playing partner isn't a reason to miss out with us – it's the normal case our camps are set up for. You come as you are – alone, as a pair or as an odd-numbered group – and go home with several new playing partners and a better feel for playing as a duo. You'll find all camps and dates on volleytours.com/en/camps-events.

come as a player, leave as a friend