As the 2016 Summer Olympics quickly approaches, all eyes will be on the beaches of Rio. Beach volleyball is one of the Summer Olympics newest and most anticipated events. While Brazil is one of the world’s best volleyball countries, they are mostly known for their skill in soccer. So it should come as no surprise that Brazil was the birthplace of a little known sport that combines the two.
Futevolei, or footvolley in english, is a hybrid of soccer and volleyball. Like in soccer, players cannot use their hands but instead use their heads, knees, chest, and feet to pass the ball over the net. Games are played on a regulation beach volleyball court on the sand with the same size net but using a soccer ball. Serves are kicked from the ground over the net to the other team. Many of the scoring rules are the same as volleyball except no hands are allowed. Matches are two vs two style. The sport takes great skill and produces some amazing physical feats. Players are forced to bend, twist, and jump in all directions to keep the ball alive. The most exciting shot is the footvolley version of the “spike.” Players leap in the air after being set up by a high pass and smash the ball down with their foot. This play known as a “shark attack,” can be very dangerous due to the fact that players will often land on their backs.
Footvolley was created on the beaches of Copacabana in Brazil in the 1960’s. Since then the sport has gained popularity all over the world. International competitions have grown to include a world cup competition. The U.S. has formed a professional tour and national championships. The sport is truly global with major competitions being held from Paraguay to Israel. This map shows the major hot spots for the sport as well as the birthplace in Copacabana Brazil.
The game is growing in popularity partly because it is cheap and accessible. Soccer is already the world’s most popular sport so it stands to reason that footvolley would be logical extension. The sport also offers a unique and fun way for soccer players to train and hone their skills. Many soccer players actually prefer footvolley because of the constant action, there are no dull moments and the ball is always moving.