Olympic Beach Volleyball Clothing Requirements

Beach volleyball in the Olympics has been a recent addition to the games. Both men and women play this sport on sand courts outside. The fast-paced game can be exciting and fun to watch. The International Federation of Volleyball oversees Olympic volleyball and decides the rules and regulations. While it may not look like there's much to a uniform in beach volleyball, the FIVB has laid out some ground rules for competitions.

  1. Uniform

    • Players must have matching uniforms. For men, this includes shorts and shirts if necessary. Women must have matching bathing suits. Players also must be barefoot while playing. These uniforms must be matching colors when players are in an official competition. They must also be clean.

    Numbers

    • The numbers 1 and 2 must be on each uniform and each player must have one or the other on his uniform. These numbers need to appear on the chest of each shirt or the front of each bathing suit. If the men aren't wearing shirts, the number needs to be placed on the shorts. Each number has to be a contrasting color to the rest of the uniform. The number must be at least 3.94 inches high and the stripe making up the number has to be at least 0.6 inches wide.

    Changes and Violations

    • A referee may authorize the change of a uniform if the jerseys have become wet or each team has arrived in matching jerseys. If both teams come in matching jerseys, a coin toss will take place and whichever team loses the toss must change into different uniforms before the start of the game. A referee may also authorize the use of shoes and socks if a player has requested it.

      Players must wear uniforms with their official numbers. Players may also wear sunglasses at their own discretion. Objects that may cause harm to players during play may not be worn. These objects include obstructive jewelry, casts and pins.