Footvolley is expected to add another flavor to Ghanaian sports
The executives of Ghana Footvolley Association held their first meeting after barely three weeks that Mr. Luis Gomes the president of World Footvolley Federation came to Ghana purposely for the development of the sport at the Accra Sports Stadium on the Saturday 18th November, 2017.
While in the country for three days, the Ghana Footvolley Association organized a clinic in Winneba in the Central Region and Borla Beach in Accra respectively.
Important issues was raised by the President of Association Mr. Mustapha Mohammed who is pursuing a course in health, physical education, recreation and sports at the University of Education, Winneba About some strategic plans the association will adopt to develop the sport in other part of regions.
Mustapha Mohammed said they are making the sport accessible to Ghanaians and the association has initiated a developmental plan which they named “3 seconds to 3 years agenda”.
He expressed that the association will register new clubs and pave way for the formation of regional coordinators in order to reduce work over load at the center.
According to the president, the association will partner the Ghana Education Service, Ministry of Water and Sanitation, Ministry of Tourism to embark on Footvolley Outreach programme across the country and create environmental awareness program in which they will educate the children and youth staying close to the beaches or coastal communities to protect the environment by keeping the beach clean through our clean beach Ghana initiative. “We will let the children and the youth understand the benefit of playing footvolley and staying in a clean environment” he added.
He said Footvolley follows the basic rules of beach volleyball and the rules of ball touching from football. To put it simply, in footvolley players are not allowed to touch the ball and a football replaces the volleyball.
The objective is to play the ball over the net, to the opponent’s side without letting the ball touch the ground on your side of the court.
The game is played with 2 players on each side and begins when a player serves the ball to their opponent. Service must take place from behind the baseline and the ball has to end up over the net, using only the player’s foot. The player is allowed to build a small hill and place the ball atop it to allow her to kick it more easily.
On the receiving end, the player can receive using her feet, thighs, chest, shoulders or head with the chest being the favoured option due to a wider contact area. This is known as the first touch after the service.
For the second touch, the player can either pass to someone else on her side to allow for a more efficient attack or go right ahead or play the ball back at the opponent.
After the opponent attack the ball, the goal is not let the ball hit the floor on your side. That’s why it is important for players to communicate with one another, position yourself correctly and to anticipate the attack.
One doesn’t need beach or sand to start playing footvolley. The game can be play on normal volley court, concrete floor, on normal football pitch. The game is inexpensive so everybody can play.
