Foot Volley is gaining grounds in Ghana
Executives of Ghana Foot Volley Association have 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 Saturday, 18th November 2017.
While in the country for three days, the Ghana Footvolley Association organised a clinic in Winneba in the Central Region and Borla Beach in Accra respectively.
Important issues were 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 on some strategic plans the association will adopt to develop the sport in other parts 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 overload at the centre.
According to the president, the association will partner the Ghana Education Service, Ministry of Water and Sanitation, Ministry of Tourism to embark on Foot volley outreach programme across the country and create environmental awareness programme in which they will educate 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 benefits of playing foot volley and staying in a clean environment,” he added.
He said Foot volley follows the basic rules of beach volleyball and the rules of ball touching from football. To put it simply, in foot volley 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 opponents. 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 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 foot volley. The game can be play on normal volley court, concrete floor, on normal football pitch. The game is inexpensive so everybody can play.
