Chicago beach volleyball, where the action is!

One could argue that nowhere in Chicago is there more action, activity and energy than on the beaches of Chicago when volleyball is played.

And right now? In the prime of our Chicago summer, the volleyball courts are busier than ever.

Have you walked by? Driven by? Maybe just heard the noise thundering from any one of hundreds of courts? It is truly mesmerizing. Even if you are not a player, maybe just a fan or passerby, you can’t help but be caught up in the energy and enthusiasm.

Oak Street Beach and North Avenue Beach are by far the biggest of the volleyball venues, sporting numerous courts–and if it is a nice day, you can be sure volleyball is being played in large numbers at these two locations. Weekdays, weekends, mornings, afternoons, evenings—you name it, the game waits for no one. If there is an open court to be had, it isn’t open for long before it is filled.

There are a variety of different types of gamesbeing played.  You will see games of standard six versus six, but other variations apply as well. Five on five, four on four, three on three, and even some games where mass confusion reigns supreme. Sometimes there are as many as nine or 10 on a side.

Read More on Chicago Star

• No passport needed: World Fair US brings culture & cuisine to Bridgeview this July
• Chicago Star kicks off summer in style at Mariano’s Lakeshore East
• Whale, that’s a first! Shedd Aquarium makes waves with historic beluga surgery
• From Playboy Bunny to museum exhibit: 'Candid' Candace Jordan's journey to Chicago History Museum

Keep an eye out, particularly, for the two-versus-two players.  These athletes are truly amazing!  Typically, the best of the best playthe two-man game, and they are incredible to watch.

You almost have to play the game a bit to truly appreciate how difficult thetwo-person gameis. In a nutshell, the big difference from indoor volleyball is playing on the sand. Theweather conditions (sun, wind, etc.) are secondary to the difficulty of playingout of the sand. 

Again, unless you have done it before, it is hard to imagine how tough it is to move and jump in the sand. The players whocover an entire court?  With just two of them and having to run, dive, move laterally, and jump all out of the sand?  Suffice it to say,that’s a really high degree of difficulty, and they are terrifically conditioned athletes.

There are open courts for play at almost all times of the day during the summer months. You can join a game as an individual, come with a small group, or bring your own team looking for competition. Usually, there are fellow competitors looking for a game as well.

Also, huge in beach volleyball are the social leagues: co-ed teams that compete on weekdaysare organized by schedules and league directors. These teams come out in huge numbers, all with different-colored jerseys, and will fill up dozens of courts during seasonal play. It is when these leagues are going on that beach volleyball may be its most visually spectacular.

The two biggest social leagues are The Chicago Sport and Social Club (chicagosocial.com) and Players Sports (playerssports.net). They have spring, summer, and early fall leagues, and teams can sign up, or players can sign up as individuals and be put on a team.

While you see all ages out on the courts,it is a young person’s game.  The 20- to 38-year-old demographic predominates, and the “singles scene” is definitely part of the experience.

Many relationships have started on the beach volleyball courts.  New friends, new partners, early-stage dating, mid-stage dating, late-stage dating, even marriages are part of the tradition! Throw in some rough break-ups, unrequited love, unsavory affairs, and one-time hook-ups, and you start to get an idea of the “other side” of the beach volleyball game.

You really want to watch the best of the best play? The truly elite? On Labor Day weekend, the AVP Tour will be right here on Chicago's own Oak Street Beach, so keep an eye out for more information. (Visit avp.com for details).