This review is based on the Monday Beginner's Beach Clinics from 6PM-8PM…read more
I enjoy the beginner's beach clinic on Mondays. I first did a drop in, paid $25 via venmo. Then registered via their website and brought a class pass which came with some of a discount. I was uncertain if I would make it as I've been super tired after the work days, but after the warmups, I'm glad I did it.My first experience, I remember thinking, "Why did I decide to do this?!" Granted that I was also very out of shape after the holidays.
There's area specifically lit for sand volleyball and a area with 3 benches along with a table under a gazebo. Parking is plentiful even if it's crowded as there's areas in the front that you can park, just have a tiny bit more steps to walk. There is a area for you to rinse your feet next to the building by the sand courts. The bathrooms are in the front lobby inside. From this last Monday, 2/28, I believe they're doing construction so you may have to walk to the way left, go under the volleyball net areas next to the wall, turn in to your right twice and you should find the double doors leading to their lobby area.
Coach Keenan checks everyone in when it's around 6PM, to make sure payments are all received. If you get missed, check in with him. Everyone can bump and throw the ball in the beginning. Then Coach Mandy usually brings everyone in for a circle to introduce herself and Coach Keenan before brining everyone else's names. Then the warmups begin. You don't necessarily need to do all of them, but it's good to do majority to warm up before the drills.
Structure that Rebecca Y mentioned in her review is approximate from 5/10/21: warm ups, passing drills, setting drills, hitting drills, serving drills, serving games, then king of the mountain (two on two).
The drills can also differ from each week. Some days we only concentrated on two portions. For example, this past Monday, 2/28/22, they concentrated on passing and hitting drills mainly.
King of the mountain is two on two ratio. Two people play together on one side (A) as a team and two other people play as a team on the other side (B) to challenge. The B side are basically the challengers. If the people on the B side score a point, then the people from the A side come off and go on line to challenge. The winners go to the A side, and then the next group of 2 go on the B size to challenge. You usually have to keep track of the amount of points you get before you get elevated to the next court or go down to the next court (there are 3 courts in total, so dependent on which court you're randomly selected to).
Prior to the clinic, I was attending the beach volleyball meetup Volleyballers which take place on Sunday. I got frustrated with not being able to pass to my teammates during the game because I swung out of habit. After joining the clinic, I've gotten a bit better to not swinging out of habit, to instead use my legs (like my meetup teammates have constantly advised me on) to set the ball. Some of the newer drills like on the final and 3rd step, with your back, calculate to hit the ball, or the pokey (the knuckle tap hit), or serving overhand are areas I'm working on. I've had very positive sessions with other attendees, and always feel like I'm learning. Practice makes perfect!
So suggestion for anyone curious, check out the class via drop in to see if this fits what you're looking for.
Keep in mind some things:
-There is no social distancing as it's a sport. When playing together, there's not much you can do to social distance. But on the perk side, you're outside instead of indoors.
-This is a beginner's clinic, not a private group class, so don't think you would get helped on everything. The coaches do demonstrations and give tips when they're nearby you. If you have a question, you can go up and ask them.
-Because it's a beginner's clinic, and if you're new, don't feel bad for not being able to hit the ball up, or feeling so behind everyone. The main reason there are attendees to this clinic is because we all want to improve/work on something. Some have been coming for months, some are more athletic than others. Don't compare yourself. Everyone has to start somewhere.
It does get chilly during the evenings in Jan-March as the clinic is from 6pm-8pm. Would suggest getting sand socks so your feet don't get super ice cold. I got mines off of Amazon. For drinks, water or a electrolyte drink should be helpful. I find the electrolyte drinks (Propel) to be nice as I break out in a sweat and I'm losing the walk through the sweat. A towel is optional if you wanted to rinse your feet and wipe off the sand.
And once again, this is solely my opinion/views from my experience. You're entitled to your own.