• Switching sides in beach volleyball happens every 7 points.Beach volleyball image by YURY MARYUNIN from Fotolia.com
  
  The sport of beach volleyball has become more popular recently with tournaments around the country and appearing in the Olympics. Both women and men participate in this sport that takes place outdoors, on a sand court. Teams play with two players at a time, and while most rules for this discipline are the same as indoor volleyball, there are a few that are different. Switching sides in beach volleyball helps with an even match by giving players a chance to play on both sides of the court.
  
  

Coin Toss

• A coin toss takes place in the beginning of the match. The winner of the coin toss gets to decide what side her particular team wants and whether that team wants to start on defense or serve-receive. Players will switch sides on a referee's blow of the whistle indicating the time to switch sides. Players from each team will walk under the net to the opposite side immediately following the referee's whistle.
  
  

Points

• In official play, teams much switch sides of the court every 7 points in the first two sets. In the second set, teams will switch every 5 points. Sets are played to 21 points, unless there is a tie, in which case a team must win by two points. If a third set is needed, teams will play to 15 points with the same rule for ties.
  
  It doesn't matter how those 7 points are scored or how many points each team has earned. However, if a switch isn't made after every 7 points, the referee will call the switch as soon as the error has come to his attention.
  
  

Delays

• If a team delays the court switch by not being in their proper position when needed, that team could get a Delay Warning. If a second delay and any other delays after that happen, then that team will lose the rally.