Beach Volleyball for Beach Coast Fans

By Robby Bearss

With the full heat of summer bearing down on The Beach Coast there is no better place to go than the beach and there is no better way to enjoy the beach than with some beach volleyball! The Beach Coast is not only known for having some of the best beaches along Lake Michigan but it also has some of the best beach volleyball courts around. Silver Beach in St. Joseph, MI, is not only an amazing beach but also has 16 volleyball courts! And here players will not have to worry about getting little cuts and bruises on their feet because these courts are groomed and cleaned twice a week. Silver Beach also hosts many amateur and professional tournaments throughout the summer. Washington Park in Michigan City, IN, also has great courts to play on this summer, along with several leagues. From six-on-six co-ed recreation leagues to four-on-four advanced leagues, players will find no trouble finding a league that fits their skill level.

Tournaments
This summer there are plenty of beach volleyball tournaments along The Beach Coast. This includes many professional tournaments that are fun and exciting for the spectators and players. This fourth of July weekend don’t miss out on the annual Pro-am Beach Volleyball Tourney and Beach Jam in Michigan City. Players from all over the Midwest come and test their skills against one another in Washington Park and this is one of the highlighted stops on the Pro-Am tour, because of its great fourth of July atmosphere. Silver Beach is also playing host to a great tournament this summer called “Serve a Cure” hosted by Relay for Life. This tournament is July 30th  and has three different divisions for players of all skill levels. This event provides a great chance to have some fun under the sun while contributing to cancer research.   

Away from the Beach



If the drive to the beach is too far and you still have the itch to play beach volleyball, well, you’re in luck. There are many sand volleyball leagues in the cities too. One league that is very popular in the Mishawaka, IN, area is hosted by Outpost Sports. This league is in the middle of Mishawaka but holds league games almost every night of the week, from four-on-four to six-on-six. All leagues are co-ed and play under the lights. This is just one of many sand volleyball leagues for those who might be landlocked and can’t make it to the beach for league play.

Let’s Get a Little Dirty



If the Beach and the sand are a little too clean for your liking maybe you can try your luck at the annual Jaycees Mud Volleyball Tournament. Each summer Hobart, IN, puts together a great fund-raiser for the St. Jude Children’s hospital. This provides a great chance for adults to get a little dirty and bring out the little kid in them. This event has it all from mud volleyball to live music and even a beer garden for those participants over the age of 21. You won’t want to miss out on this tournament and you can have fun and feel great about participating because it’s for such a great cause.

Enjoy the Summer
There are plenty of ways to enjoy the beach this summer and beach volleyball has always been a favorite. With all of the amazing courts and leagues to choose from this summer it’s not hard to get involved and get some great exercise. For more information about these leagues and beaches, check out the links below!

Jaycees Mud Volleyball Tournament
112 E. Old Ridge Dr.
Hobart,  IN
HJCJWATTS@GMAIL.COM
www.hobartjaycees.com

Outpost Summer Beach Volleyball
3602 N. Grape Road
Mishawaka, IN
(574) 276-9795
www.outpostsports.com

Serve a Cure Silver Beach
St. Joseph, MI
(269) 697-5070
www.berriencounty.org

Pro-am Beach Volleyball Tournament
Washington Park Beach
Michigan City, IN
www.evptour.com
mcsummerfest.org

Robby Bearss is from a small town in Indiana called Wakarusa. Currently he is a junior at Ball State University. He is majoring in Telecommunications and minoring in Creative Writing.