It’s not just about hugging the first person you see

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There are many things that separate pros from all other beach volleyball players like technique, experience, sponsors to mention but a few. One of the main indicators that says ‘Hey, I’m a pro, this is my job’ is the way they win. Everything is bigger when it comes to pros. Here are the steps we’ve outlined to help you work on your win game:

Step 1:  Perform the ‘calm fist-in-air pump’ before the final match point.

To perform this fist pump correctly you must remember that it is much calmer than the usual fist pump associated with winning. It is like the winning fist pump but with classical music playing in the background.

Yasss. Go get it girl. Photocredit: Martin Steinthaler

Step 2:  After scoring match point and winning – SCREAM!

Don’t hold back. No timid, quiet, mousy screams – this scream demands to be heard. This scream signifies total elation, that cloud nine has been reached and that your vocals are still in working order.

That’s what I’m talking about. Photocredit: Mihai Stetcu

Step 3:  Hug the nearest person you see

Even if it’s not your partner…

Sometimes after that last point has been scored, you can’t see your partner immediately, but you have all this joy that needs to be shared, that needs to be expressed. It doesn’t matter. Just hug the person closest to you, in your vicinity, worry about who it is later, that is not important now.

Come and get it Marnin! Photocredit: Joerg Mitter

Step 4: Call your partner to come and celebrate with you

At this point you’ve realized that you’ve won. Tell them to get over to you immediately by calling out to them as dramatically as possible.

Get. Over. Here. Now. And let me hug you. Photocredit: Michael Kunkel

Step 5: Celebrate with your teammate

Tell your partner in a high-pitched screamy voice that even though you sometimes fight with them, it doesn’t mean that you don’t love them and that you knew that you both could do it.  Then just continue screaming unintelligibly – the euphoria is just too great.

Aaaah! Photocredit: Martin Steinthaler

Step 6: Slow clap for yourself

This step is pretty self-explanatory, your teammate may have some obligatory hugs or interviews, but you still have some of the residual winning feeling circulating.

Thank you, thank you very much. Photocredit: Martin Steinthaler

Step 7:  Hug the other team

Guys, they wanted it as much as you, you know how the game works. It’s all about being great winners, and great winners recognize the other team’s hard work and endurance and appreciate the level of competition that they brought to the game. Hug it out, because, manners.

That’s how the pros do it. Photocredit: Joerg Mitter

Step 8:  Point at nothing in particular

Yes we said it. The one thing that pros do really well is work that pointer finger. It could be at the audience, it could be at the ref, it could be at your teammate – who it is, is beside the point, just start pointing. Point point point.

Oh yeah. See me point. Photocredit: Samo Vidic

Step 9: Bust a move

If you have a victory dance, now’s the time to do it. Everyone’s watching and they want to see more. Get drunk from the cheering and let your winning move you… literally. Everybody get up singing 1,2,3,4 five will make you get down now. Now stop… Hammer time.

Can’t touch this. Photocredit: Mihai Stetcu

Step 10: Fraternize with the audience

The tenth and final step is giving a well-deserved shout-out – all hats-off to the audience. Now this may be a problem if you’re just playing a game at the beach with a couple of friends, in that case – call people and make them watch you. Give a speech, it will make it more believable but don’t trap them because apparently that’s illegal. But if you’re lucky enough to have an audience, the best thing to do is scoot over and give them a little squeeze – because after all, they were the ones cheering you on.

Thank you guys – you’re the bomb diggity. Photocredit: Martin Steinthaler.