Should I Choose 4’s or 6’s?

If you haven’t played ESSC Beach Volleyball or have little experience playing in our leagues, you may be asking yourself which format you should register for; 4’s or 6’s. In Standard 6’s, teams must have 6 players, with at least 2 females on the court at all times. In Standard 4’s, teams must have 4 players, with at least 1 female on the court at all times.

Here are some factors to consider when choosing which format is best for you or your team:

• Skill Level: Typically, the average skill level of an Intermediate 4’s team is higher than the average skill level of an Intermediate 6’s team. Generally speaking, 6’s is easier and less competitive than 4’s for some of the following reasons:  
  • In 4’s, each person is responsible for covering more of the court.
  • In 4’s, each player is more likely to be able to hold their own as it’s more difficult to ‘hide’ and rely on your teammates.
  • In 6’s, a bigger roster may lead to an extra social atmosphere. This could be associated with a more Recreational, fun-first environment. 
• Division: Once you decide which division you or your team is most comfortable in, this may narrow down which format you should play. In 4’s, the ESSC offers divisions ranging from Intermediate to Competitive. In 6’s, the ESSC offers Recreational and Intermediate divisions only. Therefore, if you decide you want to play Competitive or Recreational Beach Volleyball, your format options are limited to one.
• Day: The day or evening you choose can affect which league you can sign up for, as certain formats are only offered on certain days.
• Number of Players: The number of players you have (or think you’ll have) on your team could help you decide.  
• Commitment Level of Teammates: If you have a player or various players that will be away sporadically throughout the season, you might want to consider playing 4’s so that you always have enough players to play.
• Money: It is typically cheaper per person to play in a 6’s league, however, this depends on how many players you have on your team.

The good news is that whichever format you choose, Beach Volleyball is such a fun sport that you’ll have a blast no matter what! To see our current Beach Volleyball offerings, Click Here.