THE sex appeal of beach volleyball is to be used to attract more players to the sport. The Guernsey Volleyball Association is concerned about a decline in the number of players.

And it is going to use beach volleyball – noted for skimpy outfits worn by the women players – to find a new breed of participant.

‘By introducing regular beach tournaments and have-a-go sessions, we hope to bring volleyball to people who may not necessarily have otherwise played,’ said event organiser Kat Burgess.

She said that there was a real need to attract youth to the sport.

‘Many of the players are getting on a bit. They are getting bad backs and dodgy knees. It has got to the point where experienced people are getting bored. There are no new faces, no new challenges.

‘We are promoting beach volleyball in part because people think it is a cool sport. It is harder to get people indoors, but it is easy to get them down to the beach,’ she said.

Volleyball in Guernsey is normally played indoors, but beach volleyball has always been a popular spectator sport in the Olympics and Miss Burgess believes it could be the same in Guernsey.

‘A lot of guys say they won’t play but they want to come and watch,’ she said.

Guernsey will not be sending a women’s volleyball team to next year’s NatWest Island Games in the Shetland Islands.

‘We could have scraped a team together but we wouldn’t have a significant team,’ said Miss Burgess.

‘One of the reasons why the guys are going is to give the young ones in the team the experience of playing a tournament at top level and getting ready for Rhodes.’

She also hopes that the island may have a team for beach volleyball in the Island Games in 2007, when the sport may feature for the first time.

*The tournament will take place on 5 September at Richmond. It is open to all age groups and abilities, with a junior tournament for the under-16s.

Teams can be mixed but must consist of three players. The entry fee is £7.50 per team but it is free to juniors. Island players will be there to coach.

Games start at 1.30pm and close with an early-evening beach barbecue. Of course, the tournament is weather-dependent.

‘Obviously if it is very windy we can’t do it. The ball goes everywhere,’ said Miss Burgess.

For more information and an entry form, contact Kat Burgess on 200453 / 07781 114560.