YOG Dakar 2026: Beach volleyball players “ready”

Imagine a sport inspired by tennis and basketball: it already exists, it’s volleyball. A net, a demarcated field and the possibility of playing with the hands. During these Youth Olympic Games, volleyball will be played on the beach. Senegal will be represented during the beach volleyball events by a women’s and men’s team each made up of two athletes.

Feet get lost in this hot sand, under the 4 p.m. sun. On this Yoff BCEAO beach, many young people are active. Some for football, others for running. But in a few minutes, a team will train here in a sport that is still little covered and known. After incessant requests, the training ground is finally visible. It is nestled behind the beach lifeguard station. Between the red cabin and the boxes intended for visitors, the team arrives with the coaches.

45 minutes have passed since 4 p.m. Players enter through a door next to which is a room with surfboards. The playing area is divided into two beach volleyball courts. A net separates each field widthwise. The rules are explained by one of the team’s coaches, Assane Fall. “Beach volleyball is a team sport that is played two against two, on a field that is 16 meters long and 8 wide. » The height of the net varies depending on whether it is for boys or girls. “The net is 2 meters 43 high for boys and 2 meters 24 for girls. » For Assane, the difficulty of this sport lies in the fact that there is no replacement. “If a player is injured to such an extent that it is impossible for him to continue the match, his team immediately loses. » The sand, which must be 40 centimeters thick, the wind, the sun, these are several factors which make the task a “little more complicated” compared to classic volleyball, according to the coach of the U18 national beach volleyball team.

Watch out for “Chance ball”!

This discipline, which is still little publicized in Senegal, is played in two sets. The team that first reaches 21 points wins the set provided it has a two-point lead. In the event of a tie, a third is played. This 15-point deciding tiebreaker sealed the outcome of the match.

Today, training begins with ball catches. The coach, Martinello, who leads the day’s drills, throws several balls to a player and sometimes to the corners of the field. Which forces defenders to receive the ball after intense accelerations. At one point, he leaves the enclave to take the bottle of water from his bag. He explains, after a short sip, that “reception is one of the most important gestures in beach volleyball”. He adds: “If it is done poorly, it is either a difficult ball for the teammate, or a “chance ball” for the opponents. »

The first exercise of around thirty minutes finished, it is time to take a break. Souleymane Seck, 16, takes the opportunity to quench his thirst. The Rufisquois is one of the two players on the men’s team. A waterfall of sweat falls from his face. “The preparation is going well. Since then, we have been in intense training with the staff and I believe that we are very ready for the Games,” reassures Souleymane. For him, the primary objective is to win a medal.

In the meantime, they are called back into the field for a second exercise. The footprints turned the sand upside down.

For exercise number two, the players must receive a ball that is shot onto the net. Note that each team is allowed three touches and that the reception counts as one, unlike classic volleyball.

“Nice, good reception,” the coaches say from time to time. This time, the encouragement is intended for Nafi Segnane, the number 1 behind his jersey. For her too, the preparation is going well.

A sporting heritage that must serve

“We get up early and train morning and evening. We’re in good shape,” she said with a smile on her face, which can be translated into excitement. She returns to training with the other coach, Fama Diop.

Surfers pass their “Salem” to Nafi’s teammates and the staff. Jokes ensue. A man and a woman, boards in hand, head towards waves to dominate.

“We are on track for the YOG Dakar 2026. The preparation so far has been well carried out,” reassures Alain Louis K. Faye. The national technical director of beach volleyball came to watch the training and take a few photos using his camera. “We started with a big group. There you can see that the last selection has been made. We have been able to organize camps for months and recently a 90-day camp,” he explains. According to Alain, they were able to benefit from these camps thanks to the Ministry of Sports. “They supported us in the best possible way,” he congratulates the supervisory authority. For the national technical director, “we must ensure that we support young people after the Youth Olympic Games so that, in other major games, they can represent the country and win medals”.

BOUBACAR DIOP