Unofficial Snow Volleyball competitions were held in Austria and Switzerland in the late 90s, before the idea reemerged in 2008, upon the initiative of Martin Kaswurm, a local promoter.
[2] The sport gained popularity in Wagrain, Austria, in 2008,[3] and the first Snow Volleyball Tour was set up the following year.
[3] Initially taking place across Austria, the Tour expanded to include stops in other European countries by 2013.
[5] A Snow Volleyball European Tour under the umbrella of the CEV has taken place yearly ever since, with events held in countries as diverse as Austria, Czech Republic, Georgia, Italy, Liechtenstein, Russia, Slovenia, Switzerland and Turkey, while national championships qualifying to the inaugural European Championships were organised by 17 National Federations in the winter of 2018.
In the first tournament of the 2018–19 European Tour season, teams from the United States, Brazil and Kazakhstan were invited to compete for the first time.
The snow should be at least 30 cm (11.8 in) deep, and as leveled as possible and free of potential hazards such as rocks that could cause injuries to players.
The antennae are considered part of the net and extend 80 cm (31.5 in) above it, forming the lateral boundaries within which the ball is allowed to cross.
[12] FIVB regulations state that the ball must be spherical and made of flexible and water resistant material, such that it is appropriate for outdoor conditions.
[9] Besides the playing surface, the main differences between snow and beach volleyball are the scoring system and the number of players.
In December 2018, the FIVB approved new rules for snow volleyball which changed the scoring system to a best of 3 sets played to 15 points, and the number of players to three starters and one substitute in a team.
The FIVB allows players to wear beanies, sunglasses, and gloves to provide protection and warmth.
The game continues in this manner, rallying back and forth, until the ball touches the court within the boundaries or until a fault is committed.