With the quarterfinals in the beach volleyball kicking off this weekend, you may have been wondering what all those signals mean that the athletes keep making behind their butts. Well, fear no more, we’ve done the hard work for you. Impress your friends this weekend with your new knowledge!

First off, there are two kinds of signaling – blocking and serving. In blocking, where the team receives the ball from the serving team, the signal will be made to say how a player intends to block their opponent’s attack. The most common signals in this regard are:

• Closed fist: No block should be attempted for the opponent on that side of the court.
• One finger: The blocker plans to block the opponent’s line attack.
• Two fingers: The blocker plans to block an opponent’s “angle” attack.
• Open hand: The blocker plans to match up with the hitter, deciding where to block based on the opposing team’s set and the hitter’s approach and arm swing.

Service signals are a little simpler. The non-serving teammate will usually suggest a location for the serve to happen by placing a flashing signal on the appropriate side of their body, usually by wiggling a pinkie.

Now you know – and can even incorporate it into your own beach games this summer. We’ve put together a little practice gallery to help you get ready for the weekend. Mildly N5FW.

[Source: BustedCoverage; iSport]