Mile End SA Athletics Stadium
Advancing High-Performance Sport at SASI with New Beach Volleyball Courts
South Australia

One of the primary challenges was sourcing the specific sand required to meet Federation International Volleyball (FIVB) standards. Beach volleyball sand needs to have finer particles, which creates a soft texture that reduces abrasion on players. Sand is free of organic material and should not compact or crust. The sand also needs to have a firm enough surface to react quickly but soft enough to cushion dives and falls. These specifications were hard to source, especially from a supplier in the Adelaide/South Australia regions.

Additionally, beach Volleyball courts have a minimum pitch depth of 400mm. This required a deeper concrete edge strip for the fencing base, which needed to be addressed to ensure the courts met the necessary specifications.

To overcome the challenge of sourcing the right sand, SPORTENG made minor amendments to the sand specifications to align with what was locally available. The modified sand still met the essential requirements for beach volleyball play, ensuring both performance and safety for the athletes.

For the depth requirement, a deeper concrete edge strip was incorporated to accommodate the necessary 400mm pitch depth. To ensure player safety, a soft-fall rubber overlay was added to the fencing base, cushioning the surface and reducing the risk of injury during play.

Completed in September 2024, the beach volleyball courts provide South Australia with world-class facilities for beach volleyball training and development.

These courts now provide athletes with a safe, high-quality environment to train, in line with international standards, supporting the growth and success of the sport in the region. With these courts, South Australia now boasts one of the best training facilities for beach volleyball in the country, helping athletes prepare for competitive play with the right conditions.

Minister for Recreation, Sport and Racing Katrine Hildyard said: “This investment will deliver a world-class facility for our state. It brings together key pieces of sporting infrastructure and creates a hub that will support athletes to develop their high-performance potential and attract national and international teams to Adelaide in their preparations for the Olympics and Paralympics.”

UniSA Professor Jon Buckley, Executive Dean - UniSA Allied Health and Human Performance Academic Unit, said: “UniSA is pleased to partner with SASI on this outstanding facility for the State. It will better prepare high-performing athletes, and the future workforce to support them, delivering significant benefits to sports teaching, research and industry collaboration.”

Source: $90m South Australian Sports Institute in Mile End on track for August open