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Decoding beach volleyball's hand signals

  • China's Chen Xue two fingers pointing down can mean a cross court block.
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    Olympics Day 1 - Beach Volleyball

    China's Chen Xue two fingers pointing down can mean a cross court block.
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  • A closed fist means no block on that player.
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    Smart Beach Tour 2012 - Day 1 Hamburg

    A closed fist means no block on that player.
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  • This means a cross court block on both players.
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    OLY W Beach Volleyball

    This means a cross court block on both players.
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  • This signal means a cross court block on the right side, line block on the left side.
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    Smart Beach Tour 2012 - Day 1 Hamburg

    This signal means a cross court block on the right side, line block on the left side.
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  • A closed fist on the right side means "no block" on that player attacking from the right.
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    Olympics Day 2 - Beach Volleyball

    A closed fist on the right side means "no block" on that player attacking from the right.
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  • LONDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 09: Alejandra Simon of Spaingives hand signals during the VISA FIVB Beach Volleyball International at Horse Guards Parade on August 9, 2011 in London, England. (Photo by Scott Heavey/Getty Images)
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    LOCOG Test Events for London 2012 - VISA FIVB Beach Volleyball International

    LONDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 09: Alejandra Simon of Spaingives hand signals during the VISA FIVB Beach Volleyball International at Horse Guards Parade on August 9, 2011 in London, England. (Photo by Scott Heavey/Getty Images)
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  • TAMPA - JUNE 2: Karch Kiraly signals his teammate Kevin Wong during their winners bracket match at the AVP Crocs Tour EsuranceTampa Bay Open on June 2, 2007 at the St. Pete Times Forum in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Eliot J. Schechter/Getty Images)
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    AVP Tampa Bay Open

    TAMPA - JUNE 2: Karch Kiraly signals his teammate Kevin Wong during their winners bracket match at the AVP Crocs Tour EsuranceTampa Bay Open on June 2, 2007 at the St. Pete Times Forum in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Eliot J. Schechter/Getty Images)
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  • KLAGENFURT, AUSTRIA - JULY 22: Ekaterina Khomyakova of Russia argues during the final match of the A1 Beach Volleyball Grand Slam on July 22, 2012 in Klagenfurt, Austria. (Photo by Mathias Kniepeiss/Getty Images)
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    A1 Beach Volleyball Grand Slam 2012 - Day 6

    KLAGENFURT, AUSTRIA - JULY 22: Ekaterina Khomyakova of Russia argues during the final match of the A1 Beach Volleyball Grand Slam on July 22, 2012 in Klagenfurt, Austria. (Photo by Mathias Kniepeiss/Getty Images)
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  • THE HAGUE, NETHERLANDS - JUNE 02: Reinder Nummedor of the Netherlands show tactic during the men?s quarter final match between Reinder Nummerdor and Richard Schuil of Netherlands and Emiel Boersma and Daan Spijkers of Netherlands during the Beach Volleyball European Championships Day 3 at the Hague Beach Stadium on June 2, 2012 in The Hague, Netherlands. Richard Schuil and Emiel Boersma won in 2-0 sets. (Photo by Christof Koepsel/Bongarts/Getty Images)
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    2012 Beach Volleyball European Championship - Day 3

    THE HAGUE, NETHERLANDS - JUNE 02: Reinder Nummedor of the Netherlands show tactic during the men?s quarter final match between Reinder Nummerdor and Richard Schuil of Netherlands and Emiel Boersma and Daan Spijkers of Netherlands during the Beach Volleyball European Championships Day 3 at the Hague Beach Stadium on June 2, 2012 in The Hague, Netherlands. Richard Schuil and Emiel Boersma won in 2-0 sets. (Photo by Christof Koepsel/Bongarts/Getty Images)
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  • ATHENS, GREECE - AUGUST 15: Beachvolleyball / Frauen: Olympische Spiele Athen 2004, Athen; PAULA/PIRES /BRA - HAKEDAL/TORLEN / NOR; Ana PAULA / BRA 15.08.04. (Photo by Alexander Hassenstein/Bongarts/Getty Images)
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    Olympische Spiele Athen 2004

    ATHENS, GREECE - AUGUST 15: Beachvolleyball / Frauen: Olympische Spiele Athen 2004, Athen; PAULA/PIRES /BRA - HAKEDAL/TORLEN / NOR; Ana PAULA / BRA 15.08.04. (Photo by Alexander Hassenstein/Bongarts/Getty Images)
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  • HAMBURG, GERMANY - JUNE 08: A player signals during the primliary rounds of the Smart beach tour 2012 beach volleyball event on June 8, 2012 in Hamburg, Germany. (Photo by Stuart Franklin/Bongarts/Getty Images)
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    Smart Beach Tour 2012 - Day 1 Hamburg

    HAMBURG, GERMANY - JUNE 08: A player signals during the primliary rounds of the Smart beach tour 2012 beach volleyball event on June 8, 2012 in Hamburg, Germany. (Photo by Stuart Franklin/Bongarts/Getty Images)
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  • TAMPA - JUNE 3: Karch Kiraly signals his partner during the men's finals against Jake Gibb and Sean Rosenthal in the AVP esurance Tampa Open on June 3, 2007 in Tampa, Florida. Gibb/Rosenthal won against Kiraly/Wong in two games, 21-18, 21-17. (Photo by Holly Stein/AVP via Getty Images)
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    AVP esurance Tampa Open

    TAMPA - JUNE 3: Karch Kiraly signals his partner during the men's finals against Jake Gibb and Sean Rosenthal in the AVP esurance Tampa Open on June 3, 2007 in Tampa, Florida. Gibb/Rosenthal won against Kiraly/Wong in two games, 21-18, 21-17. (Photo by Holly Stein/AVP via Getty Images)
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  • ATHENS - AUGUST 14: A member of the Chinese team signals during the women's preliminary Beach Volleyball match on August 14, 2004 during the Athens 2004 Summer Olympic Games at the Olympic Beach Volleyball Centre at the Faliro Coastal Zone Complex in Athens, Greece. Australia won 21-18, 21-18. (Photo by Stuart Franklin/Getty Images)
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    Women's Beach Volleyball Prelims - AUS v CHN

    ATHENS - AUGUST 14: A member of the Chinese team signals during the women's preliminary Beach Volleyball match on August 14, 2004 during the Athens 2004 Summer Olympic Games at the Olympic Beach Volleyball Centre at the Faliro Coastal Zone Complex in Athens, Greece. Australia won 21-18, 21-18. (Photo by Stuart Franklin/Getty Images)
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  • ATHENS - AUGUST 14: The German team communicates their strategy during the women's preliminary match on August 14, 2004 during the Athens 2004 Summer Olympic Games at the Olympic Beach Volleyball Centre at the Faliro Coastal Zone Complex in Athens, Greece. Germany won 21-17, 21-18. (Photo by Stuart Franklin/Getty Images)
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    Women's Beach Volleyball Prelims - GER v CHN

    ATHENS - AUGUST 14: The German team communicates their strategy during the women's preliminary match on August 14, 2004 during the Athens 2004 Summer Olympic Games at the Olympic Beach Volleyball Centre at the Faliro Coastal Zone Complex in Athens, Greece. Germany won 21-17, 21-18. (Photo by Stuart Franklin/Getty Images)
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  • BEIJING - AUGUST 20: Todd Rogers of the United States signals his teammate during the men's semifinal beach volleyball match against Georgia at the Chaoyang Park Beach Volleyball Ground during Day 12 of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games on August 20, 2008 in Beijing, China. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)
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    Olympics Day 12 - Beach Volleyball

    BEIJING - AUGUST 20: Todd Rogers of the United States signals his teammate during the men's semifinal beach volleyball match against Georgia at the Chaoyang Park Beach Volleyball Ground during Day 12 of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games on August 20, 2008 in Beijing, China. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)
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  • ATHENS - AUGUST 14: Summer Lochowicz of Australia signals to her teammate during their match against China in the women's preliminary match on August 14, 2004 during the Athens 2004 Summer Olympic Games at the Olympic Beach Volleyball Centre at the Faliro Coastal Zone Complex in Athens, Greece. Australia won 21-18, 21-18. (Photo by Stuart Franklin/Getty Images)
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    Women's Beach Volleyball Prelims - AUS v CHN

    ATHENS - AUGUST 14: Summer Lochowicz of Australia signals to her teammate during their match against China in the women's preliminary match on August 14, 2004 during the Athens 2004 Summer Olympic Games at the Olympic Beach Volleyball Centre at the Faliro Coastal Zone Complex in Athens, Greece. Australia won 21-18, 21-18. (Photo by Stuart Franklin/Getty Images)
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China's Chen Xue two fingers pointing down can mean a cross court block.
A closed fist means no block on that player.
This means a cross court block on both players.
This signal means a cross court block on the right side, line block on the left side.
A closed fist on the right side means "no block" on that player attacking from the right.
LONDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 09: Alejandra Simon of Spaingives hand signals during the VISA FIVB Beach Volleyball International at Horse Guards Parade on August 9, 2011 in London, England. (Photo by Scott Heavey/Getty Images)
TAMPA - JUNE 2: Karch Kiraly signals his teammate Kevin Wong during their winners bracket match at the AVP Crocs Tour EsuranceTampa Bay Open on June 2, 2007 at the St. Pete Times Forum in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Eliot J. Schechter/Getty Images)
KLAGENFURT, AUSTRIA - JULY 22: Ekaterina Khomyakova of Russia argues during the final match of the A1 Beach Volleyball Grand Slam on July 22, 2012 in Klagenfurt, Austria. (Photo by Mathias Kniepeiss/Getty Images)
THE HAGUE, NETHERLANDS - JUNE 02: Reinder Nummedor of the Netherlands show tactic during the men?s quarter final match between Reinder Nummerdor and Richard Schuil of Netherlands and Emiel Boersma and Daan Spijkers of Netherlands during the Beach Volleyball European Championships Day 3 at the Hague Beach Stadium on June 2, 2012 in The Hague, Netherlands. Richard Schuil and Emiel Boersma won in 2-0 sets. (Photo by Christof Koepsel/Bongarts/Getty Images)
ATHENS, GREECE - AUGUST 15: Beachvolleyball / Frauen: Olympische Spiele Athen 2004, Athen; PAULA/PIRES /BRA - HAKEDAL/TORLEN / NOR; Ana PAULA / BRA 15.08.04. (Photo by Alexander Hassenstein/Bongarts/Getty Images)
HAMBURG, GERMANY - JUNE 08: A player signals during the primliary rounds of the Smart beach tour 2012 beach volleyball event on June 8, 2012 in Hamburg, Germany. (Photo by Stuart Franklin/Bongarts/Getty Images)
TAMPA - JUNE 3: Karch Kiraly signals his partner during the men's finals against Jake Gibb and Sean Rosenthal in the AVP esurance Tampa Open on June 3, 2007 in Tampa, Florida. Gibb/Rosenthal won against Kiraly/Wong in two games, 21-18, 21-17. (Photo by Holly Stein/AVP via Getty Images)
ATHENS - AUGUST 14: A member of the Chinese team signals during the women's preliminary Beach Volleyball match on August 14, 2004 during the Athens 2004 Summer Olympic Games at the Olympic Beach Volleyball Centre at the Faliro Coastal Zone Complex in Athens, Greece. Australia won 21-18, 21-18. (Photo by Stuart Franklin/Getty Images)
ATHENS - AUGUST 14: The German team communicates their strategy during the women's preliminary match on August 14, 2004 during the Athens 2004 Summer Olympic Games at the Olympic Beach Volleyball Centre at the Faliro Coastal Zone Complex in Athens, Greece. Germany won 21-17, 21-18. (Photo by Stuart Franklin/Getty Images)
BEIJING - AUGUST 20: Todd Rogers of the United States signals his teammate during the men's semifinal beach volleyball match against Georgia at the Chaoyang Park Beach Volleyball Ground during Day 12 of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games on August 20, 2008 in Beijing, China. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)
ATHENS - AUGUST 14: Summer Lochowicz of Australia signals to her teammate during their match against China in the women's preliminary match on August 14, 2004 during the Athens 2004 Summer Olympic Games at the Olympic Beach Volleyball Centre at the Faliro Coastal Zone Complex in Athens, Greece. Australia won 21-18, 21-18. (Photo by Stuart Franklin/Getty Images)

Beach volleyball players hand signals are a vital part of communication for the game.  While many players have their own signals, here is a guide to the most commonly used ones.
 -- By Tiara Chiaramonte, Yahoo! Sports