On a sand court tucked beside a riverside cabin in Columbia, laughter carries as easily as the volleyballs. For 40 years, a tight-knit crew known as River Rules Volleyball has gathered here every Wednesday night to dive, bump and banter their way through another round of competition and camaraderie.

What began in 1985 as a few friends from a local social club has turned into a decades-long tradition, complete with its own set of quirky rules, seasonal marathons and plenty of good-natured chaos. The group plays from early April through September and hosts two daylong marathons to celebrate the solstices.

"We will play anytime, regardless of the weather conditions," said original member Matthew Berntheizel. "When we started this group, we wanted to play in every season."

At first glance, their games look like your average sand volleyball match, with teams of three, four or five racing to 15 points. But a closer look reveals the spirit of River Rules: unpredictable, a little rowdy and a lot of fun.

"We don't call carries," Berntheizel said, referring to a typically illegal move in the sport where a player holds, catches or lifts the ball for too long. "If you can touch the ball, you can hit it."

He calls it "full-contact volleyball," and he's not exaggerating. Players often crash into each other at the net, sand flying as they scramble for the next point. The overhanging trees even play a role.

"If the ball touches a leaf, it's out of play," Berntheizel explained. "We say, 'If it touches a leaf, you "leaf" it alone.'"

Six of the original members of the group still play regularly. The oldest, Dan Platt, is 71 years old.

"Look how young this keeps me," he joked at a recent game.

Players come from all over Lancaster County, including the Columbia, Hempfield and Manheim areas, and the guys are devoted to their group. Berntheizel hasn't missed a Wednesday in 11 years.

Families often come down to the court to watch the games, share food, listen to music and spend quality time together.

John Nikolaus now plays alongside his son, Jack, who joined as a teenager about 15 years ago.

"I grew up with my dad playing volleyball every Wednesday, and I thought it was cool," Jack said. "I love the camaraderie, the competition. It's a great setting with great friends."

Each week begins with a coin toss. Heads means you're "up river." Tails sends you "down river."

"It's completely random every week," said Jack, describing how the teams are determined. "We just split it up depending on how many people show up that week."

On long summer evenings, the group can squeeze in up to eight games before dusk. During solstice parties, they play all day long, and it's practically tradition for someone to end up cooling off in the river at any game's conclusion.

Over the years, River Rules Volleyball has become a showcase for both athleticism and humor. For the group's 25th anniversary in 2010, the players showed up in matching vinyl Elvis costumes, complete with wigs and sunglasses.

"That was something I just came up with on a whim. I saw these cheap Elvis costumes, one size fits all. They were vinyl, and it was the hottest day of the summer," Berntheizel said, laughing. "I thought someone was going to fall over and die from the heat."

When the group first started playing at the cabin, there wasn't even a sand court on the site. They played on industrial fill, often coming home with bloody elbows and knees.

But they kept showing up, week after week, year after year.

Other original members - Dave "Dunk" Dancause, Joe Schauren and David Kazmerski - remain a core part of the crew. David's wife, Devera, has been on the sidelines cheering him on since they were high school sweethearts.

"It's just something fun that the guys like to do," she said of the weekly tradition. "It's an opportunity to socialize, get some exercise and have fun together."

For the men of River Rules, it's about more than serves and spikes; it's about friendship, fitness and the kind of laughter that only comes from decades of shared memories.

"It's great exercise," said John Nikolaus. "You can't beat this workout. I come for the exercise, the camaraderie and the beer."