Nineteen teams entered this year’s mud volleyball tournament at McDade Park in Dumas for the annual World Class Mud Volleyball Tournament hosted by the Dumas Moore County Chamber of Commerce.

A day of fun under the sun requires creative planning for making a big splash in the mud.

“Around 50,000 gallons (of water) we use to create this unique event,” said Carl Watson, executive director of Dumas Moore County Chamber of Commerce.

The unique event is mud volleyball. Contestants spend their Fourth of July playing games that are a refreshing change from regular volleyball.

It’s a sport where some have figured out that if you wear safety goggles and tape yourself into your shoes using duct tape you can overcome the deceptively thick mud that is deeper than it looks.

“You are trying to focus on keeping your balance and on your feet but also trying to get a ball to the other side of the net so it’s nothing like normal volleyball,” said Priscilla Cox, mud volleyball contestant.

“We have plays in volleyball like real plays and out here you just get it over and there’s no mud in real volleyball,” said Brenley Rodriguez, mud volleyball contestant.

“There’s a lot more rocks in holes and it’s a lot tougher than it looks,” said Kyler McCoy, mud volleyball contestant.

Once you make the first plunge and create a big splash in the mud, you're good to go. If you don’t mind getting dirty then this sport is for you but contestants say unless you use duct tape you can lose shoes, socks and bandanas.

“You know it gets real hard and it gets real dry you know if it gets in your eyes it kind of sucks cause it's real tough to get out,” said McCoy.

“It’s fun, it’s just the dirt is kind of nasty but other thank that it’s a great time,” said Makenzie Garcia, mud volleyball contestant.

“I mean aside from some good competition it’s also hilarious so just having a good time good memories I’m with my kids today so we're just having a great time really,” said Cox.

The cost to participate in mud volleyball is $10.00 per person but the first place winning prize is $500 and $300 to the second-place team.

Fireworks show starting around 9 p.m. from the Dumas Football Stadium will cap off the Fourth of July festivities.