Caught the Volleyball Bug? The Basics of Building a Court in Your Yard
With over 100 years of history, volleyball is one of the most popular sports in the U.S. Tens of millions of Americans play the sport recreationally. In addition, the sport garners high ratings during the Summer Olympics. If you and your family have caught the volleyball bug, consider building a playing court in your backyard. This can serve as a fun gathering spot for friends and neighbors.
The following guide can help you get started so you can enjoy the sport anytime you want. You can set up a grass court in a day or build a full-fledged sand court as a DIY project.
Court Basics
You need to make sure that you have enough space in your backyard for a volleyball playing area. A standard volleyball court is 30 feet wide and 60 feet long and includes the following:
- Sidelines
- Backlines
- Service area
- Center line
- Attack line
- Standards (poles that hold the net)
- Net
Depending on your yard size, you can also make a modified smaller court. Regardless of the size, make sure that there are a few feet of space around the court area so players have enough space to move when they run, jump, or fall out of bounds.
The space around and above the playing area should have no obstructions like tree branches, lawn equipment, or power lines. The space you select should also be level.
Grass or Sand
You do not need to have a fancy wood or concrete surface to play volleyball. If you have a large enough expanse of grass in a well-drained area, you are set. Make sure to keep the grass cut low and remove rocks and other debris before playing.
If you want to build a beach volleyball court, you need to clear the area and perform a shallow excavation before adding sand. You can rent a front-end loader to complete this task or hire a contractor to do it for you.
For beach-volleyball net poles, build concrete footings before you add sand to the court. The concrete footings will provide a sturdy foundation for the poles in the sand.
Add a perforated drainage pipe on each side of the sand court. The perforations should be face down, and the pipe should be placed horizontally from sideline to sideline, halfway between the net and the backline.
Adding a drainage pipe is crucial so your court does not become a sloshy mud pit after rains.
After the you install the concrete footings and drainage pipe, you can fill the area with white or beige play sand. The color of the sand is important. Light-colored sand will not become as hot as darker sand. The sand supplier should be able to tell you how many tons of sand you need to purchase for your court based on its dimensions.
Court Setup
The last steps of building your court include setting up the poles, nets, and boundaries. Instead of worrying about making sure you purchase all the right equipment, you should purchase a volleyball equipment set.
A high-quality set will include sturdy weather-resistant poles, net hooks, a regulation net, boundary markers, hand cranks for net tension, a storage bag, and other accessories. Some kits also contain volleyballs and ball pumps.
The boundary markers that generally come with kits are temporary and can be moved. However, if you want a more long-term boundary on a grass court, you can mark the boundaries with chalk or latex paint. For lines that look like those on an official court, rent or borrow an athletic-field line applicator to draw the boundaries.
Once your court is set up, get ready to enjoy days of fun games with your loved ones and friends right in your yard.
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