Not everyone has the time to visit a gym Volleyball court or the luxury to rent one. In such cases, they may want to set up a permanent Volleyball court in their backyard or have a portable set to use whenever they feel like it. Also, there are semi-permanent sets for playing indoor Volleyball. Whichever set one chooses must be easy enough to set up/install. Players may lose interest in playing if the installation process is too complex.
Things to be considered before setting up Volleyball Court
To play Volleyball outdoors, the players must first have sufficient open space; the size of the court must be 16m x 8m. Outdoor Volleyball is mainly played on sand which makes it difficult to gain traction. But the players are less prone to injuries if washed sand is used as it will cushion their fall. Or outdoor Volleyball can be played on a tiled court or even a concrete floor. It is up to the players to decide what type of outdoor court they want. When building an outdoor court, it is necessary to ensure that the players will not directly face the sun while playing.
For playing Volleyball indoors, the court size must be 18m x 9m, which makes them larger than outdoor Volleyball courts. Indoor Volleyball courts have hard and smooth floors, which aids the players to move with ease and respond quickly when the trajectory of the ball changes. Once the court dimensions and the surface type are taken care of, the players must decide whether they require portable or permanent sets, which include poles, nets, balls, and ball pumps.
Portable ones will have to be disassembled after use and assembled again for the next match; this may seem like too much work, but one can use portable sets wherever one wants. If the players get tired of playing in their backyard, they can pack up the set and take it to the beach. Fresh air, toes in the sand, what’s there not to love? Owners of permanent Volleyball sets will not have such an opportunity.
On the flip side, permanent ones do not require much maintenance as they are meant to be installed and forgotten about. The court will always be ready for the players whenever they are up for a game. Unexpected guests can be entertained within a moment’s notice; the possible scenarios in which they can be used are endless. As the poles are cemented down, and the entire set is designed to be weather resistant, they last for years. Permanent sets are the best option for Outdoor Volleyball.
How to set up Volleyball Court
Floor plates are the easiest way to secure the poles; the players need to remove the plate and insert the poles into the sleeves or pockets. The poles should fit perfectly and must not budge from their place. If they do, it is probably because of the dirt accumulated in the sleeves, so the debris must be removed before installing the poles. Floor plates are commonly used in Indoor Volleyball courts. The height of the poles can be adjusted to suit the age and experience level of the players.
If the players need the poles for an Outdoor Volleyball court, a hole must be dug to secure the poles. Once the poles are installed, they must be cemented to the ground. An alternative is to use ground stakes, which is not as effective as the former option. Next, the net has to be attached to the poles. It is recommended to ensure that the net does not get tangled, as untangling it is tiresome. One must not forget to set up the antennae as they are crucial for determining points scored.
Depending on whether the game is to be played indoors or outdoors, the type of ball to be bought must be decided. The balls used for Indoor Volleyball are heavier than the ones used for Outdoor Volleyball. Also, they can be hit with more force and are smooth and seamless. The panels of most balls used in Outdoor Volleyball are sewn together to make them durable and bear harsh weather conditions; they have a rough texture and the stitches are clearly on them are visible. Beach Volleyballs are lighter and larger than indoor Volleyballs and are designed to move through the air quickly.
Apart from these, it is handy to have Volleyball rebounders or carts at one’s side if the players plan to practice alone; they aid the players in perfecting their sets, spikes, and serves. If the players habitually play indoors and outdoors, portable sets or semi-permanent ones will be the best option.
Can Indoor Volleyball Equipment be used to play Outdoor Volleyball?
Indoor Volleyball equipment will not last long if used for playing Outdoor Volleyball as they are not designed to be weather-resistant. Also, it is not plausible to use balls meant for Indoor Volleyball outdoors as they are not water resistant and will deteriorate faster. Even if the players take great care to keep the ball away from water, using them is not a good idea. While playing Volleyball casually/unofficially, most players do not wear protective gear, so there is a high chance that the ball’s impact will severely injure them.
Using Outdoor Volleyball equipment indoors is also not advisable, as disassembling the set consumes enormous energy and time. Outdoor equipment is heavy to handle and cannot be packed easily and stored. Besides, most poles designed for outdoors do not have adjustable heights. As indoor sets are usually installed in school gyms or private institutions, non-adjustable height is a significant drawback.
Pool and Beach Volleyball Setup
The net sets should be chosen depending on whether the pool is in-ground or on-ground. The players must ensure that the pool is large enough to play Volleyball. Typically, Pool Volleyball nets are required to hang one foot above the water’s surface; the poles have to be adjusted with that in mind. Other than that, the setup is similar to an Indoor or Outdoor Volleyball court.
Setting up the poles and the net for playing Beach Volleyball is similar to an Outdoor Volleyball setup. The only difference is that the boundaries will be marked by flat structures called ‘Lines’; they are elastic and move to a certain extent to prevent a player from tripping/ getting hurt when he charges toward the boundary to save the ball.
So, it is pretty easy to set up a court and play Volleyball no matter which type the players decide to play. The steps for setting them up are more or less the same, but the balls used and the rules differ for each type. It is pretty cool to own a Volleyball court or a set, and learning to assemble the poles and the net always comes in handy as it ensures that one never misses an opportunity to have fun and relax.
If people know how to set up a Volleyball court indoors and outdoors, they can play Volleyball anytime, anywhere, without worrying about what season it is and how the weather will be. Besides, if all that practice does not pay off, one can always opt for Footvolley – a game loved by those who love both Football and Volleyball.