Okay, let’s talk about setting up for a volleyball game. I’ve been helping out with my local club, and figuring out the equipment has been a bit of a learning curve, so I thought I’d share what I’ve learned.
First thing, you gotta get the net up. This isn’t as easy as it sounds! We struggled at first. We found the poles, obviously, but then you have to figure out the right height. Men’s and women’s games use different heights, and even junior leagues have their own settings. So, we made sure to double-check the regulations online.
We used a measuring tape and adjusted the poles until they were at the correct height, and then you have crank this winch thingy to make sure the net is really, really tight. It cant be all saggy, because the ball hits the net and then fly everywhere if its too loose.
- Poles: We got those, no problem.
- Net: Yep, checked that off the list.
- Antennae: These red and white striped things that clip to the net at the sidelines. They were a pain at first, but the net we are using now has its own built-in sleeves, just slide them into it.
- Padding: We wrapped the poles with some thick padding, just in case someone crashes into them. Safety first, you know?
Next, we deal with the court lines. The big rectangle, and center line, and also the attack lines, and the serving area lines. So, so, so, many lines! Our court already has lines painted on it, so we don’t need to measure those lines.
But there is one time that some kids use paint messed up those lines, so we put down some tape to mark out the court boundaries. It’s not ideal, but it works in a pinch. Make sure you get the bright colored kind so everyone can see it.
Then, the volleyballs themselves! We pumped up a bunch of volleyballs. We made sure they weren’t too hard or too soft. There’s a sweet spot, you know? A slightly firm feel, but with a little give. You can use a pressure gauge.
Other Stuff We Needed
- Ball cart: Makes it so much easier to carry all those balls around. We rolled that thing out onto the court.
- Scoreboard: Keeps everyone honest! It is just a simple flip-style scoreboard. We just set up a scoreboard on a table.
- First-aid kit: Just in case. Hopefully, you won’t need it, but better safe than sorry. We placed it at a corner.
And that’s pretty much it! It took us a few tries to get everything down smoothly, but now we can set up for a game pretty quickly. It’s all about having a system, I guess. Hopefully, this helps someone else out there who’s just starting to organize volleyball games!
