What to know about spikeball: Rules, name, professional leagues and where to play
Mix volleyball with four square and you get the game that keeps people on their toes and making acrobatic saves − spikeball.
While it may sound like a tribute to what Rob Gronkowski did after every NFL touchdown he scored, spikeball is a sport that has been around for decades but saw a spike in popularity in the late 2000s. Aside from being a game you can play with friends or family, there are now college and professional leagues that top players, or duos, can join.
Here's what you need to know about competitive spikeball ‒ from the rules, how to play, professional leagues and how to become a competitive player.
What is spikeball?
Spikeball is all about power, precision and quickness.
The game centers on a circle net, primarily 3 feet in diameter, that looks like a tiny trampoline. Like volleyball, the game involves two teams trying to score on another by hitting a ball, around 3 inches in diameter, off the net. Six feet outside of the net is the serving circle, as each turn begins outside of the circle.
The game was invented in the 1980s by a toymaker and cartoonist named Jeff Knurek, according to Roundnet. After a few years, the game's popularity dwindled and it seemed to be extinct. But the game was revived in 2008, when Spikeball CEO Chris Ruder relaunched the game after a few years of playing the original game. Its popularity has continued to rise since, appearing on "Shark Tank" and airing on ESPN.
Spikeball rules
Spikeball takes from beach volleyball in its a 2 vs. 2 game. The game begins when a player outside of the serving circle serves the ball into the net, bouncing off of it. From there, the opposing team has three tries, like in volleyball, to do the same thing and bounce the ball off the net.
The trick though is, despite starting outside of the serving circle, there are no boundaries or out-of-bounds lines, so the game is still in play no matter where the ball is hit, and players can move anywhere they want, setting the stage for dives all over the field. If the team in control of the ball hits the rim, the ground or the net in two consecutive bounces, then the other team gets a point.
Games can be played up to certain scores, but it typically is the first one to 21 points and teams must win by at least two points.
Spikeball or roundnet?
What's unusual about the game is it's mainly called by its unofficial name.
When the game was first invented, it was called roundnet, and was still called roundnet when Ruder revived it. But with Ruder popularizing the game, the game's name became associated with his company's name, which is why now it's commonly known as spikeball. Spikeball even says the sport is called roundnet. But still, the two names are used to call the game and are generally accepted when referring to it.
"It's one of those – a square is a rectangle but a rectangle is not a square – sort of things," Spikeball says.
Are there spikeball professional leagues?
There are several regional and state leagues, but the Spikeball Roundnet Association serves as the top U.S. spikeball league, as well as the college league. There are different types of team play as well, including:
- Men's play
- Women's play
- Mixed play
Events are played throughout the USA and internationally in the summer. The schedule can be found here.
Where can I play spikeball?
Spikeball leagues can be found through the country for all ages, such as the American Youth Spikers League. People can search for leagues in their local area for more information.
The Spikeball App is also a great way to find places to play and meet new players in pick-up games or local tournaments.