Beach volleyball is a fast and exciting sport that is easy to fall in love with, and many people can’t seem to get enough of it. It’s understandable. There’s no better way to have fun in the sun and stay in shape at the same time. Luckily, capturing the joy of a sand volleyball court can be enjoyed in your backyard or training facility. All it takes it some space that is clear of low hanging tree branches or wires, and you can have a sand volleyball court installed. However, building a sand volleyball court is not a decision to take lightly and is not a project that you undertake in half measures as time and money are invested in this process. If you are interested in having your very own court, learn how to build a beach volleyball court by checking out these helpful guidelines.
Configuration
If it’s a possibility, configure your court so it’s running lengthwise north to south. By doing this, you can help minimize sun visibility issues as the sun rises and sets. If you set the court to run east to west, you may face visibility issues due to sun glare.
Suggested Dimensions
A typical doubles beach volleyball court is 26’3”x52’6”, with free space requirements for juniors = 9'10" ( 3 meters), Collegiate = 15' (4.5 meters), and Professional 19'6" ( 6 meters). But if the court is not for official purposes, there are no minimum land requirements. As long as you have adequate space and the potential playing area is free from obstructions, you are good to go! Just make sure you include the 9’ unobstructed free space outside of the playing area.
Excavation and Drainage
It is a good idea to check your proposed volleyball court area for power lines and underground utilities before you start the excavation process. Draw an outline for your court according to your desired dimensions before you excavate the area to your desired depth. Depending on how well your court drains, the area can be excavated using a Bobcat or a front-end loader to a depth of 1 ½ to 3 feet (depending if its an in-ground court or above ground design then you wouldn't need to dig so deep). There a few ways to make sure your court drains properly. One way is to make sure you set a drainage ditch towards the lowest point of the land and then set a perforated drainage pipe across the middle of the court. Just make sure you wrap the pipe with landscaping fabric first before laying the pipe down, as this will help prevent dirt and sand from clogging the pipe. Then, place the closed end of the tube situated at the highest point, with pipes running across the court with the open end of the pipe ending at the lowest point, to a drainage ditch or open area. You would also want to make sure the base of the court slopes towards the drain to help the flow of water reach the lowest point in order to drain efficiently
Pole Setup
There are various ways to install the poles. It will depend on the type of pole you decide to utilize. Use poles that are made of galvanized steel, stainless steel, anodized aluminum, or treated wood and are approximately 11 to 13 feet in length. Next, locate and dig the holes for the poles between 29' to 36' apart (depending if it is for recreational or strictly competition), at least 3’ deep and 1’ in diameter. In most cases, both poles should be cemented in place and free of any hazardous protrusions. If you use wood poles, it is recommended to not use concrete, because they will eventually break and it will be very difficult to remove the concrete and install the new pole. If you like, you can wrap padding around the poles to help protect the players on your court.
Fill It In
Once the poles are set, spread approximately 4" to 6" of small drainage gravel uniformly across the base of the court and drainage pipe. Then cover this layer with landscape fabric to help keep the gravel from mixing with the sand, but still allowing water to pass through to the drainage system. After this, you can fill at least 1’ to 2' of sand over your gravel, and use a shovel and a rake to spread your sand evenly across the court.
Set Your Lines, Hang the Net, and Enjoy!
For your boundary lines, use rope, 1' or 2' tape lines, but be careful with rope! If you catch the rope between your toes, it could leave rope burns. Of course, don’t forget to hang a high-quality net, making your personal sand volleyball court complete and ready to play on!
Does the idea of building your own beach volleyball court seem like a daunting task? One too big to undertake alone? Luckily you don’t have to undergo this process alone. Sand Court Experts can turn your vision into reality and build you a sand volleyball court from start to finish. If you are interested in having a temporary or permanent sand volleyball court installed, contact us today.