How to Install a Sand Volleyball Court
Start the project by determining the size that you want to construct your court. For just a place to have a good time, a full sized court is not necessary. If you plan to establish leagues and get serious, then you will need to make a sand field large enough to accommodate a regulation sized court. The standard size should be 60 feet by 30 feet. This will give you two 30×30 volleyball courts. You can buy the striping in the form of reusable cloth mesh from websites like “laceandfabric.com.” You will need to find a source to get a two or three truck loads of sand to be delivered.
Measure off an area the size the you want the court to be. You want to take some pains with this to get the court as square as possible on the corners. Drive stakes at the corners when you have measured the length and width. Measure the distance across the diagonals. These should be close. If they are off a long way, you will need to use a square to get a fairly straight line and reset the two stakes out from the first corner as near as you can to the line indicated by the square while still keeping the right distance along the length and width. Now, go to one of the stakes that you just reset. Sight a square to get the final stake placement. Repeat the measurement of the diagonals. If they are within about an inch of each other, you are fine. If they are still many inches apart, repeat the process of refining the lines from a corner until you get it right. This normally takes about 1 or 2 tries to get close. Stretch a string from stake to stake until the entire perimeter is outlined. This will give you lines for the next step.
Now, it is time to remove about the top 6 or so inches of dirt from the entire area of the volleyball court.. This gets rid of the plant growth and makes a shallow basin for to hold your sand. This can be done with lots of volunteers and shovels, or you can hire someone to do the excavation. If you have a large enough area, you can distribute the excess dirt around in low areas near the court. If not, put up signs offering free dirt to anyone who wants to come and get it. If you are not in a rush to get rid of it, this will do the job within two weeks or so usually. Top soil is in demand.
Once your court has had the topsoil removed, you are ready to order in the sand. If you push them to do so, most dump truck operators will do most of the spreading for you as they empty their load. If they do this right, you should just need three or four friends with rakes to do the finish work. If you used a tractor to remove the topsoil, the same tractor might be enlisted to do the finish spreading if you desire. Do not try to get too perfect with this. As soon as you start to play volleyball, you will be disturbing the sand.
To make portable poles that can be quickly put up and taken down, you need to find two old car wheels. Some people prefer to have a tire on them. It is not necessary. Locate two pieces of pipe about 1 1/2 to 2 inches in diameter. They should be a little over 8 feet long. Buy two or three bags of concrete ready mix. Place the wheels upside down with the deep side upward. Drill two or three small holes all of the way through the pieces of pipe about 2 to 4 inches from the end. Push a piece of wire or clothes hanger through the hole so that about 6 inches sticks out on each side. Mix the concrete in a bucket or wheelbarrow with water. Do not make it too thin. Place the poles in the center of the wheel with the wires below the top of the wheel. Using string and stakes, anchor the pole until it stands straight up. Use a level to get close. Once it is in place, fill the wheel with concrete until it is level with the top. Repeat this for the other pole. Let them harden for about 12 to 24 hours. Longer is better.
You will need to buy about 6 eye bolts with nuts and washers. The size here is not too important. The key is to make sure that they are long enough to pass through the pole and all you to affix the nut and washer on the other side. Get a regulation volleyball net. Measure 8 feet from the bottom of the pole and mark it. Drill a hole big enough to let the eye bolt pass through. Drill one in each pole. Put the eye bolt into the hole and attach the nut and washer. I recommend using a lock washer with a flat washer. Now, space the poles about 32 feet apart. Tie the net to the eye bolts and let it hang free. Pull the poles until the net is somewhat tight. Measure the distance to where the bottom cord should attach to the pole. Mark it and drill another hole Insert the eye bolt and tie the net to it. Repeat this for the other pole.
Return to the first pole and drill a final hole just above the one that holds the net. Put the final eye bolt in that hole. Attach a cord to this bolt with a stake and drive the stake into the ground to hold the net taut. Again, repeat this for the other pole. You now have the net and court ready for play. Get the volleyball of your choice. Invite some friends over and have a party to celebrate while you play your first game to initiate the new court.
