— Attach the 5 white rims to one another, making sure to hear a “click” once they are all the way attached. Together, these pieces will form the structure of the circular net.

— Next, snap the 5 black legs into place on the underside of each rim piece. These will take a bit more force than the rim pieces, but will also “click” once completely pushed in. The circular holes on the bottom of each leg can hold a ball, so make sure to turn these inward (so they are underneath the net). The legs are designed with flexible tabs to unsnap if someone falls on the net.

— Finally, attach the black netting to the fully assembled rim. The net will attach to the hooks on the outside of each rim, and should be tightened/loosened to maintain consistent net tension in all areas of the net.

Beyond the serving rotation mentioned above, there are a few basic rules when it comes to the serve itself.

• You are allowed two serves, each time you serve. In other words, you are allowed a second serve if your first attempt is a fault.
• When serving, the ball must be tossed at least 4 inches before it is struck, and must be tossed from the opposite hand that you hit with.
• All players except the receiver must stand at least 7 feet from the net while a player is serving. On grass, a 7 foot circle is typically painted to mark this distance to the net.
• Only one player (the player opposite the server) is allowed to receive the serve.
• Sun in your eyes? Each player can rotate one spot to their right (counter-clockwise) every 5 points if desired.

Games are typically played to 21, but can be shortened to 11 or 15. Win by 2!

Rally scoring is used, meaning the point is awarded to the winner of the rally regardless of who served.

Hits must alternate between teammates, similar to volleyball. The only exception to this rule is a “soft touch,” which occurs when a player contacts the ball on its way up (moving in an upward trajectory). When this occurs, the same player may hit the ball again. This is commonly seen with body touches around the net!

Any part of the body can be used to touch/hit the ball.

Outside of serving, pockets are legal. Play on!

If a shot rolls up the rim (hits net, then rim), this is also legal. This is commonly called a “roll-up” and should be treated just like a pocket during rally play.

If there is ever disagreement on a play or call, redo the point.

If you are ever unable to make a play on the ball due to an opposing player preventing your attempt (aka being in your way), this is called a “hinder.” The defender should be making an active attempt to give you space, but you (the offender) must also be making an attempt to make a play on the ball.

If a hinder occurs, redo the point.

New games always have a bit of a learning curve, here are a few ideas to get playing faster:

• Be patient! Spend the first 5-10 minutes just hitting the ball around, get a feel for it and how to control the ball.
•  Learn to pass! Don't only practice hitting the ball on the net, but pass back and forth to your teammate (underhand is recommended). Nobody likes to play with a teammate who always hits the ball back on the net on the 1st hit.
• Call out "bump, set, spike" with each team's hits. This helps players remember to use all 3 hits and pass to their teammate.
• Move your feet! Don't stand back waiting for a pass, but move towards the net so your teammate knows you want them to pass it to you. It's easier to spike the ball when you are right next to the net rather than 6 feet away.