How to Play Roundnet
Roundnet (often known by its original name of spike-ball, created by Jeff Knurek in 1989) is a fast-paced 2-vs-2 game played around a small circular net. Teams get up to three touches to bounce the ball off the net so the other team canāt return it.
Below youāll find the basic roundnet rules, scoring, and gameplay to get started.
Think: Bump. Set. Spike.
Roundnet works a lot like volleyball.
Each team gets up to three touches to return the ball to the net.
Pass to your teammate, set up the hit, and spike it off the net so the other team canāt return it.
QUICK RULES
Scoring & Winning
Games are typically played to 21 points, but many casual games are played to 15 or even 11.
You score when your opponents canāt return the ball back to the net. Roundnet uses rally scoring, meaning a point is awarded after every rally regardless of which team served.
Games must be won by two points.
Get the complete set of tournament rules from the International Roundnet Federation ā
Download
Common Roundnet Questions
How many hits do you get in roundnet?
Each team gets up to three touches to return the ball to the net.
Do you have to serve to a specific player?
Yes. The serve goes to the player directly across from the server.
Is there out of bounds in roundnet?
Yes. Roundnet is played 360Ā° around the net, but there is an 8.5m (27.9 ft) radius out of bounds boundary from the center of the net.
How do you score in roundnet?
You score when your opponents canāt return the ball back to the net. Roundnet uses rally scoring, meaning a point is awarded after every rally regardless of which team served.
Still Curious? Weāve Got You Covered.
Setup
Snap the five rim pieces together until each connection clicks.
Attach the five legs underneath the rims. These require a little more force but will click into place.
Finally, attach the net to the rim hooks and adjust the tension so the net is evenly tight.
The circular holes on the legs can hold balls ā rotate them inward so they sit under the net.
The legs are designed to flex if someone falls on the net.
Serving
Players serve in rotation.
Each server gets two attempts. If the first serve is a fault, a second serve is allowed.
The ball must be tossed at least 4 inches before it is struck and must be tossed with the opposite hand.
All players except the receiver must stand at least 7 feet from the net while serving.
Only the player opposite the server may receive the serve.
All players rotate positions every five points.
Scoring
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.
Hitting and Moving
Teams get up to three touches to return the ball to the net.
Hits must alternate between teammates (except for blocks off the net).
Any part of the body may contact the ball.
Shots that roll up the rim or pocket into the net are legal during rallies.
If players disagree on a call, simply replay the point.
Infractions
If a player prevents an opponent from making a play on the ball, this is called a hinder.
Defenders should attempt to give space, and attackers must attempt to make a play on the ball.
If a hinder occurs, replay the point.
Extra Tips to Learn Faster
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.
