The "Essentials"
If you are playing Roundnet for the first time, many of the rules are not particularly relevant or absolutely necessary. However, it is important that you stay as close as possible to the original game idea and use the material correctly so that the fun factor and the potential of the sport are exploited to the full.
Here we show you the most important and, above all, the most correct and up-to-date rules of Roundnet, as specified by the German association Roundnet Germany.
We also notice again and again that the game material is not set up and used correctly. If this is the case, it can impair the experience or cause the material to break more quickly, getting in the way of the fun of playing that could be had - of course we want to avoid that!
Rules
Roundnet, but rightThe comparison to beach volleyball offers the simplest visualization: it is played 2 against 2, maximum 3 contacts per team and instead of the ball being played over the net, the ball must be hit onto the net, so that it jumps off again and would land on the ground after just one net contact. Here the ball must not be caught, but must be hit with a part of the body (usually the palm of the hand) (like in volleyball).
As soon as the ball is hit onto the net, it is the other team's turn to bring the ball back to the net with a maximum of 3 contacts. Here, the ball may not touch the ground. If a team manages to hit the ball on the net without the opposing team getting the ball back before it touches the ground, the team gets a point as well as the next serve.
Unlike beach volleyball, there are neither field boundaries nor halves, meaning the ball can be played in any direction - a 360 degree sport.
There are also mistakes that can be made when playing:
- The ball must not be hit onto the rim
- The ball may only touch the net once in a row
- The set (frame, feet, rim) must not be touched
With these few rules, the game can begin! Our tip: Really try to take advantage of the 3 contacts per team - too often we see that new players hit the ball on the net on the first or second contact. This makes the game very hectic and hinders the learning curve, as many tactical and technical aspects are neglected.
Of course there are more rules, which give the sport an important framework. In the following video from Roundnet Germany, Clemens and Lukas, together with Steffi and Klara, give you a good overview of these rules, which also apply to official tournaments. A detailed explanation of the official rules can be found here on the page of Roundnet Germany.
The game material
No matter what brand you use, there are basic things to keep in mind when setting up the material.The set: There aren't that many things that can go wrong when building the frame. As long as the frame parts are fully inserted into the feet and the respective logo on the foot is facing outwards, you have done everything right. The challenge comes when hooking in the net.
The net should be stretched as evenly as possible and hooked in everywhere. A good clue is the shape of the squares. These should all be as symmetrical as possible. If some of the squares are very elongated, this is an indication that the net has been hooked unevenly. With the following technique you can hook your net perfectly every time:
1. Grab the net at opposite ends so the net hangs evenly down either side (like a taco). Both ends hook directly opposite each other.
2. Hook the two sides that are hanging down exactly in the middle opposite each other so that you now have hooked the net into a rectangle.
3. Now keep hooking the hanging sides of the net in the middle until there are no more gaps (always hook on the very outside of the net!
4. Now tighten the net evenly. The mesh should be relatively taut and there should be no loose spots near the rims.
5. After a few rallies, you may have to tighten the net slightly again.
The balls
The balls Experience has shown that they are often inflated far too much. Unlike in volleyball or soccer, we want balls that are relatively soft but still hold their shape well. If the balls are inflated too much, it becomes much more difficult to control them and the material wears out more quickly.
So we want to have the feeling that we can squeeze the balls well, but still in such a way that they always return to the round shape. At the Spikeball Pro Set there is a ring attached to the bag that shows exactly how big the ball should be.