What Is CROSSNET Volleyball?

How does your volleyball team keep fit, improve skills, and have fun without spending every minute of your time on the actual volleyball court? Many volleyball players like to keep fit by playing different versions of volleyball-type training games or variations of volleyball. One particular game that has become a popular choice for fitness training as well as tons of fun – enjoyed by athletes, families, and friends – is CROSSNET volleyball.

What is CROSSNET volleyball? CROSSNET volleyball is a game that combines elements of both volleyball & Four-Square. It is a four-way volleyball game that is played to 11, won by 2. CROSSNET volleyball uses a four-way net that is size-adjustable for standard outdoor volleyball heights suitable for children, women (7’4”), and men (7’11”).

One of the reasons why so many people have quickly taken to CROSSNET volleyball is that it is quick and easy to set up and you can play anywhere – on dirt, sand, grass or indoors. It’s a convenient option for a variation of the sport we all love. The game is designed to be enjoyed by all ages and all fitness levels.

To play CROSSNET volleyball, you just need to learn which Four-Square and which volleyball game rules apply. Read on to learn more about the rules, how to play the game, and how volleyball players use it for practice and warm-ups.

Are you ready to buy your CROSSNET set now? Click here or on the button below.

The Concept Of CROSSNET Volleyball

While CROSSNET mostly resembles volleyball, it is largely based on the rules of Four-Square, making CROSSNET volleyball the game of Four-Square – played in the air. The concept of the game is to eliminate players in higher squares. Each player’s main objective is to reach the highest square, while the overall objective of the game is to score 11 points and win by 2.

CROSSNET volleyball uses a very versatile set of equipment. The CROSSNET can be quickly detached by the zipper. This means that by unzipping the nets you can transform the unit into a volleyball net for “short court”, which players can use as a warm-up before competitions, or a 3-way net that players enjoy using for skills and fitness training.

CROSSNET nets are height-adjustable. They can be adjusted from 7’4” to 7’11” which provides a decent range to allow for players of all ages, sizes, and skills levels. When completely set up, each of the 4 squares measures 6’ 7” each direction.

How To Play CROSSNET Volleyball – Here Are The Rules

CROSSNET is a game for 4 or more players. You can play the game by following these steps and tips:

• To start the game, the CROSSNET is set up at the correct height.
• 4 players must then take their positions, one in each square. If there are additional players, they must form a line along the outside area of square 1.
• Players then focus on getting to the 4^th square while scoring 11 points.
• The game kicks off with the player positioned in square 4 serving the ball across the nets to square 2. So this means the direction of the service is diagonal.
• The player in square 2 must return to the ball over the net to any of the other squares. From this point on, the basic rules of volleyball apply (most of them at least).
• The game continues with players rallying the ball until one of the players misplays. A player who misplays is “out” and must return to square 1 or, in the case of more than 4 players, must join the back of the line formed outside square 1, while the rest of the players rotate into the empty space in a clockwise direction.
• Players who are in a higher position square do not rotate with the rest of the players.
• Players in square 4 only leave square 4 if they misplay or another player gets them out.
• Unlike volleyball, CROSSNET players only have one hit to get the ball over the net and into another square.
• The player in square 4 scores by getting other players out or when other players get each other out. Players in square 4 can also earn additional points by being the last player to touch the ball before another person fails to deliver the ball over the net.
• The overall winner of the game is the first player in square 4 to score 11 points.
• If there is a tie, additional rules apply. The CROSSNET game includes a “win by 2 points” rule. This means that if any 2 players reach 10 points at the same time, the winner is the player that can get 2 more points than the other opponent.
• When a player is out, they join the back of the queue or return to square 1.

When Is A Player “Out” In CROSSNET?

A player is out in the following instances:

• The player hits the ball out of bounds.
• The ball lands in the player’s square.
• The player hits the ball more than once (double-hitting).
• The player hits the ball near another player’s section of the court, but it lands out of bounds.

The rules of CROSSNET are simple and easy to follow, which makes it one of the reasons why it has grown in popularity so quickly.

Who Created CROSSNET Volleyball?

CROSSNET is a game that originates from Miami in Florida, USA. It is the brainchild of Chris Meade, Greg Meade, and Michael Delpapa. In 2017, the group was brainstorming ideas for a new game that combined both Four-Square and volleyball rules.

At the time, the team felt as if good-quality and enjoyable beach games were lacking in the USA. Chris, Grey, and Michael lived in Connecticut. They set out to create the game of CROSSNET and found that the concept had already been patented.

The team proceeded to gain the rights to the concept, called it “CROSSNET”, developed the rules, and then moved to Miami (where the beach market is more prominent) to start up a thriving business that has popularized CROSSNET.  

How CROSSNET Has Grown

The CROSSNET game is now actively used by schools, universities, sports teams, volleyball teams, physical education groups, and even youth development programs. The game has grown in popularity exponentially and has been featured on the likes of BuzzFeed, Forbes, Entrepreneur, Huffington Post, Yahoo, The Sports Daily, Future Sharks, and Kivo Daily to name a few.

Is CROSSNET a competitive and recognized sport? Yes, it is. It has made quite an impact all across the country.

To gain more interest and grow the community, CROSSNET hosts a variety of tournaments and competitions all across the country. A number of volleyball teams enter these tournaments and competitions for practice and for fun.

If you are a coach, a team captain or a leader of a volleyball team, these events could help to boost team camaraderie, improve on fitness and skills, and provide a way for the team to have fun while off the court without veering too far away from what keeps the team so close-knit (volleyball itself).

How to Assemble CROSSNET Volleyball Nets

Setting up the CROSSNET equipment is fairly easy. It can be a 1 or 2 person job. Inside your CROSSNET set, you should have the following items:

• 1 x CROSSNET volleyball and volleyball pump
• 1 x CROSSNET
• 1 x Outer boundary and 2 x inner boundaries
• 12 x Spring fastener poles
• 4 x Tension springs
• 4 x Ground pegs
• Each kit comes with a backpack or duffle bag for easy storage and transportation

Steps For Setting Up The CROSSNET Playing Field:

1. Lay all of the equipment on the ground so that you can easily access each piece as it is required.
2. Start by attaching all of the spring fastener poles together.
3. Slide the CROSSNET onto the first pole and attach the ground pegs to the hook found at the top of the pole. Repeat this step for the second pole.
4. Now carefully stretch out the net and peg pole 1 and 2 into place at 45 degrees.
5. The side net can be attached with the zipper.
6. Repeat these steps in order to set up pole 3 and again for the 4^th pole.
7. The interior boundary clip must be attached to the side that is opposite to the first clip. The same must be done for the other boundary line.
8. Then, spike the outer boundary line in place.

How CROSSNET Is Used For Volleyball Practice

CROSSNET is a popular game for volleyball players to practice their skills and increase fitness. Volleyball warm-up drills can include CROSSNET as it’s a quick and easy way to get players moving and on their feet, while practicing their hits, spiking, and learning how to quickly read a set of players.

CROSSNET is also a great way for teams to practice anytime, anywhere. The game can be set up at home, inside, outside – anywhere. It’s also compact enough for teams to get the fitness training their need, without having access to a full-size Volleyball court.

Last Word On CROSSNET Volleyball

CROSSNET is a combination of Four-Square and volleyball that can be enjoyed anywhere. If you want to improve your volleyball skills while having fun and getting fit at the same time, CROSSNET could prove to be a good first step.

To purchase a CROSSNET kit on Amazon, you can click here or on the button below.

Would you like to learn about more volleyball variations? There are many games that are similar to volleyball or share some of its fundamental concepts. We have a whole category of posts on this website that describe these kinds of game, check them out here: Volleyball Variations.

Photo credits:

The images for this post have all been provided with permission by CROSSNET’s official site.