Okay, so the other day, I decided to build a little volleyball practice area in my backyard. I’m no pro, but I wanted a decent surface to bump and set without twisting an ankle on the grass. This is how it all went down.

Getting Started

First, I measured out the area I wanted to use. It wasn’t huge, just enough space to move around a bit. Then, I headed to the home improvement store. I grabbed a bunch of those interlocking foam cushion mats – you know, the kind they use in gyms or kids’ play areas. I also picked up some plywood sheets, pressure-treated ones since they’d be outdoors.

Laying the Foundation

Back home, I cleared the area of any rocks and sticks, trying to get it as level as possible. I’m not gonna lie, my yard isn’t exactly perfectly flat, but I did my best. Then, I started laying down the plywood sheets. I made sure they were snug against each other, creating a solid base.

Adding the Cushions

Next up were the cushion mats. These were pretty easy to work with. They interlocked like puzzle pieces, so I just snapped them together on top of the plywood. I went for a nice, thick layer for extra cushioning. I may not be a pro, but I wanted to keep my knees happy!

Assembling all together

Making sure all are neat and aligned, I start to place the playwood from corner to corner. After that, I place the cushion mats on top of it. I can then use some tape, or just the lock on the mats to make sure they don’t go out of the area I prepared.

The Finishing Touches

Once the mats were down, I walked around on it a bit, making sure everything felt secure and stable. There were a couple of spots where the plywood felt a little uneven, so I added some extra support underneath. I just shoved some thin pieces of wood in there to level things out. Not super scientific, but it worked!

Finally, I swept off any loose debris and admired my handiwork. It wasn’t perfect, but it was definitely an upgrade from practicing on the lumpy grass. Now I can work on my (admittedly amateur) volleyball skills without worrying about rolling an ankle. Plus, it’s a pretty comfy surface for just hanging out, too!