Okay, here’s my blog post about my “keel volleyball sleeper timber” project, written in the style you requested:
Alright, so, picture this: I’ve got this backyard, right? And I’m obsessed with volleyball. But setting up a net properly? Always a pain. The poles wobble, the net sags… you get the idea. I wanted something solid, something permanent. That’s where the “keel volleyball sleeper timber” idea came in. It sounded kinda fancy, but really, it’s just about making a super sturdy base for the net poles.
First thing I did was grab some hefty timbers – I went with pressure-treated ones, ’cause, you know, they gotta withstand the weather. Think like, railroad ties, but a bit smaller. These are gonna be the “sleepers,” the foundation of the whole thing.
Next up, digging. Oh boy, the digging. I marked out where I wanted the net to go, and then I dug two big trenches, one on each side of the court. These trenches had to be deep enough to bury most of the timber, leaving just a bit sticking out. The point is to have these things anchored.
- Dig the trench!
- Make sure is deep!
- Timbers are heavy.
Then came the wrestling match. I manhandled those timbers into the trenches. They were heavy. I definitely recommend having a buddy help with this part, unless you’re trying to get a serious workout. I made sure they were level – used a spirit level and everything, ’cause a crooked net is just sad.
Making it Work
With the sleepers in place, I backfilled the trenches, packing the dirt in tight around the timbers. I stomped on it, watered it, stomped on it some more… basically, I wanted that soil to be like concrete.
Now, for the “keel” part. This is what’s gonna keep the poles from leaning. I took some shorter pieces of timber and buried them perpendicular to the sleepers, right where the net poles would go. Think of it like a ship’s keel – it’s providing extra stability underneath.
I used some big ol’ galvanized screws and brackets to attach metal sleeves to the sleepers, right above those keel pieces. These sleeves are where the volleyball poles would slide into. I made double sure everything was lined up perfectly, ’cause once those poles are in, there’s no adjusting.
Finally, I slid the volleyball poles into the sleeves, strung up the net, and… boom! Rock-solid volleyball setup. It doesn’t budge, even with the hardest spikes. It’s a bit of work, sure, but totally worth it for a permanent, no-hassle net.
My friends are super impressed. It looks pro, and it plays even better. Plus, I can brag about my “keel volleyball sleeper timber” system. Sounds way more impressive than “I buried some wood,” right?