Okay, so I’ve been wanting to build a portable volleyball court for a while now. You know, something I could set up in the park, at the beach, or even just in a bigger backyard. I saw some designs online, but nothing really clicked, so I decided to just wing it and engineer my own. The basic idea was to have a wooden floor with some cushioning underneath, all on a board that I could move around.

Figuring Out the Base

First things first, I needed a solid base. I went with a big sheet of plywood – the thick stuff, not that flimsy particle board. I wanted it to be sturdy, you know? I measured out the dimensions I wanted for the court. It wasn’t going to be regulation size, obviously, but big enough for some decent games.

Adding Some Bounce (and Comfort)

Now, playing volleyball on straight-up wood? That’s a recipe for sore knees and ankles. So, I needed cushions. I considered a bunch of options – foam, rubber mats, even those interlocking gym tiles. I ended up finding these thick, dense foam pads at a home improvement store. They seemed like they’d provide good shock absorption.

I cut the foam pads to fit the plywood base. This was a bit of a pain, honestly. Lots of measuring, marking, and then using a utility knife to slowly saw through the foam. I definitely recommend a sharp blade and some patience for this part.

Attaching Everything

Next up: getting the foam and the plywood to stick together. I used a heavy-duty construction adhesive. Spread it all over the back of the plywood, then carefully laid the foam pads on top. I made sure to press down firmly, getting good contact everywhere. Then I put some heavy stuff on top (books, weights, whatever I could find) and let it dry overnight.

The Wooden Surface

For the actual playing surface, I wanted something smooth and durable. I went with tongue-and-groove wooden flooring. It’s the kind that clicks together, so it seemed pretty straightforward to install. I laid out the boards on top of the cushioned base, making sure to stagger the joints for extra strength. I also trimmed the borders and made it more tide and smooth.

Once I had the layout right, I used wood glue and some small nails to secure the flooring to the plywood base. Again, lots of pressing and making sure everything was flush and tight.

Making it Portable

Now, this whole thing was pretty heavy. To make it “portable,” I had this idea to attach some heavy-duty casters (wheels) to the bottom. I flipped the whole thing over (carefully!) and screwed the casters into the plywood base, near the corners and in the middle for extra support.

Testing it Out!

Finally, it was time to test it out! I wheeled the court out into the yard, and it worked. It had some give, the surface was solid, and it was actually moveable! Sure, it’s not exactly “lightweight,” but I could roll it around without too much trouble. We set up a net and played a few games. Success! My friends were quite happy when they saw the court, and it was a fun experience.

It’s not perfect, mind you. I might add some handles to make it easier to maneuver, and maybe some kind of locking mechanism for the wheels. But overall, I’m pretty stoked with how it turned out. A DIY portable volleyball court, built from scratch!