Setting Up My Backyard Volleyball Court Adventure

Alright, so I woke up Saturday morning determined to build this removable volleyball net setup for my backyard using larch wood. Larch is supposed to be tough outdoors, and removable sounded perfect for when we need the lawn space back. Grabbed my coffee first, obviously – essential fuel.

Started by hauling out my dusty tape measure and marking where the poles needed to go. Did the classic “measure twice, cut once” thing in my head. Figured the net height should be regulation men’s height, roughly 7 feet 11 5/8 inches or whatever – I went for about 8 feet, close enough for backyard fun. Measured the distance between poles too, making sure it was centered.

Then came the lumber. Had a nice pile of larch timber I’d gotten from the local yard. This stuff is dense! Propped a long beam on my sawhorses and started sawing. Took way longer than I thought – sawdust flying everywhere, my arm complaining after the first cut. Wiped my brow, sawdust stuck to sweat – classic look.

Chopped four sturdy chunks for the base supports, needed something solid underground. Dug two massive holes where I’d measured, deep enough so the wind wouldn’t whip it over. Shovel hit rocks, roots, the usual backyard surprises. Dug around them, sweating buckets. Dropped the larch bases into the holes, packed dirt tight around them. Used my level app – gotta love technology – to get them perfectly upright.

Next were the tall upright poles. Cut those to the net height plus the buried depth. Remembered I needed a way to anchor them on the bases, removable like the title said. Brainstormed: U-bolts! Bolted heavy-duty U-bolts horizontally onto the flat tops of my buried base pieces. Took the big uprights, drilled holes near the bottom to match the U-bolts. Test-fitted them – slid right over the U-bolts! Perfect snug fit.

Net time. Hauled out the official volleyball net – way easier than building poles! Attached the top cable to eye bolts I’d pre-screwed near the tops of my uprights. Pulled it taut. Fed the bottom rope through hooks on the bottom of the net and staked those into the ground with tent pegs. Needed to put some muscle into pulling it tight so the net wasn’t saggy. Stepped back: looked legit.

Celebratory test: nudged the uprights. Solid. Unbolted one upright just to test the “removable” promise – yanked it up off the U-bolt base with a grunt, hauled it aside. The base just sat there flush with the grass. Exactly what I wanted! Could store the uprights and net in the shed, leave the bases buried.

Lessons Learned & Next Thoughts

• Larch rocks: Super heavy, super sturdy. Didn’t flinch when I hammered bolts into it. Felt solid. Time will tell against weather, but first impressions are great.
• Digging sucks: Always. Those holes took forever. Wish I had a mini post hole digger.
• U-bolts for the win: That simple setup made the removable part actually work. Just slide the posts on and off.
• Tension is key: Took some fiddling to get the net taut without warping the uprights.

Had a quick game with the kids later. Worked like a charm! Kids loved it. Even survived when my neighbor’s enthusiastic dog and a few slightly-too-happy drunks stumbled into the net later that evening. Uprights didn’t budge. Bases held firm. Mission accomplished. Thinking about adding guys wires for extreme wind now… maybe next weekend’s project.