Okay, so last Tuesday, this wild idea popped into my head. Why not build a proper volleyball court right in my backyard? My old gravel patch just wasn’t cutting it anymore. Everyone ended up with scraped knees, and playing was just messy. I needed something real, something solid underfoot.

The Hunt Begins

Started digging online like crazy for solutions. A permanent concrete slab? Nah, too much work, too expensive. Then I stumbled on this idea: interlocking wooden panels designed just for sports, volleyball specifically. The big sell? They’re removable. That clicked for me because my backyard isn’t just a volleyball court, you know? Somedays we need the space back. Perfect.

Found a supplier. Honestly, the whole buying part felt smooth. Pictures looked good, reviews seemed decent. Clicked purchase and just waited. Boxes showed up a week later – way more boxes than I expected, honestly.

Unboxing & The First “Uh Oh”

Ripped those boxes open like a kid on Christmas. Panels looked solid, nice wood grain. Each piece had these plastic connectors along the edges. Cool. But then I realized – I needed a perfectly flat base. My backyard? Not exactly known for its levelness. Grabbed a shovel, some sand, and probably a gallon of sweat.

• • Marked out the court area with string and stakes.

• • Started digging up those annoying little hills.

• • Filled low spots with sand, tons of sand.

• Borrowed my neighbor’s big tamper thing and just went ham compacting it down. Over and over.

Took me the whole Saturday morning, back screaming at me. But finally, it felt solid and flat enough.

The Actual Assembly Fun

Started laying down the first row of panels along my string line. Felt pretty good. Connected the first two panels – easy peasy. Just slid one tongue into the groove of the other at a slight angle, then pushed it flat. Heard a nice solid click. Yes!

Got ambitious, started adding panels sideways and lengthways. But halfway through the second row, hit a snag. One panel just wouldn’t sit flush. Got down on my hands and knees, squinting at the connectors. Turns out I’d pushed the previous panel slightly too tight against the first row. Its connector was jammed.

Had to loosen the connections around it slightly. Annoying, but manageable. Learned fast: Go slow. Don’t force them. Let the connectors do their thing. Once I got the rhythm, it was pretty satisfying.

Knelt down, tapped each new panel in place with a rubber mallet – gentle taps! – checking the connections felt snug. Kept measuring corner-to-corner to make sure the whole dang thing stayed square. Didn’t want a lopsided court!

Final panel? Had to trim the edge connector plate things slightly for a clean fit. Measured twice, cut once. Slid it home. That final thunk felt amazing.

Testing & Celebrating

Stood up, hands on hips, admiring the wooden rectangle. Looked legit. But looks aren’t everything. Grabbed my old volleyball and just slammed it down near the center.

The ball bounced back up – crisp, predictable, no wobble. The panels didn’t shift an inch! Did a little happy dance right there. Later that evening, got a few neighbors over. We served, spiked, dug – court felt fantastic. Solid grip, just the right amount of give, no ankle-twisting nonsense. And cleaning? So easy.

Thinking About Taking It Down

Fast forward a few weeks, needed the space for a family BBQ. The whole “removable” thing was about to be tested. Grabbed a panel lifter tool (got one when I ordered the panels, just in case). Hooked it under the edge of a corner panel, levered it up gently. Heard the connectors release with a little pop. Slid it out.

Started working inward, carefully lifting panels straight up. Stacked them neatly off to the side. Honestly? Disassembly was way quicker and easier than putting it together. Took maybe an hour. Cleaned up the panels with a damp cloth before stacking them away in the shed. Sand base is still there, ready for next time.

So yeah, that was my removable volleyball parquet adventure. Was it hard work? You bet, especially leveling the base. Messed up a few connections? Absolutely. Worth every splinter and drop of sweat? 100%. It’s transformed our backyard. Totally recommend it if you’ve got the space and don’t mind a solid day’s labor.