WHAT’S UP PE FRIENDS!
It took me quite a few years to finally get what I feel is the perfect tennis and volleyball net setup for my gym, so I wanted to share it with you.
We all know that it can be really tedious to set up and put away nets each day, so I was looking for something that was super quick, simple and would be easy to setup or take down in between classes.
THIS SET UP IS QUICK AND EASY
This is a FASTER, EASIER and SAFER way to set up nets in your gym. The bungee cord and wall hook combo allows you to efficiently set up and take down nets for games like tennis, badminton, or volleyball quickly.
In the video below, I’ll show you how fast it is to set up one net and as a bonus I’ll show you how this setup has a built-in safety function. I also threw in some options you could use instead of a net (which is what I used to do before I had this setup).
As you can see from the video, I could literally set up the whole gym with 6 nets in no more than 2-3 minutes.
I hope you got some ideas and inspiration to do a similar setup in your gym or teaching space.
To recap the video:
WHAT DO I NEED FOR THIS SETUP?
- Nets
- Carabiners
- Bungee Cord w/ hooks
- Tarp Strap
- Round Hooks
- PVC End Caps
HOW DOES THE SETUP WORK?
- Use a round hook that you can drill into the wall to secure the bungee cord at the desired height for your nets
- I made one at tennis net level (3.5 feet) and one a little higher for volleyball nets (7.5 feet) *these are not official net heights, I just did what I’ve found to work well considering my past teaching experience.
- (optional) Use the PVC end caps and tarp strap bungee to cover the round hook for safety.
- Tie the bungee cord to one end of the net.
- At the other end of the net, tie a carabiner.
- Tie a carabiner as well on the volleyball standard. This will be used to attach the carabiner which is at the end of the net.
- To assemble the net, just stretch it out from the wall and hook it up to the carabiner on the standard.
- To put away the net, just unhook it from the carabiner, fold it up and then store in a bag hanging on the wall.
SAFETY FIRST!
I used PVC end caps to cover the hooks as a safety measure. In case the kids run into them, they won’t get caught or get hurt by slamming into the eyelet (this is probably overkill, but better safe than sorry).
Also, the bungee cord allows for some stretching. The net will just stretch and not snap off or pull the standard down if the kids run into it, which has always been a big safety concern anytime I’ve using volleyball standards.
Balloon Tennis
Another fun game I play sometimes as a station activity is Balloon Tennis, check out the video below for the rules and an example:
Balloon Tennis Rules:
- You only have 3 hits to get it back over the net
- Keep the balloon inside the boundary lines
- Don’t let the balloon hit the ground on your side of the square
You are out if:
- You use more than 3 hits
- You hit the balloon out of bounds
- The balloon touches the ground on your side of the square
Once a point is scored, the winner stays and the next player rotates onto the court.
For more Striking with Implements Station Activities Go Here
That’s It!
Good luck with upgrading your net setup, playing some fun net games and of course with becoming a more awesome teacher!
Check Out Our Striking with Paddles Resources
If you’re looking for some awesome striking with paddles resources, check out our Unit Plan Pack or our Follow the Leader Pack on TPT at the links below (or if you’re a member you can login to the membership and download both of these resources inside the membership resources area):
Have an awesome day!
John Hogan says
Wow, I like the setup. As someone who loves volleyball, I think it’s great how efficient and safe everything is. They’ve used bungee cords and carabiners to make everything easier and less risky when playing hard. I also think it’s really smart to have Balloon Tennis as an activity to help improve skills. I appreciate you shared this idea for the gym setup is awesome! Read more https://volleyballspikes.com/best-pool-volleyball-nets/
Marcus says
Thanks for sharing John!
Tennis Court Nets says
I found this post is very interesting. Thank you very much for sharing this information with us.
Hunter Overstreet says
I like the idea of bungee cords. Fast and easy take down is key in a PE classroom. You have students in and out every 30 minutes or so and the faster and cleaner you are on your clean up makes for better transition and a smoother day.
Adriana says
Is that tape on your standard pole to attach the carabiner onto it?
I’m looking for a way to attach nets at that level since my pole does not have holes there…
Ben Landers says
I tied a rope to the pole and beaners, the tape just holds the rope tight and keeps it from falling down