If you’ve been to a park, beach, backyard party, family gathering or campground lately, you may have seen a group of people spiking a small ball across a net that looks like a mini trampoline.  If you have, you’ve seen the nation’s hottest new outdoor game in action.  It’s called Spikeball.  What is it exactly?  Well, if volleyball and foursquare had a baby it would be called Spikeball.  We like to call it the perfect family game that you can play outside ALL YEAR LONG!

Who can play it?  Almost anyone. That’s what makes it such a popular game, and in our eyes, the perfect family game.  Spikeball appeals to a wide range of ages and abilities.  As long as you can move around and toss a ball – you can play spike ball.

How do you play it?  A standard game calls for two teams of two players each.  Opposing teams line up across from each other with the net in the center.  The ball is served by bouncing it onto the net to the other teammate.  A bounce on the spikeball net equates to clearing the net to the other side in volleyball.  However, that’s where the similarities end.  In spike ball, once the ball is in motion, the players can move anywhere they want in a 360 degree radius around the net. There are no sides and no boundaries!

The object of the game is to hit the ball onto the net so that the opposing team cannot return it.  Each team is allowed up to three touches to return the ball.  Possession changes from one team to another when the ball bounces off the net.  When the ball is NOT successfully returned by the other team – score!

How popular is this game?  Spikeball is played around the world by families, friends, groups and schools.  Currently there are over 1,000,000 players and 1,500 ranked teams worldwide.  We’d say that’s pretty a popular game.

We love spikeball because it is easy to learn, portable, and can be played by the whole family.  Plus there are many variations on the game that ensure that play never gets dull.  As far as a family game goes, we give this one 5 stars!