Roundnet Rules Overview
Diving into the Rulebook
Roundnet, often referred to as Spikeball, has grown from a backyard pastime into a full-fledged tournament sport played worldwide. Its rise in popularity has led to a dedicated community of players, leagues, and even professional competitions. With the sport evolving rapidly, the rules are becoming more standardized, helping players of all levels enjoy a fair and competitive experience.
That said, the beauty of Roundnet lies in its simplicity. Whether you’re playing casually with friends or gearing up for a tournament, the core rules remain straightforward: serve, rally, and spike. This guide gives you a quick overview of the essential rules to get you started and ensure every game is as exciting as the last.
360 degree Volleyball
Roundnet is what you’d get if volleyball and four square had a baby—but the baby drank a Red Bull and never sat still. The game starts with a serve and then quickly turns into a high-energy rally, where teams of two aim to outmaneuver each other with spikes, clever passes, and rapid reflexes. Players can move 360 degrees around the net, so no side is ever “out.” You win a rally when the opposing team can’t return the ball onto the net within their three touches, and the game typically goes up to 21 points. It’s chaotic, thrilling, and just the right amount of competitive fun.
Serving
To start each rally, one player serves the ball from behind the designated serving line, typically 7.5 feet away from the center of the net. Serves must be clean—toss the ball and hit it directly onto the net with one hand. The ball should clear the rim and bounce outward toward the opposing team. Players are allowed one “let serve,” meaning if the ball grazes the net but lands in play, they can serve again. Once the serve is returned, play continues.
Serving in itself should usually not dominate the game, but in the higher leagues of Roundnet, servers are finding incredibly effective serves around the fine print in the official rules. Professional players are constantly making serves harder and harder to receive, and receivers and official rules will both need to adapt to this.
Passing
Each team is allowed up to three touches to control the ball and return it to the net. Passes between teammates can use any part of the body, but hands are the most common. The goal is to set up a smooth attack, so communication is key. Just remember, passes need to be intentional and controlled. One pro tip? Use soft, accurate touches to give your partner the best chance to spike it back on the net. Players must alternate hits between teammates, with one exception: a soft touch, which I’ll explain in the next paragraph.
Soft-Touch Rule
The soft-touch rule in Roundnet allows a player to legally use two consecutive touches on the ball, but only under specific conditions. It’s similar to a block in volleyball and is designed to provide more defensive options. A soft-touch can only be used when:
- The first touch comes immediately after the ball bounces off the net.
- The ball is moving upward when touched, ensuring it’s not a downward, forced hit.
- The player who uses the soft-touch cannot hit the ball back onto the net; instead, they must pass it to a teammate, who will then spike the ball onto the net for the team’s third and final touch.
This rule is a strategic tool to allow the same player to take advantage of his position and hit the ball twice in a row, and it was only officially added to the USAR in 2021
Offensive Hitting
When it comes to hitting the ball back onto the net in Roundnet, players have several creative and strategic options to score on the opposing team. The drop shot is a popular choice, where the ball is gently tapped over the net, making it harder for the opponent to predict and return. The tweener, often seen as a show-off move, involves hitting the ball between the legs—surprising your opponents and adding an exciting flair to your game. The pull shot is a quick, sharp hit aimed to catch the other team off guard, while the push shot pushes the ball with more force to make it difficult for defenders to react.
A unique feature of Roundnet is that players can dive over the net to make these shots, and it’s completely legal! This often happens when players, in an effort to get a better angle on their attack, leap over the net. This dive can be an incredibly effective way to get the ball in places where the other team has little chance of retrieving it. So, feel free to leap, dive, and get creative with your shots—it’s all part of the game!
No-Hit zone
In addition to the offensive hits we discussed earlier, it’s important to understand the no-hit zone (NHZ), a rule designed to limit how players can approach their shots. The NHZ is a 1.5-foot diameter area around the net that restricts a player from swinging directly over the net and hitting the ball while within the zone. In 2021, the USAR was updated to include this rule, requiring more skilled players to adhere to it. This limits their last-minute attack angles and makes their offense more predictable.
By not allowing players to swing from directly above or within the net, the NHZ helps to keep the offense fair and more strategic. Players are forced to plan their attacks, increasing the challenge of making those dramatic last-second kills. While this may limit some flashy, high-risk plays, it has ultimately helped Roundnet become more dynamic and enjoyable to watch. It adds depth to the strategy by requiring players to use skill and timing rather than ending points with surprise attacks.
Calling Faults
In Roundnet, the faults you encounter can vary greatly depending on your skill level. While beginner players might overlook some of these faults, it’s important to understand the full set of rules, especially in tournament play. This section will provide an overview of the different faults that can be called during a game. These faults can be identified by other players or observers, and it’s crucial that the call is made immediately after the violation occurs. In tournament settings, players and officials discuss the situation to determine the outcome of the point based on who witnessed the rule infraction.
List of Roundnet Faults
Serving Faults:
Foot Fault: The server must remain behind the serving line until the ball is hit. Stepping over this line results in a fault.
Illegal Serve: The ball must be tossed at least 4 inches before being hit. Failing to do so is considered an illegal serve.
Double Fault: Two consecutive faults by the server result in the opposing team winning the point.
Rally Faults:
Rim Hit: If the ball contacts the rim during play, it results in a point for the opposing team.
Double Hit: A player may not hit the ball twice in succession, except when executing a legal soft touch.
Carry: The ball must not come to a complete rest in a player’s possession. A carry results in a point for the opposing team.
Pocket: If the ball contacts the net’s pocket (the area adjacent to the rim) during play, the rally continues. However, if this occurs during a serve, it results in a fault.
Illegal Hit: The ball must rebound cleanly off a player’s body. Any prolonged contact or spin-off is considered an illegal hit.
Hinder: If a player interferes with the opposing team’s play, it results in a hinder, and the point is replayed.
Self-Hit: If the ball contacts a player or their teammate after hitting the net, it results in a point for the opposing team.
Set Violation: If a player contacts the set (the net’s frame) during play, it results in a point for the opposing team.
For a comprehensive understanding of these faults and other rules, refer to the official USAR ruleset.
keeping up with the roundnet rules
To truly master the rules of Roundnet, it’s essential to stay up to date with the USAR rulesheet and the official Spikeball rules. Understanding the rules of this fast-growing and dynamic sport isn’t just helpful—it’s a game-changer! When you know the ins and outs, you can fully dive into every rally, knowing exactly what’s fair play and what’s not. This means less time wondering if your friend is breaking the rules and more time enjoying the thrill of the game. So, take the time to learn the rules—it’ll make your Roundnet experience not only more fun, but a lot more exciting too!