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Top 7 Things to Know About the Volleyball Net

volleyball net height

How high is an indoor volleyball net?

One of the most commonly asked questions in volleyball is, “how high is a volleyball net?”. The best is answer is simply, “it depends”. The most standard and commonly used indoor volleyball net height is 7 feet, 11 5/8 inches for men and 7 feet, 4 1/8 inches for women.

These heights are used across many levels of volleyball (high school, college, professional, Olympic) but are not necessarily uniform throughout the sport. Let’s take a look at each of the circumstances that may change the height of a volleyball net.

 

Men’s Volleyball Net Height

Men's volleyball net height As noted above, the typical height of a men’s volleyball net is 7 feet, 11 5/8 inches but that varies depending on age and actually decreases at a certain point. The 7 feet, 11 5/8 inches begins at the age of 15 and continues through to men aged 54 and under.

The volleyball net height for men competing in events for ages 55 and up is lowered to 7 feet, 9 5/8 inches. Furthermore, the men’s volleyball net height for ages 70 and up is 7 feet, 6 inches.

With that being said, you shouldn’t be opposed to raising the net a bit while you’re practicing. Tricking your body with a higher volleyball net is a terrific way to push yourself to the next level. 

Not only will it have an impact on your vertical jump, it can prevent you from hitting “too down” on the volleyball. It is less fancy but the back corners of the volleyball court are often times the most exposed. Do yourself a favor by raising the volleyball net so you can learn to aim long as opposed to straight down.

 

Women’s Volleyball Net Height

Women's Volleyball Net HeightAs seen above, the standard height of a women’s volleyball net is 7 feet, 4 1/8 inches but will fluctuate depending on age.

Girls will begin playing on the volleyball net height of 7 feet, 4 1/8 inches at 15 years old and will continue until they reach 45 years old (in club volleyball). At 45 years old, the volleyball net will be lowered to 7 feet 2, 1/8 inches until they reach 60 years old when it is lowered to 7 feet.

Although working on your vertical jump is the most obvious way to improve your play at the net, it isn’t the only way. Concentrating your efforts on agility can have an enormous impact on beating the block.

Hitting timing sets such as one balls or slides are common but rarely perfected. Developing a rapport with your setter and increasing the speed of the set will ultimately lead to a more efficient offense.

 

How high is a beach volleyball net?

If you’re from America, you’re probably familiar with the Association of Volleyball Professionals or AVP for short. This is the largest and longest running professional beach volleyball tour in the United States.

Beginning in 1983, the AVP has produced greats such as Phil Dalhausser and Misty May-Treanor and has allowed numerous players to go on to win medals in the Olympic games. From a worldwide perspective, the most commonly known professional beach volleyball organization is the Fédération Internationale de Volleyball (FIVB).

The FIVB Beach Volleyball World Tour began in 1987 and was home to volleyball legends such as Emanuel Rego and Larissa Franca. Whether you have witnessed quite a few AVP matches firsthand or only seem to catch the volleyball bug during the Olympics, you might be curious as to the beach volleyball net height. Similar to indoor, the standard beach volleyball net height is 7 feet, 11 5/8 inches for men and 7 feet, 4 1/8 inches for women.

Both of these heights will change depending on age and gender as indicated below. It is important to note that because a beach volleyball court can produce an uneven surface, the volleyball net height must be measured following the court being raked.

 

Men’s Beach Volleyball Net Height

Men's Beach Volleyball Net HeightWhile the standard beach volleyball net height is 7 feet, 11 5/8 inches for men, it varies depending on level of play. Needless to say if you’re 13 years old, you won’t be swinging on the same net height as Phil Dalhausser.

In regard to competitive play, boys’ 12 years old and younger will be using a volleyball net height of 6 feet, 6 3/4 inches (2.00m). That net height increase to 7 feet (2.13m) for boys’ ages 13-14 and 7 feet 4 1/4 inches (2.43m) for boy’s ages 15-16. At age 16, the height increases to its final height of 7 feet, 11 5/8 inches. 

Keep in mind that these volleyball net heights can vary depending on the organization or tournament in which you are competing! To play it safe, just get accustomed to the standard men’s height of 7 feet, 11 5/8 inches!

 

Women’s Beach Volleyball Net Height

Women's Beach Volleyball Net HeightThe women’s beach volleyball net heights follow a similar path to the men’s when it comes to age level changes.

Girls’ ages 12 and under start out on a net height of 6 feet, 6 3/4 inches (2.00m). That increases to 7 feet (2.13m) for girls’ ages 13-14 and again to 7 feet 4 1/4 inches (2.43m) at 15 years old. This means that girls begin playing on their max height at age 15 years old while boys don’t play on their max height until 16/17 years old.

A great way to be prepared for the beach volleyball net height change is to get great at hitting the volleyball to certain spots! If you are around the game long enough, you’ll notice the best players are the ones who have great control.

Being able to hit a deep roll to the far corner can work wonders for your game. Remember, the biggest player isn’t always the best player. Study the game and you’ll be able to compensate for any physical disadvantages you might have!

 

How high is a youth volleyball net?

The most recognized youth volleyball organization within the United States is USAV. Each year, USAV hosts the Junior National Championships for hundreds of teams ages 12-18 years old.

Boys and girls across the country compete for a chance to be declared the best club volleyball team in America. If you or someone you know is ready to participate, it is important to understand the volleyball rules and regulations.

With that being said, one of the first questions that comes to mind is, “how high is a youth volleyball net?”. Starting at 10 years old and younger, the volleyball net height is 6 feet, 6 inches (1.98 m) for girls and 7 feet (2.13 m) for boys. At ages 11-12 years, the volleyball net height increases to 7 feet (2.13 m) for girls and remains the same at 7 feet (2.13 m) for boys. Once they hit ages 13-14 years, the volleyball net height increases to 7 feet, 4 1/8 inches (2.24 m) for both boys and girls. At age 15, the boys’ volleyball net height is increased to its final heights of 7 feet, 11 5/8 inches.

 

Boys’ Indoor Volleyball Net Height

Boys Volleyball Net HeightWith the boys’ volleyball net height, you’ll see that it starts out at 7 ft (2.13m) and doesn’t get higher until age 13. This is because 13 years old is generally the point in which boys start to go through puberty and get taller.

This can be compared to the more gradual increase in height with youth girls. Girls tend to mature at an earlier age so the increases in volleyball net height need to happen in line with their growth. 

 

Girls’ Indoor Volleyball Net Height

Girls volleyball net heightAs opposed to the boys, the girls’ volleyball net reaches its final height when they turn 13 years old. This means that it will stay at a height of 7 feet, 4 1/8 inches for the remainder of their volleyball player career (unless they play in a club that warrants a lower net at an older age).

Although girls under 13 years old may play on a lower net, it is never too early to get accustomed to the standard volleyball net height of 7 feet, 4 1/8 inches. This will make the transition much easier and allow the girls’ to be ahead of the game.

 

How high is an outdoor volleyball net?

The only real guideline to “outdoor volleyball” is simply, it needs to be played outdoors. With that being said, there are a ton of different ways to play volleyball outdoors so all of the rules might not be constant. Because beach volleyball is in a category of its own, we define outdoor volleyball as volleyball that is played outside on surfaces other than sand (such as grass or pavement).

Outdoor volleyball net height isn’t something that is universally agreed upon but most leagues adhere to the standards set by beach volleyball. This means the volleyball net height for men is 7 feet, 11 5/8 inches and for women is 7 feet, 4 1/8 inches.

If you are looking to play in an upcoming grass volleyball tournament, these are the heights that you will most likely encounter. It is important to note that the grass volleyball court dimensions are normally a rectangle measuring 60 x 30 feet.   

In reference to 9-man, the net height is 7 feet, 8 1/2 inches. If you are unfamiliar, 9-man is a form of volleyball played with 9 players on each side on a 10 by 20 meters court. It is a great variation of the game and is worth looking more into!

 

How high is a sitting volleyball net?

sitting volleyball net heightThe sitting volleyball net height is 1.15 meters for men and 1.05 meters for women meaning it is roughly 3 feet from the ground to the top of the net. For reference, the sitting volleyball court dimensions are 10 x 6 meters with a 2-meter attack line on each side.

 

How high is a coed volleyball net?

Normally, the coed volleyball net height is the men’s height relative to the age group that is playing. This means that if the group is 54 years or younger, they will play on a net that is 7 feet, 11 5/8 inches.

On the other hand, if the group is 70 years or older, they will play on a net that is 7 feet, 6 inches. Because there isn’t a universally accepted coed volleyball net height, it will ultimately be left up to the players to decide.

How to Measure The Volleyball Net Height

Measuring the volleyball net height can be quite easy if you have the right tools. Click here to find the best tool for measuring the height of the volleyball net!

Step 1: Clip the measuring tool to the top of the volleyball net and let it hang to the floor. 

Step 2: Make sure the chain isn’t swing from side to side. This is important!

Step 3: Measure each side of the volleyball net at the boundaries ( The boundaries are where the antennas will be set up). Ensure that the height is as close to the length of the chain as possible. This means that the bottom of the chain should just barely touch the floor. 

Step 4: Measure the middle of the volleyball net. THe middle of the volleyball net might be a little lower than the boundaries. That is ok! Just make sure that the difference between the height in the middle of the net, and the height at the boundaries of the net, is not greater than ¾ inches. 

Step 5: Marvel at your perfectly set up volleyball net and get ready to play some volleyball!

Note: If you are playing outside, you need to make sure that the ground is level below the net while you are measuring. 

For example: if you are playing on the beach, the sand needs to be raked so you can be sure that the height is correct! The same goes for if you are playing on snow (some people are crazy enough to play snow volleyball, haha.)

Stuff to Buy!

We like to include some of our favorite volleyball gear after articles to give you a hand in any upcoming purchases that you might be making. Below you will find some of our favorite volleyball net related items on the market.

Baden Champions Series Volleyball Set

The Baden Champion series volleyball set is a great purchase at a great price.  While it’s not a professional-grade volleyball net, we consider it one of the best options if you are not looking to break the bank.

The Set includes the following:

-Baden Match Point Volleyball 

-Regulation Size Volleyball Net 

-Ball pump w/needle 

-2 Heavy duty adjustable steel poles 

-Set of weather-resistant boundary lines

-Durable carry bag

It’s obviously great for family parties and barbeques but you can use it for competitive play as well. The poles provide a rather sturdy volleyball net which normally is difficult to recreate at such a low price and the carry bag makes it super easy to transport!

Unfortunately, this volleyball net only has one height setting. In order to recreate the height of a woman’s volleyball net, you will need to dig holes to further submerge the poles into the ground.

Also, we would recommend using your own volleyball as the one that comes with this set isn’t top quality.  All in all, this volleyball net is great for anyone who wants to play volleyball at home or take their game on the road. Click here to get the best price on Amazon!

Best Volleyball Balls

Speaking of your own volleyball, take a look at the above. These three volleyball balls are our favorites for playing outside or on the beach!

Wilson AVP Volleyball – The AVP Volleyball is the official volleyball of the AVP tour (Association of Volleyball Professionals). If it is good enough for the pros, it should be good enough for you!

The grip is great and the durability is second to none so it should last you quite a while. This is one of the most commonly seen volleyballs seen on the beaches throughout America. Click here to see the best price on amazon!

Mikasa VLS300 Volleyball – The Mikasa VLS300 is the newest volleyball released by Mikasa and is the official volleyball of the FIVB. If you are unfamiliar with the FIVB, it is an acronym for Fédération Internationale de Volleyball. 

Basically, it is the international volleyball league that professionals from around the globe play in. You will surely run into this volleyball if you are playing on a beach outside of the United States. Overall, it’s a great volleyball to add to your collection! Click here to see the best price on amazon!

Molten Elite Volleyball – The Molten Elite volleyball is the softest and most forgiving of the volleyballs listed here. It is the official ball of the USAV making it a match for players 17 and younger. 

It’s one of the best outdoor volleyball balls to learn the game with. Click here to see the best price on amazon!

Frequently asked questions about the volleyball net

You will notice this section is a bit repetitive. This is in fact on purpose. I like to include this section because it allows readers to get a quick answer for the exact question that they are looking for. Drop a comment below if there are any questions I have left unanswered. 

What is the high school volleyball net height?

The high school volleyball net height is 7 feet, 11 5/8 inches for boys and 7 feet, 4 1/8 inches for girls. 

What is the youth girls’ volleyball net height?

The volleyball net height for youth girls is 6 feet, 6 3/4 inches for ages 10 and under; 7 feet for ages 11-12; and 7 feet, 4 1/8 inches for ages 13+.

What is the youth boys’ volleyball net height?

The volleyball net height for youth boys is 7 feet for ages 12 and under and 7 feet, 4 1/8 inches for ages 13-14. 

What is the volleyball net height in middle school?

The volleyball net height for middle school boys is 7 feet.

The volleyball net height for middle school girls is 6 feet, 6 3/4 inches for ages 10 and under and 7 feet for ages 11-12.

What is the volleyball net height in feet?

The volleyball net height in feet is 7 feet, 11 5/8 inches for men and 7 feet, 4 1/8 inches for women. 

What is the volleyball net height in inches?

The volleyball net height in inches is 95 5/8 inches for men and 88 1/8 inches for women. 

What is the volleyball net height in meters?

The volleyball net height in meters is 2.43m for men and 2.24m for women. 

What is the Olympic volleyball net height?

The Olympic volleyball net height is 7 feet, 11 5/8 inches for men and 7 feet, 4 1/8 inches for women.