Net height
It is the measurement that changes the match more than any other. The official values:
- 2,43 m for men;
- 2,24 m for women.
The height is measured at the centre of the court. Above the two sidelines, the net must be at the same height and, in any case, cannot exceed the official height by more than 2 cm. This is why a net is always checked at three points: centre, left sideline, right sideline.
For youth categories and certain competitions, the heights are different: they depend on the category and the season, so they must be checked against your federation's regulations. In amateur mixed tournaments, intermediate heights between men's and women's are often used: there is no official regulation value, so it must be stated in the tournament rules before registration.
The net
- Height (canvas width): 1 m.
- Length: 9,50-10 m, which is 25 to 50 cm beyond each sideline.
- Mesh: square, 10 cm on each side, dark in colour.
- Top band: 7 cm white band, double canvas, folded along the top edge and containing a flexible cable used to tension the net.
- Bottom band: 5 cm white band, with a rope that allows the lower part to be secured and tensioned to the posts.
- Side bands: two white bands 5 cm wide and 1 m long, fastened vertically on the net directly above each sideline. They are part of the net, and this has a practical consequence: a ball touching them is considered to have touched the net.
The antennae
They are two flexible rods, 1,80 m long and 10 mm in diameter, made of fibreglass, with contrasting colour bands of 10 cm. They are fastened to the outer edge of each side band, one on each side, and must extend 80 cm above the net.
The antennae serve only one purpose, and it is crucial: they delimit the crossing space. A ball that touches an antenna is out, even if it then lands in the opponent's court; a ball that crosses the net outside the antenna is out. Without antennae, a wide ball is a matter of opinion, and in a tournament, this means arguments. They are the cheapest accessory with the greatest impact on the peace of mind of the day.
The posts
- Height: 2,55 m, preferably adjustable.
- Position: 0,50-1,00 m outside each sideline.
- Shape: rounded and smooth, without guy wires crossing the free zone.
Guy wires are where cheap systems cause issues: a cable stretched diagonally across the free zone is a dangerous obstacle right where players run to defend. If you have posts with guy wires, mark them and consider a placement that keeps them out of the players' path.
In sports halls, posts are usually inserted into floor sleeves, which must be kept clean and closed when not in use (an open socket is a sprained ankle waiting to happen). Outdoors, weighted bases or solid anchors are needed: a tensioned net exerts significant force, and a post falling on someone is an accident, not an inconvenience.
Setting up and tensioning the net
The sequence that works:
- Secure the posts and check that they are vertical. A leaning post distorts the height at the side band.
- Attach the top cable to both posts, without tensioning it, and adjust the approximate height.
- Secure the bottom band to the posts, at the bottom, using the rope.
- Tension the top cable progressively, alternating between the two sides. A net tensioned from one side only will shift.
- Measure the height at the centre with a tape measure and adjust.
- Measure above the two sidelines. If it is correct at the centre and higher at the sides, the net is too tight at the top or the bottom band is not secured; if it sags in the centre, it needs further tensioning.
- Mount the antennae on the outer edge of the side bands.
A common mistake: tensioning the net only from the top cable, leaving the bottom loose. The result is a net that billows and rebounds balls unpredictably, as well as making it impossible to judge net touches.
Checks and maintenance
- Before every tournament: height at three points, antennae in position, tension, mesh integrity.
- The net should be folded, not crumpled. Mesh that gets knotted will tear during the next setup.
- Dry it before storing, if you have played outdoors or in a damp environment.
- Check the top cable: this is the part that frays, and a cable snapping under tension can cause injury.
- Do not hang from the net. It seems obvious, but it is the most common way to deform the top band and damage the post sleeves.
Court equipment related to the net
Two accessories worth having: a dedicated tape measure (or measuring rod, if the facility has one) kept with the equipment, so no one "measures by eye"; and padded post protectors, which are mandatory in many contexts and make sense anyway, as the post is located exactly where a player runs to chase a wide ball.