The New Ipswich Recreation Department has added a new weekly activity: The fast-growing sport, Spikeball.
Describes as a marriage of volleyball and four square, Spikeball is played with four people in two teams. The starting team spikes the ball – which can be either the size of an orange or a cantaloupe, depending on the kit – into an elastic net the size of a miniature trampoline. After the serve, the opposing team have three hits to spike the ball back into the net, and return play to the opposite team.
If a team can’t return the ball onto the net within three touches, their opponent scores a point. Returns to the net can’t hit the rim, ground or bounce more than once on the net. The first team to 21 wins.
It’s a simple concept, but the game is quickly been growing in popularity since in 2008, particularly among college students. The game is older than that – it was first invented in the 1980s by American toymaker Jeff Knurek, then called “roundnet.” But the game began to rise in the public eye after the founding of Spikeball Inc. in 2008, which began to sell roundnet sets and sponsor tournaments. Spikeball Inc. was founded by Chris Ruder, who had bought a roundnet set back in the 1980s.
Currently, about 4 million people worldwide play the game, and there have been several major tournaments. The first World Championship was held in Belgium in September.
The New Ipswich Recreation Department has purchased two Spikeball sets, and invites anyone over the age of 16 who is interested to come to the upper field in Memorial Park on Wednesdays at 4 p.m. You do not need any experience to join, and experienced players are available to teach the rules and how to play.
Ashley Saari can be reached at 924-7172 ext. 244 or asaari@ledgertranscript.com. She’s on Twitter @AshleySaariMLT.