Why Spikeball belongs in every summer camp’s programming
Any leader who has spent time around a playground, beach, or park has likely seen a circle of kids gathered around a small, trampoline-like net. The players dive, laugh, and slap a small ball down with remarkable energy. The activity is Spikeball, and it’s more than a trendy game. It’s perfect for camps and recreation departments in search of fun games that blend fitness and social engagement.
At summer camps and in youth groups across the country, Spikeball has become a go-to game for structured tournaments and spontaneous free play. Described as “if volleyball and foursquare had a baby,” this 2-on-2 game only requires a Spikeball net, a ball, and four players (two teams of two). Players start by serving the ball down onto the net so that it ricochets up at their opponent. Similar to volleyball, the returning team then has up to three hits (think bump, set, spike) to return the ball onto the net. The rally continues until a team fails to return the ball onto the net within its three touches.
