Volleyball nets factor into every single volleyball rally as players must work to use no more than three hits of the ball to get it over the net. Also, plays are often made very close to the net as the offensive player may attempt a spike and the defender may try to block it. USA Volleyball is one of the organizations that has determined official net height for men and women.
History
William G. Morgan created volleyball in 1895. He took different aspects of tennis, basketball, handball and baseball to develop the game. Initially, Morgan's net was 6 feet, 6 inches from the ground. The original net was one used in tennis. Official net height has grown by more than a foot for men's play since then.
Official Net Height
USA Volleyball, The Federation Internationale de Volleyball, the California Beach Volleyball Association and the Association of Volleyball Professionals have determined that the men's net should be 7 feet and 11.66 inches. The net is 7 feet and 4.18 inches in women's play. This is the official net height and it is not allowed to be more than 0.06 inch higher than this height, according to the Sports Unlimited website. A measuring tool is used at the center of the court to determine the net's height. The two ends of the net are above each sideline and need to be of equal height
Other Age Groups
Males that are 10 and younger use a net that is 6 feet and 11.85 inches, and females use a net measuring 6 feet and 5.95 inches. When they get a couple years older, the female volleyball net increases to 6 feet and 11.85 inches, and the male's net stays the same. Men do not use the USAV official net regulations until they reach the age of 15. Women use the official net rules at age 14.
Court Differences
Although indoor and beach volleyball share commonalities in net height, the courts are quite different. Indoor volleyball uses a hard floor whereas beach volleyball uses a sand court. USAV indoor courts are 59 feet and 0.66 inch long and 29 feet and 6.33 inches wide. Each line on the court is 1.97 inches in width. There is also an attack zone on each side of the net, which is 9 feet and 10.11 inches from the center line. The American Volleyball Professional's sand court is 52 feet and 5.92 inches long, and 26 feet and 2.96 inches wide, according to the Sports Unlimited website.
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