Students create spikeball club
Junior Kreyton Carney dives backwards for the ball, and just as it is about to slip past his fingers, he swiftly flings it towards his teammate to finish off the opponent. The ball is moving too fast, the opponent cannot react quick enough. They move out of the way to avoid a smack to the face, and the ball falls to the ground. 7-0, the “Dub Team” wins. This thrill as well as the game’s versatility, competitiveness, and accessibility, according to Carney, is why he founded the Spikeball Club.
“You can play it anywhere and you can set it up on the go,” co-founder junior Andrew Tankersley said. “You can play with as little as two people. You can play in a swimming pool, because it floats, or even at night.”
Tankersley feels that this is the most versatile, and portable game of its kind. Its competitive and fast paced nature is what continues to draw Carney and Tankersly to the game. Spikeball was especially a game changer for Carney because he never connected with a sport throughout his childhood in the same way he connected with spikeball.
“It’s super fun, easy to learn, and I’m not horrible at it,” Carney said. “Games go by fast and you can play with anybody.”
Spikeball is a 2 or 4 player game with a circular net, raised above the ground, and a soft air-filled ball to bounce against it. You can only smack the ball, not hold it, and the goal is to get the ball bounced back off the net in only 3 hits between your team. Each player positions themselves at opposite ends of the net, and when the team serves to their opponent, the adversary must hit it to their teammate. If they fail to do so, the other team will get a point. Games typically go first to 7, 11, or 21.
According to grow.com, the game has been growing exponentially, as the brand Spikeball topped a 6 million dollar net worth as of 2022.
“It was created in 2007,” Tankersley said, “that means it was only 15 years ago, and from that, has become a pro sport and one of the most hype yard games of all time.”
Tankersley thinks that the sport deserves more credit than it gets, and the school should take it more seriously.
“The reason we should allow for this club to grow to a school and district size sport is because it would just be another trophy for Har-Ber,” Tankersley said.
Carney went to his AP History teacher Mr. Stewart to host the spikeball club because of the bond that they have.
“I needed a teacher to host the spikeball club,” Carney said, “and he’s my favorite teacher, a super cool guy. An obvious choice.”
Volleyball coach Cassie Loyd, another spikeball enthusiast, is also looking forward to the release of the spikeball club, and said she herself may stop by.
“It’s competitive. It demands teamwork. It’s something you can play anywhere, play with kids, and bond despite diversity,” Loyd said.
Tankersley feels that in addition to being portable, fast-paced, and affordable yard game, it also can help build a bond between teammates.
“The bond between you and your teammate will either thrive or crash and burn based on whether you are winning or losing,” Tankersley said. “It makes you the most competitive version of yourself, and it is my favorite yard game I have ever played.”