Mud Volleyball
an adult party game
Very few things can make a party more legendary than mud volleyball!
photo credit: westrayphoto
Picture this - the mud is flying as a man reaches his hand up over the net to spike the muddy ball straight down and score for his team! But wait! The mud suctions his feet to ground, not letting him have the extra few inches he needs to spike the ball. As he misses, he falls into the net. The winning point goes to the other team. Legendary!
Of course, to create this particular legendary party game takes space, a volleyball net, and some hard work. We’ll show you how to make a mud volleyball court in 6 steps, the special rules of mud volleyball, and some helpful tips & tricks.
How to Make the Mud Volleyball Court
This may seems like a lot to do for a party game but the results will be worth it!Things you’ll need:
- Land
- Tape Measure OR a preset boundary marker
- Spray paint
- Volleyball Set (poles & net)
- Volleyballs
- Shovel
- Rake
- Water
- Friends
Step 1 - Measure the court area
A volleyball court is 60x30 feet. Make sure you have enough space. If you don’t, simple scale the court down proportionally. The court should be twice as long as it is wide with enough room for at least 6 players. Also, you’ll want to make sure that there is a little extra area around the court for people going out of bounds. In other words, don’t put make the edge of the court a line of trees.If you have a boundary marker, set it out in the space you’ve designated to build your court. Carefully spray around the boundary market with spray paint. Remove the boundary marker.If you don’t have a boundary marker, measure out a 60x30 foot area using your tape measure. Spray paint the boundaries.
Step 2 - Clear the area
Now is when you’ll want to remove any stumps, rocks, small plants or anything else that will get in the way of digging. Using a rake is a great way to do this.Step 3 - Start digging
Yay! Time to shovel! Start in the middle and work your way out to the edges. You’ll want to dig the entire court about 18 inches down. If you want to get really fancy, rent yourself a skid steer (commonly known as a bobcat) to help with the hard work. You can find a place to rent it by looking in the yellow pages under Contractors' Equipment Rental.If you want to replace the soil when you’re done, keep it close by. Otherwise, ask around to see if anyone wants some free top soil. It’s a great way to be friendly to your neighbors, which is especially nice when you’re about to throw a legendary party!
Step 4 - Clear the area again
Rake through your court again and clear it of rocks, stumps, small plants, etc. Since the ground will be underwater, you should make sure to do this well to help avoid unnecessary injuries.Step 5 - Set up the poles & net
For this, you’ll need is a volleyball set. These range in price from about $28 for a basic set to hundreds of dollars for a professional set. You will be fine with a cheap one for one or two time use but if you plan on using the net regularly, look for something a little sturdier.Follow the instructions provided with your set to set up the poles and the nets.
Step 6 - Fill with water
Fill the court with about a foot of water, leaving about 6 inches. That way the boundaries are clear and the water is contained.That’s it! Time to get play ball and see who can get the muddiest!
Special Mud Volleyball Rules
For the most part, follow standard volleyball rules. These are the exceptions:- Team size can be increased to 8 players since moving in the mud makes everything slower.
- Everyone must wear shoes. Also, elbow and knee pads are suggested. Who knows what is under that mud??
Other Helpful Items & Tips
- Have an extra volleyball or two handy
- Have running water nearby to be able to use in case someone gets mud in their eye (and they will)
- Tell your guests to wear old clothes and bring a change of clothes in your invitation
Party Game Cost - approximately $63
Assuming you own or can borrow a tape measure, a shovel, and a rake that leave $3 for a can of spray paint, a $30 volleyball set, and two $15 volleyballs.Buy Volleyball Supplies
Return from Mud Volleyball to All Adult Party Games
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