Ball spikes. Feet scramble. One, two, three touches — point. Then it starts again. A craze has swept over Poly Prep in the past couple of months… Spikeball! The once quiet, small backfield next to the baseball field has turned into an unconventional sports field for all grades to enjoy. If you walk out between 8:45 a.m. and 3:00 p.m., chances are you will see a riveting game of Spikeball amongst Poly students. 

Spikeball is played with two teams of two players each. The objective is to hit a small rubber ball off a round, trampoline-like net so the opposing team cannot return it. After the serve, teams have up to three alternating touches—similar to volleyball—to bounce the ball back onto the net. The game is fast-paced, and once the ball is served, players can move 360 degrees around the net, making for dynamic and unpredictable rallies.

Originally developed in the late 1980s by Jeff Knurek, spikeball faded into obscurity until it was revived in the late 2000s by entrepreneur Chris Ruder. Through social media, college tournaments, and an appearance on Shark Tank in 2015, Spikeball began gaining serious traction across the United States, Belgium, Canada, Japan, and many more countries. With its unique mix of volleyball-style gameplay, portability, and social nature, the game found a niche among students, campers, and beachgoers. Today, Spikeball boasts a thriving competitive league and a passionate global community.

Its basic rules and simplicity of playing have brought all sorts of Poly students together for a fun few minutes of competitive exercise during the school day. Many benefits have been gained from Spikeball’s rise at Poly. Students take a break from their busy school schedules to enjoy the beautiful weather and fresh air. Both players and spectators gather on the turf listening to music, chatting with friends, and soaking up the sun. “Spikeball is the most beautiful way to go into the summer with the Poly community,” said Sydney McFarlane ’27. She further claimed, “Everyone’s out there laying, talking to people who they might not necessarily always spend time with, and playing a competitive game, but in a fun and friendly nature.”

 Spikeball hasn’t just attracted the attention of older students, but students across every grade level.“It started off as just something to do during free periods,” said Sam Wyckoff ’28. “But then more people joined in, and now it’s become part of the daily routine. It’s super fun, competitive, and honestly, a great way to meet people. It’s gotten to the point where we’ve had entire grade tournaments, especially in the sophomore class. Everyone’s into it.”

As the school year comes to an end, naturally, stress levels rise. However, the students of Poly have managed to find a way to cope, using the available resources. From Poly’s Spikeball Club to the @ppspikeball account on TikTok, the energy around the game has only continued to grow. What started as a casual pastime has become a defining part of Poly’s spring culture, creating connections across grades and giving students a much-needed outlet for joy and community during a busy time of year. With finals shadowing in the back of students’ minds and schedules overflowing, the backfield game offers a moment of lightness and excitement. “Spikeball has been such a great way to get outside and get your mind off a lot of the pressure that comes with the final semester,” McFarlane remarked.