CrossnetRules Card

What you need

• A CROSSNET four-way net with the center pole and ground stakes
• A volleyball (a softer or lighter ball is friendlier for casual play)
• Four players, one per quadrant, plus anyone waiting to rotate in
• A reasonably flat patch of grass, sand, or hard court about 16 by 16 ft
• A way to keep score out loud, since you play to a set number of points

Set it up

There is no throwing distance like a tossing game. Players stand inside their own quadrant of a roughly 16 by 16 ft playing area, with the net forming a plus sign in the middle. Keep at least an arm's length of clearance around the outside of the net so players can move for the ball without colliding with furniture or fences. The net height itself is adjustable, so set it lower for younger or shorter players and raise it for a competitive adult game.

Scoring

• Only square 4 earns points: add one when another player is eliminated.
• No point is awarded when the player in square 4 is eliminated.
• Players keep their own points after moving squares or joining the waiting queue.
• Play to 11, win by two; track each player's cumulative total.

How to play

1. Set up the net. Assemble the four-way net so it forms a plus sign, stake it into the ground, and adjust the height. CROSSNET nets adjust for different ages and skill levels, so set it lower for kids and family play and higher for adults.
2. Number the quadrants. The four squares are numbered 1 through 4. Square 4 is the king square and square 1 is where new players enter. One player stands in each quadrant to start.
3. Serve from the king square. The player in square 4, the king square, serves by hitting the ball over the net into square 2 to start the rally. The receiving player must return it across the net.
4. Rally like volleyball. Once the ball is in play, each player gets a single touch with their hands. You cannot bump it to yourself and hit it again, so one clean contact sends it over the net into any of the other three quadrants. Some casual groups loosen this and allow up to three touches per square, but the standard game is one touch.
5. Win the rally, climb the squares. A player is eliminated when the ball lands in their square or they make a fault. Players in lower-numbered squares move up to fill the gap. With four players, the eliminated player returns to square 1; with extras, they join the waiting queue.
6. Score from the king square. The player in square 4 earns one point whenever another player is eliminated. If square 4 is eliminated, nobody scores. Each player keeps their points when changing squares or waiting to reenter.
7. Play to the target score. The first player to reach 11 points with a lead of at least two wins. Track totals by player name, not by square number, because scores stay with players throughout the rotation.