Spikeball nets and the trademark yellow balls can now be seen almost daily across campus. Junior Jason Bass, undeclared in liberal arts, has a lot to do with that.
Bass was residential adviser of Aubie Hall in the Village last year, and as a way to socialize with his residents, Bass took advantage of the spacious lobbies and taught his fellow students how to play Spikeball.
A year later, Bass is the RA of Plainsman Hall, and, while it is still a staple of his dorm's lobby, Spikeball has quickly built a cult following with those who have played it.
Fellow Spikeball player Coleman Cowart, undecided sophomore in the pre-med track, became enamored with the game last semester and credits the game's lack of complexity with its blossoming popularity.
"It doesn't take too long to get good," Cowart said. "It's easy to pick up, and it's not too complicated."
To play, a Spikeball set must be acquired, including a yellow rubber ball and an elastic net that acts as a minature trampoline standing about 6 inches above the ground.
The game is played with two teams of two. One team begins the game by serving, or hitting the ball, down onto the net.
As the ball springs into the air, possession changes and the opposing team can tip the ball a maximum of two times. The third hit -- usually a spike -- must hit the net, returning possession to the other team and giving it a chance to spike it out of the other team's reach. A point is earned for anytime a team is not able to smash the ball back onto the net or if the ball hits the rim of the trampoline.
The ball cannot be cupped or held; it must be hit with the flat of the hand.
Besides the rules, any close calls are often judged fairly by the teams in accordance with the game's "gentlemen's rules," according to Cowart.
"Anything questionable is a redo," Cowart said.
As Bass and Cowart discussed the nuances of spikeball with their set sitting untouched in front of them, its novelty appeal was apparent by the numerous groups of students who stopped to ask what the game was.
Will Ibsen, senior in mechanical engineering, said that was how his Spikeball career began.
"I just saw a bunch of guys playing it one day and jumped in," Ibsen said. "It's really easy to catch on."
Even for those already acquainted with the fast-paced game, the sight of a stranger playing it has the same effect as unexpectedly meeting a family member or hometown friend on campus, according to Bass.
"As we began to play more on campus, we've met different people that are like, 'Oh my gosh you know about Spikeball?'" Bass said.
Cowart agreed and said the game was a great way to build relationships.
"Spikeball itself brings people together," Cowart said. Besides its ease of play and social magnetism, Spikeball can be played anywhere and has the quick play ability of hackey sack or throwing the frisbee. While it is still a relatively new sport to the Plains, Spikeball has already been served into the Auburn-Alabama rivalry.
Tuesday, Oct. 9, Bass, Cowart, junior Leah Peterson, 2012 Beat Bama Food Drive President Mark Price and other Spikeball fanatics joined together to hold the first ever Beat Bama Food Drive Spikeball tournament on the green space.
The event was held as a way to both promote Spikeball and raise money. To enter, participants had to donate two cans of food or $2, with all proceeds going to the Food Drive.
After coming up with the idea for the tournament, however, the group realized it could not afford to provide all the sets necessary, listed at $49.99 on Spikeball.com. Bass then reached out to Spikeball President Chris Ruder and saw the group's fantasy realized.
"We've been corresponding, and they're contributing to the Beat Bama Food Drive, and they're donating the sets for the tournament," Bass said. "We could not have had the tournament if it wasn't for the donations of Spikeball."
The tournament has already had an impact on campus and community, but participants hoped to see more Spikeball sets in the future.
"I'm hoping it'll be a fun tailgate game," Ibsen said.
John McNeill, sophomore in pre-aerospace engineering and resident of Bass's dorm this year, has more ambitious plans for the game.
"The way our football team is playing, we might be able to get it going in the stadium," McNeill said.
As for Colwart and Bass, the two hope to keep sowing the seeds of a Spikeball revolution by eventually donating sets to the dorms and forming a team.
"We just want to get its name out there and hopefully even become an intramural sport," Cowart said.
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