Outdoor volleyball net/ poles

Question
Hello,
I have a 10 year old son with some interest in volleyball.  I am looking to get him an outdoor net w/ poles for Christmas.  There's a variety of choices.  What do you recommend for < $200?  We live in hot sunny humid south Florida (except right now it's freezing!).  
PVC would probably last longer than metal, but I've seen it bow.  

Thanks,
Jeff

Answer
Good afternoon Jeff and welcome to www.allexperts.com!

I won't say it's brutally cold up here in Roanoke, Va b/c then the Minnesota people will slam me!  :)  However, I've never lived through a 10 day period here that has been so cold.  One or two days down to 5 or 10, sure.  But 15 every night and only 25 every day.... and 30 mile and hour winds ... for 10 straight days and more to come.  Wow!  

Unfortunately, I'm not an expert in the purchasing of vball equipment at WalMart.  However, I am pretty good at predicting children.... and they often will stay with something for a week or a month, then ditch it.  I did that with Cub Scouts.  If I were you, I would buy the child the cheapest thing that you think will hold together for a few months.  Then if he doesn't like it, you're not out a whole lot of money.  

If you email me at [email protected], I can send you some pictures of the standards that I built from 2x4's when I was a head high school coach.  We would have tournaments once a month from March - August.  Or you can go to my website, www.coachhouser.com, scroll down to touch the "Bassett High 1985 - 2000" link and visit the various pages until you see pictures of the girls playing doubles.  

OK, let's say you go this route.  Here are your costs: Maybe $20 for six 2x4's, maybe $30 of rope for (a) the boundaries and (b) to connect the standards to the anchors, maybe $20 for 2 anchors that screw into the ground, and $10 for an outdoor net.  Then it'll all last until the weather and sun destroy the wood or net.  The surface can be grass, dirt, sand, whatever.  If you have enough yard, just unscrew the anchors occasionally and move the court over 30-some feet.  

If you do something like this, you will also have a net system that will be envy of the neighborhood! And in a few years, your son may start having some of the high school vball players over.  That would be pretty cool to watch them play doubles!  

What else can I do for you?  
If you need anything else, please visit us again.
Coach Houser