Scroll

NEXT LEVEL

ROUNDNET

We don't just raise the net. We raise the standard.

An invitation-only experiment. 8 squads. One net raised +10cm.

Invitation Only

The Experiment

“What if 10 centimeters changed everything?”

+10cmNet height increase

Roundnet is broken in favour of the offense. Hits are so low and fast that defense is extremely hard at the highest level. NLR tests one fix : raise the net 10 centimeters, film everything, and let the data speak.

THE BALANCE PROBLEM

Top-level hits are laser-fast and brutally flat. Getting into a low enough blocking position is physically extreme, and even when you do, reacting fast enough to produce a quality soft touch is nearly impossible. The sport is tilted in favour of the offense, so the natural and sad answer is serving and acing.

THE 10CM HYPOTHESIS

A net raised 10cm forces attacks to travel higher, buying defenders precious time to read, position, and respond. Higher defending position means faster reaction and cleaner soft touches. Serve receive improves too : knee-height serves become far more manageable.

DATA-DRIVEN

The main goal of this experiment : measure quantitatively the real impact of the higher net on the sport. Every game is filmed. Every rally tracked. After the tournament, we publish the numbers. This is science disguised as competition.

Volunteers

Help us make
the day happen

We need a few extra hands on the day. Not a lot of work, and the more people we have the less each person has to do. In return: open buffet all day, crepes, and the best roundnet you have ever watched.

Join the crew →

Open Source Equipment

Want to test the
higher net?

Download the 3D file and print the leg extensions yourself. Free, open,
no strings attached. We will not make a single euro from this.
The only motivation is to push the sport.

Be the next one : 145 downloads

Print It Yourself →

The Format

Built for Competition

8Squads

48Players

BO3 · 15 pts · HC 21 · Single Elimination

Squad Composition

Playersper Squad

4 Open

2 Women

Game Order (per match)

MIXED

OPEN

WOMEN

Single Elimination Bracket

Warmup Round

A warmup round precedes the main bracket, giving squads time to adjust to the higher net before official play begins.

Invitation Only

32 of the best open players and 16 of the best women players in Europe, selected not registered. Stats only mean something at the highest level. The top players of today are the common players of tomorrow.

Innovation

That's where we raise the standard.

5 features built to make NLR the most documented roundnet tournament ever run.

Live Broadcast

The faces of roundnet broadcast are on the call. Tops Roundnet and Noëlle Steffens bring every match to air.

Tops Roundnet

Thomas Pschaid

Noëlle Steffens

6 Fields Streamed

Six courts streamed at the same time. Follow any game live, wherever you are.

Pedal Scoreboards

Six scoreboards with pedals under the net so players keep their own score up to date. No more mistakes, and a clear real-time score on the streams, which are equipped with mics too.

All-Day Buffet

Full access to a buffet all day long: crepes and much more.

Media & Coverage

Every angle captured. Ruwen Schroader (@ruwen.schroader) on photography, Maxime Desvallées directing a documentary of the event, and Pola Wolff running the Instagram.

Photography

Ruwen Schroader

Documentary

Maxime Desvallées

Instagram

Pola Wolff

The Selection