To what height should the net be set for coed play?
For coed play it is very important that the net be set to the height for men’s play, rather than the height for women’s play (or something in between). It’s a matter of safety as well as good play. Men — who are often taller than women, and who typically have substantially more upper body strength — could hit much harder on a women’s net which is 7.5 inches lower [7’11”+5/8 vs 7′ 4”+1/8]. This puts everyone at risk. Men who frequently play on a women’s net are not sufficiently challenged, and often will not develop to their full potential. On the other hand, women who learn to hit and block (even just a defensive block) on a men’s net during coed play will find they are even more effective when they play on women’s teams on a women’s net.
