Crossnet
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Sports equipment |
| Founded | 1 May 2017 |
| Founder | Chris Meade, Greg Meade, Mike Delpapa |
| Headquarters | Orlando, Florida , United States |
| Products | Crossnet four-way volleyball game and related sports equipment |
| Parent | Vivere Ltd. (since 2025) |
Crossnet (also referred to as CROSSNET) is a U.S.-based sports equipment manufacturer that offers a unique four-way volleyball game blending elements of volleyball and four square.
History
The game was developed in 2017 by brothers Chris and Greg Meade along with their childhood friend Mike Delpapa in Woodstock, Connecticut. Their inspiration drew from games like KanJam and four square, with part of their drive linked to a personal loss experienced in 2012. Chris earned a film degree from Quinnipiac University, Delpapa holds an engineering degree from Northeastern University, and Greg briefly pursued marketing studies at Eastern Connecticut State University before focusing on entrepreneurship.
When the venture began in May 2017, Chris was employed at Uber headquarters as an Account Executive working on Uber Eats. Early trials of the game took place in 2018 using modified volleyball nets. The team subsequently secured patents and trademarks for their concept. They located a prototype manufacturer via Alibaba Group at a cost of $250. By June 2018, product sales commenced, achieving $74,000 in revenue that year and escalating to $2.25 million in 2019—marking a 30-fold growth.
In 2021, Crossnet formed a collaboration with USA Volleyball and earned recognition on the Forbes 30 Under 30 list for sports. The company expanded by establishing a warehouse in Canada and entered into a branded partnership with Wilson Sporting Goods. Crossnet-hosted tournaments were broadcast on ESPN8 The Ocho during 2021 and 2023, featuring prize pools of $10,000.
The brand has been featured on prominent media platforms including People, Good Morning America, and the Today Show. By 2022, Crossnet was played in over 100,000 homes and more than 10,000 educational institutions spanning 49 countries. Its products are available through upwards of 3,000 retail outlets such as Walmart, Target, Sam's Club, Academy Sports, and Dick's Sporting Goods. In 2020, the company contributed 1,000 game sets to schools lacking sufficient funding.
In addition to Crossnet, the founders launched other hybrid games like Smashnet under their Good Sport brand.
On August 15, 2025, Canadian outdoor lifestyle company Vivere Ltd. acquired Crossnet for an undisclosed amount.
Rules
The game is played on four distinct quadrants, each occupied by one of four players. Play initiates with the player in the 4th quadrant serving diagonally to the player in the 2nd quadrant, who then returns the ball to any quadrant to start the rally. A player is eliminated when the ball lands inside their designated square. Points are awarded only if the player positioned in the 4th square remains active; if eliminated during that round, no points are given. Following elimination, the three remaining players rotate clockwise while the eliminated participant keeps their accumulated points but moves back to the 1st square or is substituted by a new player there. Matches are played to 11 points with a win-by-2 rule.
Elimination occurs if a player’s square is struck by the ball, if they hit the ball out of bounds on their return, fail to direct it into another square, double hit, execute an illegal hit, or play out of sequence. The ball remains in play when it contacts boundary lines. Players must strike the ball using their hands—from fingertips to wrists—including using the back of the hand; catching or carrying the ball is not allowed.
Dimensions
Crossnet can be set to official volleyball heights, with the men's net positioned at and the women's at . The total length of the net measures , divided into four sections each spanning in width.
Strategy
Players aim to remove opponents occupying the upper squares to progress and ultimately score from the highest position. When a single competitor gains a clear lead, it is typical for the remaining three players to join forces in targeting that individual.
Variations
Crossnet is available in versions designed for indoor wooden floors as well as outdoor surfaces like grass and sand. The brand has also introduced adaptations for pickleball, pool, and soccer. Moreover, a longer net variant accommodates up to eight participants playing in teams of two (2 vs 2 vs 2 vs 2).