If you’ve ever taken a trip to buy volleyball equipment at your local big-box retailer, you’ve probably been very disappointed. Without naming any names, you can think of all the traditional stores you would go looking for some great sports equipment and here’s the problem: they don’t carry hardly any volleyball equipment.
It’s amazing to me that volleyball can be such a widespread sport and yet get so little love from retailers, but really it comes down to a business decision. Players from other sports require a whole lot more equipment that costs a lot of money. Volleyball, on the other hand, has a pretty high percentage of people who play recreationally without any equipment at all, or with just a pair of knee pads.
Unfortunately, you’re likely to find a small four-foot section stuck back in the farthest corner that has 1 brand of knee pads available in black and white and 3 or 4 sizes. The rest of the shelves will have an assortment of 1 or 2 brands of indoor volleyballs with a smattering of colors. If you’re really lucky, you might have 1 option for elbow pads thrown in there.
The resource pages on this site are to help you find some good gear. We’ve used a variety of equipment over the years and these are our best picks. In most cases, the prices you will pay for a better brand bought online will be very similar to what you may pay for the cheap, basic version that is the only option at your local store.
In some cases, Heidie and I have not used that particular item, but we know players who have or we’ve been around to see what the best players use. We’re simply offering our recommendation and giving you a starting point to look for some great gear.
In volleyball, you can certainly play recreationally with just a good pair of shoes and your old shorts and a T-shirt. But if you’re serious and you’ll be playing for a team, you’re going to eventually want to invest in a few items that enhance the experience.
Good pads and sleeves protect your joints and reduce the wear and tear on your body, especially over time. The right clothing can increase your confidence and comfort as you try to reach your full playing potential.
Photo credits:
Knee pads image by Keith Johnston from Pixabay
Home and outdoor by meridican on flickr.com: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/, cropped for sizing.