Volleyball is a great way to stay active. A fast lateral game that requires you to jump high and dive low, volleyball requires a lot of attention and communication with your team members to succeed.
Volleyball is a team sport where six players try and keep an inflated ball from hitting the floor or going out of bounds on their side of the volleyball net. The goal is to get it to fall inbounds on the other side. The net separates the teams in the middle of the court and is usually seven or eight feet high. A team gets three passes before they must send it over the net.
Not all balls can be returned from a standing position; players must often dive or slide on their knees to keep it from hitting the ground. Padding is obviously required to do this without getting hurt. Volleyball knee pads are made of thick padding that cushions all of a player's weight and surrounds the knee. They slide on like socks and add support to the knee. A good pair can be found for $12 to $40.
When diving for the ball, it's common to bang your elbows on the court resulting in a painful and awkward experience. Volleyball elbow pads can prevent this. Like knee pads, elbow pads slide on for support and a snug fit. The padding surrounds the joint and provides enough cushioning for a full-impact fall. Elbow pads are a bit more expensive – starting around $20 each.
Volleyball is a high-impact sport because half of all the jumping involved which puts a lot of stress on your feet and joints. Shock-absorbing qualities are important in volleyball shoes. Nike Shox use four springs in the heels of their shoes for cushioning, but most of the impact occurs in the ball of the foot when landing. Mizuno shoes use their Wave technology – a rippled midsole that disperses shock evenly throughout the foot. This is a superior form of shock absorption best because it moves the energy laterally instead of upward into your legs.
Volleyball, like basketball is a fast game, that encourages you to move in all directions and get a lot of exercise while having fun. Being prepared by warming up in advance and wearing the proper equipment will make it even more enjoyable.