 Volleyball shoes
A brief history of
volleyball
The sport of volleyball originated in the United
States, and is now just beginning to achieve the
type of popularity in the U.S. that it has
received on a global basis, where it ranks
behind only soccer among participation sports.
In 1895, William G. Morgan, an instructor at
the Young Men’s Christian Association (YMCA)
in Holyoke, Mass., decided to blend elements of
basketball, baseball, tennis, and handball to
create a game for his classes of businessmen
which would demand less physical contact than
basketball. He created the game of Volleyball
(at that time called mintonette).
Per Morgan, the game was fit for the
gymnasium or exercise hall but, could also be
played outdoor. The play consisted of any
number of players keeping a ball in motion from
one side to the other over a net raised 6 feet 6
inches above the floor. Play is started by a
player on one side serving the ball over the net
into the opponents’ field or court. The
opponents then, without letting the ball strike
the floor, return it, and it is in this way kept
going back and forth until one side fails to
return the ball or the ball hits the floor. The side
serving the ball earns points when the opposite
side either fails to return the ball or allows the
ball to hit the floor.
During a demonstration game, someone
remarked to Morgan that the players seemed to
be volleying the ball back and forth over the
net, and perhaps “volleyball” would be a more
descriptive name for the sport.
Here is a list of the volleyball
material and equipment that you
may need to play.
 Volleyball balls
 Volleyball shorts
 Volleyball t-shirts
 Volleyball braces, sleeves and pads
 Volleyball court
 Volleyball net and poles
 Volleyball penalty cards
Volleyball balls
Volleyballs differ greatly depending on
whether they will be used indoors or
outdoors.
While indoor volleyballs are moulded
together, outdoor volleyballs are
stitched. Typically, indoor volleyballs
are made from leather, whereas
outdoor balls will usually be made from
a composite material that is resistant to
water.
Volleyball shorts
Volleyball shorts need to be supremely
comfortable and allow you to move
freely and without restriction.
Spandex is a super-stretchable material
that is perfect for your shorts and you
may also wish to look for shorts that
have moisture-wicking material to keep
you dry throughout the game.
Volleyball t-shirt
Depending on whether you are playing
indoor or outdoor, and what the
weather is like when you play, you can
opt for the classic sleeveless athletic t-
shirt or choose a long sleeve sport
shirt.
Whether sleeved or sleeveless,
volleyball t-shirts usually have a number
on both the front and back and may
carry your team’s name and logo too.
Volleyball shoes
Volleyball shoes have a gum rubber sole
and are designed for the lateral
movement that the sport requires. The
middle of the sole is usually made of
foam, while the back is more likely to be
made from mesh or nylon.
For those playing recreationally, a
normal tennis trainer may well be
sufficient, but if you are playing more
seriously you will certainly benefit from
wearing specially-designed volleyball
shoes for men and women.
Volleyball braces, sleeves and pads
Knee pads are the most important
protection for volleyball players. With
many low balls being hit, you will need
to kneel to reach them. Bruising and
floor burns can be common.
While elbow pads aren't as important a
consideration as knee pads, many
players will still use them for extra
padding when making a dive to keep a
volleyball in play. Arm sleeves are also
sometimes worn for the same reason.
The stress and strain that volleyball can
place on your body can be particularly
concentrated at the ankles. Ankle
injuries are among the most common of
all injuries that occur when playing
volleyball, which is why many players
decide to wear ankle braces for
additional support.
The court can be outdoors or indoors
and playing surfaces include wood,
rubber tile, grass or sand.
Volleyball net and poles
An official volleyball net will measure 32
feet long by 39 inches tall. For men's
volleyball, it will be suspended eight
feet off the ground, while for women it
will be seven feet and four inches.
The net is held up by poles. Typical
volleyball net poles will measure
between 10.5 feet and 16 feet in height.
Made from steel or aluminium, they are
designed to withstand any strains and
tension throughout the course of the
match.
Volleyball penalty cards
Volleyball uses yellow and red cards.
Yellow cards are issued to warn players
of bad conduct without a penalty being
enforced. Continual misconduct will
lead to a red card and a sanction being
applied. This may be for their team to
lose the point or to lose service if they
have possession.
If the referee holds up both the red and
yellow card, then this is a dismissal and
the player must leave the court for the
rest of the set.

Volleyball court

A volleyball court is 60 feet by 30 feet

and is divided by a net that is placed
over the centre line.

At the back of each side of the court is

the service line. In front of this, ten feet
from the net on either side is the attack
line.