The Biggest Moments of 2008

With the New Year Right around the corner, I thought it might be nice to take a quick look back at the bumps and bruises (and highlights, of course!) of 2008, both on and off the courts. Most of us remember when:

Barack Obama won the presidential election, and President-Elect Obama will become the first African-American president in U.S. history on January 20, 2009.

Popular comedian Bernie Mac passed away August 9th as a result of complications from sarcoidosis, leaving his legacy behind.

U.S. Olympic gold medalist Karri Walsh announced she was pregnant with her first child, a little boy or girl who at 16 weeks gestation has already won its first international beach volleyball championship.

The writer's guild strike ended in February 2008, but the effect continued to be felt throughout television for the rest of the year in shortened seasons, lower viewership and a huge cut on new shows for the 2008-2009 season.

U.S. beach volleyball player and two-time Olympic gold medalist Misty May-Treanor earned the title of FIVB's top player of 2008, along with China's Xi Zhang.

The U.S. women's team brought home both a gold and a bronze in the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing.

The price of petroleum hit record highs of over $100 per barrel, resulting in a cross-country rise in gas prices that left many drivers parked in their front lawn.

U.S. Men's Volleyball Head Coach Hugh McCutcheon's father in law was killed just one day into the Beijing games, but the men's team pulled together to win the gold against Brazil without a single match loss for their first gold medal since 1988.

A total lunar eclipse could be seen around the world on February 20.

Kerri Walsh and Misty May-Treanor were recognized by Universal Sports for their remarkable winning streak in 2008, earning them the title of "Beach Volleyball's Dynamic Duo." The men's volleyball team was also recognized by Universal Sports for the Most Inspirational Performance of the 2008 season.

For more information on the biggest volleyball events of 2008, visit http://www.volleyballproshop.com/.

What's in Your Duffle? Packing Up to Hit the Road

Do you ever feel like you're living out of your car? How about your locker? What about-your volleyball duffel? Whether you're hitting the road with a traveling team or just floating back and forth from practice to game to practice again, most of your life is going to be tucked inside that duffel. Most professional athletes keep their sport bags packed with enough paraphernalia to support a small country during the season.

So what's in your bag?

Everyone's different, so while your neighbor down the way might never leave home without her lucky rabbit's foot the person standing next to you might insist on having his favorite game socks along-whether they've been washed or not! Whatever your game day preferences are, here are some must-haves you should never leave home without:

Practice clothes (2 sets). You never know when something disgusting is going to happen to your favorite practice shorts when you're crawling under a bench in the locker room to find something you dropped, so it's always smart to have a second set on hand. Don’t forget your socks!

Volleyball shoes. The last thing you want is to find yourself practicing in bare feet because youforgot your court shoes and the only other pair you have come with stilettos attached.

Knee pads, ankle braces, wrist guards and anything else you wear out on the court.Uniform. Your uniform shirt, socks and game shorts should take up residence in a clean compartment in your bag so you always have them on hand rather than having to search for them minutes before you have to leave for a game.

**A word to the wise-practice clothes and uniforms are easier to find if they go from the bag to the washer to the bag again. They have a mysterious habit of wandering off if they detour past your dresser or hamper in between, making them impossible to find.**

Deodorant, shampoo, conditioner, body wash (or soap if you have a safe place to stow it) and any other toiletries you like to have on hand. If you have a locker to stow these in, great, but keeping a little travel set on hand for game days when you're in someone else's dirty locker room is never a bad idea.

Hairspray, hair gel, make-up, hairbrush, extra hair ties and anything else you like to have on hand before stepping back out on the city streets after getting hot and sweaty on the court.

Safety pins. Hey, you never know!

A first aid kit. Ideally, wherever you happen to be playing will have one on hand. Even more ideally, you'll never need to use one! Because reality isn't always that easy, keeping a First-Aid kit on hand with Band-Aids, bandages, Neosporin, burn cream, portable ice packs and some Tylenol will ensure that no matter what happens, you're ready.

A ball, preferably with your name on it. Speaking of putting your name on things, always make sure your name is prominently displayed on your volleyball bag. That goes double if you've decided to skip over the fluorescent green model and go for something more traditional. There have been hundreds of occasions where players have found themselves without their car keys because a team mate picked up the wrong bag. Don't let that happen to you!

Change for vending machines and a book, GameBoy or other activity for when you're sitting around waiting. Stashing a bottle of water and a high energy snack for an emergency or post-game pick me up isn't a bad idea either. Just remember to keep them sealed in a Ziploc bag to keep drips and spills contained.

During volleyball season your sports duffel's bound to feel more like home than your home does. Make sure your home is well stocked with everything you need both on and off the courts before you step out your front door.

Check out our selection of top of the line, quality duffels at http://www.volleyballproshop.com/.

Did You Know...?

After the stress of the Christmas season I thought it was time for something a little lighter, so I did some searching into the history and trivia of volleyball. Sure, you know the ins and outs of your favorite sport, but did you know these fun volleyball facts?

· Volleyball was first invented in Holyoke, Massachusetts, in 1895 by Dr. William Morgan, and was originally a combination of basketball, baseball, tennis and handball.

· The largest beach volleyball tournament was for the Usedom BeachCup 2007. It was held in Karlshagen, Insel Usedom, Germany, in July 2007, and featured 890 players.

· The sport wasn’t called volleyball at first. It was called mintonette, and it was meant to be a gentler sport for the older members of the YMCA. It became volleyball in 1896.

· The longest recorded volleyball marathon by two teams of six is 75 hours and thirty minutes, played in Kingston, NC in 1980.

· Most volleyball players jump an average of 300 times in a single match.

· The longest single game of volleyball was 51 hours long in Bunbury, Western Australia, Australia in November of 2005. (And for the record, the Guinness Book of World Records is the single most stolen book from public libraries.)

· The first volleyball net was only 6’6” high. (In the 19th century the average height of a volleyball player actually shrank according to the economic conditions they were living in.)

· 998 million people play volleyball around the world.

· Offensive spiking and setting first emerged in the Philippines in 1916.

· A volleyball designed especially for the sport was first created in 1900.

· Volleyball celebrated its first centennial in 1995.

· The Volleyball Hall of Fame can be found in Holyoke, Massachusetts.

· Beach volleyball first became an Olympic event at the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta.

For more information on the ins, outs and history of this cool sport, visit http://www.volleyballproshop.com/.

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas! Did Santa bring you everything you wanted this year? More importantly, were you ready for the holiday swing or did you realize halfway through the day that you'd forgotten a present for Aunt Ruth-or her volleyball playing cousin from Deluth that just happened to fly in for the day? There's nothing more awkward than finding yourself promising to pick up a gift after Christmas because someone got forgotten, unless it's not having a clue what to buy next year!

Whether you're looking for a belated Christmas gift, taking notes for next year or snooping through this season's hottest sales for birthday ideas, here are some great gift suggestions for the volleyball player in your life:

1) A ball. If you're an athlete yourself you know how quickly and easily favorite practice balls wear out. If you're not an athlete-take my word for it. Most sporting goods stores carry high quality volleyballs, and numerous stores online carry fun, quirky balls if you simply can't stand the idea of "buying a boring old volleyball for Christmas".

2) Warm-ups. This can be tricky if you're shopping for someone you don't know well, and if you don't have a clue what size they wear it's usually prudent to pick a well known retailer and purchase a gift card. If you know what size you need, however, warm-up suits and tops are a great addition to the wardrobe of any volleyball player.

3) Videos. Whether you're talking about the Olympics or a training video, videos featuring their favorite sport make a great gift for volleyball fanatics.

4) Novelties. Volleyball players love to show off their favorite sport, and they'll have a great time displaying their volleyball-themed tee-shirts, jackets, hoodies, keychains, notebooks and other paraphernalia.

If you're looking for a way to bring a smile to the volleyball fan in your life, there's nothing like a gift that features their favorite sport. Come check out our collection of volleyball equipment and novelties at http://www.volleyballproshop.com/. We might have exactly what you've been looking for-and if we don't, you're bound to get some great ideas!

Festive Fun for Holiday Training

With Christmas right around the corner most of us are thinking of family-and holiday fudge! It's easy to let training slide in the chaos and excitement on the holidays, with vacations upon you and what feels like hundreds of people clamoring for your attention virtually around the clock. Even two or three weeks off can have a huge impact on your game, however. Here are some fun ideas for staying in shape while still keeping your holiday spirit:

1) Pull together a family volleyball game. Even when it's cold outside it's never too nasty to blow up three or four balloons, post a pillow net in the living room and get a fun, festive game of holiday ball going with your little cousins. For older relatives, set two couches on either side. This might not give you the full body workout you'd get out on the court, but diving for those wild shots will do amazing things for your reflexes.

2) Volunteer to take on some extra household chores (if you aren't already the one stuck doing laundry every day of the week). Hauling laundry baskets up and down the stairs or trash cans to the curb is great exercise for those muscles you don't use very often, and the other members of your family will be thrilled to be able to turn their attention to more festive events-and might even put in a good word for you with Santa!

3) In a season dominated by rich gravies and sugar cookies it can be hard to stick to a diet that will keep you lean and mean. Try out some new recipes at Christmas dinner this year and try to find plenty of ways to incorporate veggies, fruits and whole grains into your holiday festivities.

4) Christmas shopping counts! Hopefully by this point you've already finished your Christmas shopping; however, for future reference, walking the malls and the department stores (especially if you happen to be pushing a cart) has been proven to be a great cardiovascular workout. Just think-now you have a great reason to indulge your love of a little retail therapy!

Christmas is the happiest time of the year, but that doesn't mean you should let your training schedule slide. These fun, festive workouts will help you keep in the holiday spirit while keeping your body ready to hit the courts this January.

Come find all the holiday gifts you need for the volleyball fan in your life at http://www.volleyballproshop.com/.

Protecting Your Knees On and Off the Court

Athletes have among the highest incidence of knee injuries in the world because of the constant strain they place on their joints. For volleyball players, especially the ones that are all over the court, knee protection is vital. Are you protecting your knees properly?

There are three elements to protecting your knees while playing competitively. The first is to care for your joints off the court. Never work out cold, even in the off-season. Cold muscles lead to muscle strain and potential ligament damage, which can lead to permanent knee damage if you’re not careful. Wear good shoes that support your legs properly, and change up your off-court exercise routine to throw in plenty of low-impact strengtheners that will protect your knees.

Running on cement is terrible for your knees, although most athletes don’t feel the effects until they’re much older. Mixing up your exercise routine and running on grass or sand whenever possible will do wonders for the lifespan of your joints and provide your muscles with a more diverse workout than you'll find hitting the streets every day.

The second element of caring for your knees is to protect them during training, and the third is to ensure they’re properly padded and protected when you hit the court. These two usually tie together. As with your off-court exercise routine, always make sure you’re warmed up before playing, running or doing anything that’s going to place strain on your knees.

Be sure there are some basic joint strengtheners like squats or plies in your training regimen. If there aren’t, now is the time to add them. Strong muscles injure much less frequently.

Always have your knee pads on when you hit the court. There are hundreds of options out there for knee pads for volleyball players, but the most important thing to remember when making your choice is protection. If you’re constantly hitting the court with bare knees it’s not going to be too long before they start to feel the strain-a strain that could take you off the court permanently.

Check out our huge supply of protective gear for game time at http://www.volleyballproshop.com/.

Smells Like Team Spirit!

There is no “I” in team, but it can sure feel like it when you’re the only one hitting the court with any enthusiasm. Team spirit is the key component in any victory, and if your team doesn’t have it-well, then you don’t have it!

Keeping your team pumped up, excited and working as a team can be hard, especially when you consider the fact that you’re basically working against human nature. There’s only so long that a group of people can be together and doing the same activity before competition, petty complaints and boredom breaks up your commitment to a single goal.

The question is, how do you keep that commitment going when all you want to do is throw in the towel? Here are some fun team building exercises to keep your team working together both on and off the court:

1) Plan a team night away from anything even resembling volleyball and let your team get to know each other off the court. This is especially important when you have new players. Building relationships between your players will help stop the sniping and power struggles that can be devastating to your team spirit.

2) Build trust building exercises into your daily routine. If your players can’t trust each other, they can’t effectively communicate with each other on and off the court. Toes will be stepped on, and team spirit will be in shambles.

3) Be sure no one is playing favorites. Do you really have players that aren’t getting much court time? Is one player constantly getting lauded while the others stand by and watch? There is no “I” in team, and putting one there is going to annihilate your team spirit.

4) Get silly! Doing something ridiculous, like jumping on a trampoline or bouncing on exercise balls, builds fun memories and brings teams together at the same time. If it works for Fortune 500 companies, it can work for you!

5) Practice as a team, and rotate regularly. Shifting players around on the court is not only going to make them better players, it’s also going to give them a chance to show off their weak spots-and ask each other for help.

There are plenty of ways to foster team spirit in your team, so give me a
V-O-L-L-E-Y-B-A-L-L and go out there and make it happen!

Every great team needs great equipment. Visit our website at http://www.volleyballproshop.com/ to view our top of the line uniforms, coaches’ corner packed with great equipment and awesome educational tools.

Off season training

If you spend most of your winter on the volleyball court, keeping fit during the holiday season probably isn’t a big concern-even if Aunt Helen does try to feed you way too many Christmas cookies! It’s never too early to start thinking about off season training, however. Keeping in top form takes a lot of the sting out of stepping back into the competitive season and helps you get back to the top of your game as quickly as possible.

Because you’re a volleyball player, just hitting the road for a run or the gym for aerobics class isn’t enough off season training to keep you in competitive form. You need a clear combination of cardiovascular and strength training to help you build both muscle and endurance.

Feel free to pick your favorite cardiovascular activity. Running, swimming, dancing and aerobics are great cardiovascular workouts during the off season, especially when the weather gets warmer and hitting the street (or the swimming pool) doesn’t sound quite so unappealing. Swimming also provides you with a full body workout, which means that you’ll be pumping up your spiking muscles at the same time!

If you have access to a gym during the off season your strength training is going to be simple. If you don’t, you might have to get a little more creative. Purchasing a small set of free weights for your house is an easy way to build muscle without having to pay a fortune for a gym membership. Squats (especially with those free weights), push-ups and crunches are other great methods of strength training to help you build muscle, get in shape and say in shape during your off season training.

For training aids, check out the equipment on our website, www.volleyballproshop.com

Motivating Your Volleyball Team to Do Better Than Their Best

When you step out onto a court, the most important thing your volleyball team brings with them isn’t the ball, their jerseys or their shoes. It’s something much more intangible than that, but that will make all the difference when it comes to your game. It’s the dedication, determination and willpower to push past their personal limitations and make it their goal to make their game everything it can be. It's all a matter of motivation

Is your volleyball team motivated? Or do you walk out onto the court counting down the minutes until you can go home? Motivation is the single most important factor in the success of your volleyball team, and as a driving force standing in the middle of that team you play a vital part in making that happen. That’s true whether you’re a coach, a player, a parent, a friend or just a dedicated fan.

The question is, how can you take your volleyball team beyond their best? How do you give them the motivation they need to succeed? In order for a team to push past their limits every player has to act not only as a player but also as the member of a team. If your volleyball team is playing as a set of players rather than a team it’s time to reevaluate the relationship among your players. Do you have a bad egg? Or is it just not coming together?

The most important thing you can do to help your volleyball team succeed is throw your support behind them 100%, encourage them to play as a team and let them know that their success matters past that final point.

It all comes down to motivation.

For great equipment and novelties to help motivate your team, visit our website at http://www.volleyballproshop.com/.