Volleyball Pro Shop

What To Do With My Hair When I'm Playing Volleyball?

2009-04-10T15:35:00.006-04:00

Anyone who doesn't have long hair doesn't understand the frustration and aggravation that go hand in hand with trying to keep those sticky strands out of their face when they're out on the court. As fun as long hair is the rest of the time, when you're in the middle of a game and it's either falling in your face or sticking to the back of your neck (or any other body part it can reach) it feels more like a hassle than anything else.

The question is, what can you do about it?

There are plenty of options available! Multi-functional pre-wrap wraps around ponytails and braids very efficiently, keeping strands from escaping and finding a home where they're not really wanted. For those hard to control front and side hairs (you know, the short ones that just won't grow-no matter how hard you try?) simple snap barrettes (you know, the ones that remind you of the snap bracelets you used to have when you were little before they made it illegal to have them in school?), heavy duty hair gel and, if you're going to be out on the beach, baseball caps are a great solution.

Try to avoid the hair gel and hairspray if you're going to be outside though. Bugs love it, and nothing kills your concentration faster than a mosquito going in for the kill.

Ponytails, braids and messy buns are the preferred styles for play, since they hold in well (even when they're being bounced around) and they can be safely secured with those neat hair bands that don't have the metal clips on them, holding your hair tightly without having to worry about it splitting or being damaged along the way. And if you just can't take it anymore, cut it off. Short's the new black this spring when it comes to hair, letting you combine game time practicality with a short and sassy, stylish practicality that you're guaranteed to enjoy.

Come check out our hair accessories at http://www.volleyballproshop.com/.

USA Volleyball Already Setting Up for the Next Olympic Games

2009-04-08T14:43:00.001-04:00

The 2012 London Olympics sounds like it's a long way away for most of us, but for the U.S. Men's National Team it's all too close-and they're making preparations already!

USA Volleyball announced on April 1st that Long Beach State Men's Head Coach Alan Knipe will be coaching the U.S. National Team for the 2009-2012 Olympic quadrennial, taking over for Coach Hugh McCutcheon who has moved on to coach the U.S. Women's team.

Knipe, who has coached at Long Beach State for the past nine years, will be taking an extended leave of absence to fill his coaching duties, following in the footsteps of his former players, David Lee and Scott Touzinsky (both of whom were part of the team during the men's victory in Beijing) and team captain Tom Hoff (who played at Long Beach during Knipe's assistant coaching days).

“Anyone who gets involved with volleyball sets their sights on being involved with the Olympic team,” Knipe is quoted as saying. “I don’t think that changes from your playing days to your coaching days.I would not have been able to take this position if I did not work at Long Beach State. They were great to work with in making this happen and giving me a leave of absence.”

“I am very excited to have Alan join the USA Volleyball staff and lead our men’s team toward London in 2012. This is a very big hire,” USA Volleyball CEO Doug Beal said. “His experience and success with USAV’s national and high performance programs have been outstanding. I look for him to continue the momentum the U.S. men built in 2008.”
Knipe's first game at the oars of the U.S. Men's National Team will take place at the Pan American Cup on June 1-7 in Colima, Mexico.

Come check out our huge assortment of volleyball gear and novelties at http://www.volleyballproshop.com/.

Training with the Nintendo Wii Fit

2009-04-06T14:31:00.002-04:00

The concept of training with a video game system isn't a new one; after all, we've been working out with electronics for years! The Nintendo Wii is finally making it happen, however, with the release of the Wii Fit.

If you've already got a Wii Fit you know that as a personal training tool it's almost unbeatable (if you're working out in your living room rather than a $200 a month gym). It embraces all of the vital tools of training:

1) Flexibility. The Wii Fit's built in Yoga program is designed to improve both balance and flexibility, building muscle tone and your ability to dive for the ball without hurting yourself!

2) Strength Training. Leg lifts. Push ups. Lunges. And a host of other basic strength exercises that we tend to slack on unless we have a trainer looking over our shoulder making us do them! Let's face it, strength training isn't nearly as entertaining as smashing a ball over a net-or even jogging around town! The Wii Fit is a great way to slip strength training into your training regimen without getting bored too quickly to see any appreciable results.

3) Aerobics. Jog with your friends around the Wii Fit Island. Hop into a bouncy step aerobics program or work out your frustrations with rhythm boxing. The aerobic training you get at practice is important, but you can shake it up a little by taking advantage of the aerobics options in the Wii Fit.

4) Balance. How's your balance-can you stand on one leg? In fact, how good is your balance when you're standing on two? Walk a tightrope, roll on your own personal table tilt and guide a bubble down a raging river to perfect your posture and balance and improve your form out on the court.

The best part is the Wii Fit gives you points to judge your performance, so you can launch a (friendly) competition with your friends and teammates to see who can get the highest scores to keep training interesting and keep yourself motivated to do it!

Come check out our collection of (non-virtual) training tools at http://www.volleyballproshop.com/.

USA Volleyball Fires Up the Men's Junior National Team

2009-04-03T14:58:00.004-04:00

It's hard to believe that summer's almost on us, but the evidence is everywhere-from the high schools and colleges enjoying their spring break to the overwhelming marketing for Easter and Mother's Day and, of course, the official selection of the 2009 U.S. Men's Junior National Team.

The Men's Junior National Team will be competing in the 2009 FIVB World Championship July 31-August 9 in Pune, India. While the official training schedule and other logistical plans haven't been announced yet (one can only assume that they're still working on hammering out the details) USA Volleyball has announced that the team will be coached by BYU Men's Volleyball Team coach Shawn Patchell, with Long Beach State Assistant Coach John Hawks coming in on the assist.

This isn't Patchell's first ride on the USA Volleyball merry-go-round. He was the one who coached the team to a bronze in El Salvador in 2008, coming in behind Cuba and Canada.

Here's the official line-up for this year's team (as found at http://www.usavolleyball.org/):

2009 USA Men's Junior National Training Team

Thomas Amberg (Middle Blocker/Opposite, El Cajon, Calif., UCLA, Southern California)Jim Baughman (MB, Valencia, Calif., Long Beach State, So Cal)Michael Bunting (Outside Hitter, Wyomissing, Pa., Loyola, Chicago, Keystone)Kyle Caldwell (Opp., Newport Beach, Calif., UCLA, So Cal)Tony Ciarelli (OH, Huntington Beach, Calif., USC, So Cal)Kasey Crider (Setter, Granite Bay, Calif., Pepperdine, Northern California)Austin D'Amore (MB, Lake Elsinore, Calif., UC Irvine, So Cal)Kyle Friend (OH Boca Raton, Fla., Long Beach State, Florida)Tyler Jaynes (MB, Granite Bay, Calif., Pepperdine, No Cal)Joseph Kauliakamoa (Setter, Las Vegas, Nev., BYU, No Cal)Rusty Lavaja (MB, St. Charles, Ill., BYU, Great Lakes)Brad Lawson (OH, Honolulu, Hawai’i, Stanford, Aloha)Steven Shandrick (MB, Lake Forest, Calif., USC, So Cal)Erik Shoji (Libero, Honolulu, Hawai’i, Stanford, Aloha)Mike Stefani (OH, Hamburg, N.Y., Orchard Park HS, Western Empire)Matthew Stork (Setter, Topanga, Calif., Cal State Northridge, So Cal)Joseph Sunder (Opp., Greensburg, Pa., Penn State, Keystone)Murphy Troy (OH, St. Louis, Mo., USC, Gateway)Nick Vogel (MB, El Cajon, Calif., UCLA, So Cal)

Alternates to 2009 USA MJNTT

Tri Bourne (OH, Honolulu, Hawai’i, USC, Aloha)Austin Ellis (MB, Corona del Mar, Calif., Stanford, So Cal)Jay Petty (Opp., Downers Grove, Ill., Lewis, Great Lakes)

Staff

Head Coach - Shawn Patchell, BYUAsst. Coach - John Hawks, Long Beach State

Come check out our huge collection of volleyball training gear for the 2009 season at http://www.volleyballproshop.com/.

Great Volleyball Drills for Beginners

2009-04-02T19:26:00.002-04:00

One of the most important aspect of volleyball is proper execution of the moves and techniques involved, and in order to master that you're going to have to master the skills right from the very beginning-form and all. That's why volleyball drills for beginners are among the most important drills and skills you're ever going to master. They are the foundation. What you learn when you're just getting started is going to be what paves the road to your success for the remainder of your career-so it's important to make sure you're getting it right!

The first skill you as a player are going to need to learn is how to properly pass the ball using a simple bump technique. We touched on this briefly when we were discussing the need for wrist protection, because proper bumping form is essential-not only to make sure that your hits are getting the distance and direction they need but also to ensure that you don't hurt yourself!

Most volleyball drills for beginners dealing with bumping focus on working with a partner to hit the ball back and forth. This gets you used to a) aiming the ball, and b) hitting the ball when it's coming at you from some other position than straight up in the air! Be sure you're hitting the ball with your forearms rather than your wrists or hands.

**You're probably going to have some red marks and/or bruising for a while, but that should pass quickly as your arms get used to the impact.**

Another important technique you're going to need to master is the serve. Your ability to serve is going to strongly impact your team's performance out on the court, so it's important to make sure you know what you're doing! Practice both types of serves regularly, either with a partner or facing a wall where you can pick your target and practice direction as well as power and speed.

Volleyball drills for beginners are the foundation that you're going to use to build the rest of your game, so don't fall into the trap of dismissing them as unimportant. Come check out our huge selection of training tools at http://www.volleyballproshop.com/.

Why Buy a Volleyball Net System?

2009-03-30T18:18:00.002-04:00

Have you ever tried to set up a volleyball net in your backyard, only to have it blow away as soon as Mother Nature let out a deep breath-or even worse, found yourself tangled up in one without any hope of finding your way back out? Volleyball nets may look harmless. They may look like just another volleyball accessory. But at their heart volleyball nets like to make trouble, and it may not be long before you're grinding your teeth into the dust trying to figure out how to make yours do what you want it to do.

The first step to successfully setting up your volleyball net is to make sure you're buying the right one. No, I'm not talking about the thing with the stringy squares. Believe it or not, even though the net itself is the most important part of the process for you as a player it's actually fairly insignificant when it comes to the setting up process. In this case, it's all about your side poles and what keeps your net up in the air.

To make things as simple as possible, I usually recommend purchasing a volleyball net system.

A volleyball net system works along the same basic principles as a computer. Yes, you can buy the different components, but unless you happen to be an expert there's virtually no way you're going to be able to guarantee you've got the right parts to do the job. One part that doesn't fit together just right, one piece that doesn't anchor into the ground properly, one side pole that can't be stabilized out on the floor, and the whole kit and caboodle will come crashing down on your head.
Come check out our collection of volleyball net systems at http://www.volleyballproshop.com/

Wrist Protection Out on the Court

2009-03-27T16:56:00.003-04:00

Have you ever tried to get through a day using only one arm? It's not as easy as you'd think it would be! Your arms and, by extension, your elbows, wrists and hands, are important, and it's important that you take care of them when you're out on the court.

The number one cause of wrist injuries to volleyball players is poor technique. If you're hitting the ball with your wrists rather than your forearms you're going to have irritated red spots (which you'll have just about everywhere when you first start playing but which should go away after a couple of weeks) and bruises, and you're going to be setting yourself up for sprains, strains and fractures. Practice your bumping technique to ensure that you're hitting the ball with the long bones of your forearm rather than the delicate bones of your wrist.

For added protection (or if you've just had enough of walking around looking like someone painted your arms with blusher) you can consider wearing wrist guards or taping your wrists and the bottom part of your forearm with athletic tape (or prewrap-it pulls less when you take it off). Wrist guards lend extra support to the joint, ensuring that it doesn't get bent in ways it was never meant to go and minimizing that chances that it will be damaged when you go diving for the ball but can't quite get there fast enough.

Your hands and wrists are an essential part of your game, and let's face it-it's hard to get dressed in the morning when you're only working with half of your resources! Protect those resources to keep your game on top and your life as uncomplicated as possible.

Come check out our assortment of wrist protection options at http://www.volleyballproshop.com/.

2009 USA Volleyball Junior Beach Tour

2009-03-25T14:55:00.002-04:00

It's that time again! USA Volleyball is kicking off its 2009 USA Volleyball Junior Beach Tour on May 2, 2009 in Gulfport, Mississippi, and it's open now to all players under the age of 21 who want to take part!

For those who aren't familiar with the USA Volleyball Junior Beach Tour, it's a series of Saturday events that crosses the United States from one coast to another. The tour begins in Mississippi and culminates in a final event on August 16, 2009 in Huntington Beach, CA.

There's no qualification necessary. Any 2 member, same gender team can register online through the USA Volleyball website to take part. Registration costs are $30 per person if you register online and $40 on site. Online registration closes at midnight the Thursday before the even to give the staff time to process the appropriate paperwork that always comes along with these things; however, players are welcome to come the morning of the event.

The events are open exclusively to USA Volleyball members; however, becoming a member is simple and can be accomplished through their website. The tour is designed for same gender beach volleyball teams, with individual matches determined by age. There is no rating associated with the Junior Beach Tour; players play strictly for fun, and have their choice regarding which events they want to take part in.

In the spirit of fun, there will be no "official" officials presiding over the individual games. Players officiate, and parents are welcome to come and watch in the role of parents, friends and "soft" coaches rather than officials. All in all, it's a great experience for young players. If you're interested you can check out the details at http://usavolleyball.org/event/event/1346#News.

Come see our huge collection of volleyball gear, uniforms, supplies and novelties at http://www.volleyballproshop.com/.

What Every Player Needs to Know About Jumper's Knee

2009-03-23T11:48:00.002-04:00

Anyone who watches "Bones" regularly was thrilled to see our favorite sport highlighted on last week's episode! (Even if it was in a slightly twisted kind of way.) The show made an excellent point, however, that all volleyball players should be aware of. The young woman in question had sustained multiple injuries as a result of her time spent on the team. Injuries like jumper's knee are common when you hit the courts, and it's something that you as a player should be aware of-and take steps to prevent.

What is Jumper's Knee?

Jumper's Knee, also known as patellar tendonitis, involves the patellar tendon that joins the kneecap to your shin bone. This tendon is extremely important when you're out on the courts-it's the tendon that lets your quads actively straighten the knee, propelling you upward and putting you in position for that perfect spite. As an athlete you put this tendon under a lot of stress. That stress that can cause micro-tears and collagen degeneration.

Symptoms of Jumper's Knee present as pain at the bottom and front of the kneecap, aching/stiffness after practice and pain when you flex your quads. Honestly, it probably won't seem like a very big deal; however, ignoring it can lead to chronic pain, difficult treatments and, in some cases, surgical intervention.

What Can You Do About It?

The best defense is a good offense. Building your leg's strength and flexibility will help you avoid contracting Jumper's Knee in the first place-but do it gradually. Much like shin splints, Jumper's Knee is often the result of overconditioning. Rest regularly, and unless you're in peak shape don't exercise more than four times a week.

If you do begin to feel the niggling pain of Jumper's Knee, contact your physician immediately. At the beginning it can usually be treated with anti-inflammatories, ice massage and physical therapy, a knee sleeve and proper training. More severe cases may graduate to injection of steroids, long-term rest (i.e. at least a season off the court) and, potentially, corrective surgery.
Jumper's Knee isn't a pleasant condition, but proper prevention and management can ensure that it remains a glitch in your game rather than a complete show-stopper.

Come check out our extensive collection of training materials and equipment at http://www.volleyballproshop.com/.

Volleyball Hall of Fame Welcomes New 2008 Inductees

2009-03-22T21:04:00.000-04:00

The date of the new inductees has long passed, but when browsing the web for current events to put on this blog I realized that I had managed to neglect the induction of a new season's worth of MVPs into the Volleyball Hall of Fame in Holyoke, Massachusetts, the birthplace of volleyball itself.

The Volleyball Hall of Fame first opened its doors on June 6, 1987, a day that was celebrated by a two day tournament following the induction of inventor William G. Morgan posthumously. Douglas Beal, the coach of the 1984 U.S. Men's Olympic Team, was the first keynote speaker to welcome the new inductee.

In October of 2008 the hall welcomed six new international greats into the hall, including beach player Randy Stoklos, five time Olympian Andrea Giani, former Turkish team captain and national coach Sinan Erdem, Japanese captain Masae Kasai Nakamura, world record holder and Russian captain Yuri Poyarkov and Soviet champion Vladimir Savvine.

Not all of these players lived to see their induction day. Vladimir Savvien passed away in 1975. His induction was acknowledged by Viktor Sviridov, head of the Russian Volleyball Federation Secretariat Department.

"This year's six-member Volleyball Hall of Fame induction class is a remarkable, diverse group of individuals that has impacted our sport in so many parts of the world," said Doug Beal, co-chair of the Volleyball Hall of Fame Selection Committee and chief executive officer of USA Volleyball. "This induction class, on par with its preceding inductees, truly shows the global reach of the Volleyball Hall of Fame and its significance as an institution capturing the international history and honors of this great sport."

The Hall of Fame will be inducting the next group of players to make history on October 29, 2009.

Information and quotes found at the Volleyball Hall of Fame website at www.volleyhall.org.

Don't Let Spring Fever Get the Best of You: Add Strength Training Onto Your Spring Training Program

2009-03-21T12:37:00.001-04:00

It's just about that time of year again-the snow's melting off the trees (in some parts of the country), the sun's starting to peek out from behind the clouds, and the birds are starting to make the first legs of their long trip north. With all that life in bloom it's hard to resist the urge to spend your days luxuriating in the crisp newness of spring. But don't let your need to be out in the great outdoors bring your strength training program to a grinding halt.

It happens to all of us. We spend the dark, gloomy winter in the gym, spinning on artificial treadmills and pumping iron. When spring gets here we just want to be out, and as a result we often find ourselves neglecting the strength training portion of our training programs. Walking, biking, hiking and running are so much more appealing in warm weather than sitting around in a gym breathing recycled air, and before you know it your well rounded strength and cardio program is leaning heavily on the cardio and not so heavily on the strength.

Because cardio training isn't going to get the ball over the net any harder, it's important that you not let spring fever get the best of you and annihilate the benefits you worked so hard to build. Toss in a day or two in the gym, and add weights or other strength training devices to your cardio workout. No reason to sacrifice the sun just for the sake of building up those arm muscles! The important thing to remember is that strength training is important. Don't let yourself be lured away by the appeal of a pretty day.

Come check out our collection of training devices and equipment at http://www.volleyballproshop.com/.

How to Buy Volleyball Knee Pads

2009-03-19T09:47:00.002-04:00

When you're out on the beach involved in a round of beach volleyball the sand acts as its own cushioning, but it's a different story altogether when you hit the courts. As pro beach volleyball player Rob Heidger said, "If you plan on playing indoors rather than at the beach, knee pads are a good piece of equipment. Plus, you can always wear them while in-line skating on the boardwalk!"

Let's hear it for versatile equipment.

When you're out on the court your knees are easily the most vulnerable part of your body, which is why a good pair of knee pads is essential. It doesn't matter how much you weigh, slamming down on an unforgiving court floor on your knees day after day isn't healthy-and sooner or later, someone's going to get hurt. A good pair of knee pads acts as a pad and a brace all rolled into one, making it the perfect finishing touch for safe volleyball.

There are tons of choices out there when it comes to choosing volleyball knee pads, so it's going to be up to you to find not only what type of kneepads fit best, but also which ones you prefer. There are two primary types of knee pads: regular foam and a foam/gel combination for extra protection. You want to choose a pair of contoured pads designed not only to protect but also to move with your knees and legs, avoiding excessive bulk that will slow you down while at the same time ensuring that your patellas (knee caps) are adequately protected.

A lightweight fabric that breathes is your best option, guaranteeing that your knee pads won't chafe unbearably the minute things start heating up out on the court-and you can often find a pair in your team's colors at no additional cost!

The most important factor of choosing volleyball knee pads is choosing a pair that will fit you properly. Knee pads are available in both regular and junior sizes (for teens and petite players) but there's never really a "one size fits all" when it comes to volleyball equipment. Be sure to test your pads out carefully in realistic game situations before stepping out onto the court. It's better to have to return a pair of pads that you bought over the Internet or turn away from a pair you tried on in the store than to go out on the court in pads that don't provide adequate protection or restrict your movement.

Come check out our collection of top of the line volleyball knee pads at http://www.volleyballproshop.com/.

The Value of Volleyball Coaching Clinics

2009-03-13T15:06:00.002-04:00

There are thousands of clinics held around the world every year to help volleyball players develop their skills and teams to establish stronger communications on the court. These clinics are an invaluable resource when it comes to developing strong player skills, and their partner clinics are an equally invaluable resource for coaches.

Coaches clinics teach coaches not only how to teach volleyball skills (any decent player with an intricate understanding of the
mechanics of motion can do that) but also how to interact with their team, how to deal with internal team conflict and how to build teamwork among their players. Because most coach's primary training programs focus on teaching skills to players and getting the best results out of their team in a very short amount of time there are certain invaluable skills that separate adequate coaches from inspirational ones.

Those kinds of skills often develop over time but with the assistance of experienced coaches can be prompted along. Professional coaching clinics are headed by present and past coaches with years of experience who personally guide along tomorrow's leaders. That means that whether you're coaching the women's national team or helping a group of young men break in their first set of high school volleyball sneakers, these clinics have something of value that will help you guide your players to realize their own potential and help take your team farther than it's ever been.

Coaching is a difficult job, requiring not only amazing amounts of skill and diplomacy but also an intricate understanding of the human mind and body and the psychology behind the reasons we do the things that we do-particularly if you happen to be brave enough to attempt to coach a team of teenage girls! While a coach's clinic might not offer you everything you need to learn to become coach of the year, it provides an excellent starting point for a very promising career.

Coach Mark Rosen, Michigan Wolverines

Come check out our collection of coaching tools and resources at http://www.volleyballproshop.com/.

What To Do When You've Got Volleyball Burnout

2009-03-11T13:33:00.002-04:00

In my last blog I talked about ways to avoid competitive burnout; however, I didn't realize until after the fact that there were very few suggestions in there for players who are already suffering from burnout and hanging on by their fingernails. It's important to understand that burnout isn't "all in your head", and it's not something that's going to go away if you ignore it. Competitive volleyball, particularly if you play year round, can take a tremendous physical and mental toll on your body. It's not all that different from CEOs of Fortune 500 corporations that suffer from burnout-you're mentally and physically exhausted, and that takes a toll on both your body and your performance.

The first thing to do is consider the reasons behind your burnout. Are you spending so much time on the courts that you don't have time to do anything else? It might be time to consider cutting back on your training schedule and/or taking a season off to rest up and catch up on the rest of your life. It's also important to make sure you're getting enough sleep. If you're dashing from work or classes to practice, then staying up until midnight cleaning or doing homework, you're going to burnout quickly. It's important to find a balance.

Take a look at your diet and training schedule. Are you eating for maximum nutrition or just grabbing what's convenient because it happens to be available? Make sure you're drinking plenty of water and eating vegetables and lean meats rather than cheeseburgers and french fries. Also, make sure practice isn't the only exercise you get in a day. Simple things, such as a walk (or a jog) around the block, or a few hours spent on a bicycle, will make you feel less stressed-and because you're still working your muscles you're going to be a lot less tired after training!

If personal problems are taking the joy out of your game, deal with them as soon as possible. If you have a problem with a member of your team, talk to your coach. Nothing should be allowed to rob you of the joy of playing, and if you're burning out it's important that you nip it in the bud so you can get back to the love of the game.

Come check out our huge supply of training materials and volleyball novelties at http://www.volleyballproshop.com/.

Easy Ways to Avoid Volleyball Burnout

2009-03-08T21:54:00.005-04:00

Do you know what the number one code among most professionals is? Don't ever make your passion your job. Far too often men and women try to transform their passion into an income making venture only to find out that when they're punching deadlines and counting pennies the activity they used to enjoy is suddenly nothing more than-well, a job!

Competitive volleyball can begin to feel that way, particularly if you're counting on launching a professional career (or hoping for a scholarship). It's easy to spend so much time perfecting your volleyball techniques and analyzing your competitions' moves that you forget why you started playing volleyball in the first place-the pure, simple love of the game. Whatever else it may be-passion, obsession, dream, ambition-volleyball is a game. And what is a game when it isn't any fun? It's work.

The question is, how can you avoid volleyball burnout? First and foremost, don't let volleyball devour your life. Spend time with friends. Go to the movies on Friday night rather than working out, and work out with friends whenever possible. Have hobbies to help fill your time so you don't find yourself devoting every minute of every day to your game. Even with a rigid training schedule it's possible to find a night out, and that's something you should take advantage of as often as possible.

Remember to vary your training, and just get silly out on the court every once in a while! One day, rather than training in the gym, grab your teammates and spend a day out on the beach. Playing in the sand builds up a new set of muscles, and you'll have a blast chasing the ball out into the water! If there's no beach available, move the party into the backyard and invite your friends and family to play. No, it isn't going to be as intense, and you're going to have to bear witness to some frustrating (and often embarrassing!) mistakes, but it's going to be fun.

And if you really want to jazz the game up a little, try playing with something other than a volleyball! (Beach balls and children's outdoor balls are the first things that come to mind, but various fruits have been tried too! Be creative!)

Taking time away from your intense training and practice schedule to just kick back, relax and remember that you're a person first and a volleyball player second is the best way to avoid volleyball burnout.

Come check out our collection of fun, funky volleyball gear at http://www.volleyballproshop.com/.

Taking Your Personality Out Onto the Court with Funkadelic Sports Wear

2009-03-06T14:22:00.002-05:00

I spend a lot of time talking about taking your personality out on the court, both through your uniforms and practice clothes and through your playing style. There's a reason for that! The key to a successful volleyball game is to enjoy yourself, and you can't possibly be out there having fun if you're too busy trying to be a carbon copy clone of someone you're not (and try saying that five times fast!).

Do you know what happens when you lose your love of the sport because you're out there playing with too much skill and too little heart? You burn out. Suddenly, you don't even want to look at a volleyball-ever. You lose your passion for the game that used to be your life because it stopped being a game and started being work.

The rest of the volleyball industry is finally catching on to the fact that volleyball needs to be done before it can be competition, which is why if you've taken a look at the latest lines of volleyball wear from the hottest names in athletic clothing lately you've probably been pleasantly surprised. They're funkadelic! Spandex, fluorescent colors and wild designs are dominating the world of fitness fashion. Flames, peace signs, rainbows and flowers cover everything from shorts and socks to jerseys and hair bands.

The moral of our story? The days of black and white volleyball gear are long gone, and they've been replaced with a hot new fashion trend that's taking the world by storm-volleyball with an attitude. Volleyball with passion. Personality both on and off the courts and the flares of what really makes volleyball memorable-lots and lots of fun!

Come check out our selection of top of the line volleyball gear in fun and funky designs at http://www.volleyballproshop.com/.

There's a New Volleyball in Town

2009-03-04T19:30:00.004-05:00

When it comes to the big, wide, wonderful world of volleyballs there are a lot of players on the market, but there are a few that have made a name for themselves as the "go to" brand of champions. Tachikara, for example. You knew it was only a matter of time before Tachikara found itself facing some serious competition, however, and that competition comes in the form of Molten's new line of competition balls.

Currently Molten has four types of volleyballs out on the market:

1) The Elite Competition Ball. This ball is intended primarily for indoor use, is actually made in Japan, and is marketed as the official ball of the NCAA Women's Volleyball Championships. Variations on this ball also include the official ball of the Men's National Collegiate Championships and the design and style used most by USA volleyball.

2) Competition Balls. The company offers a line of ten indoor and outdoor competition balls in various styles and colors. My favorite? The simple, oversized 31" yellow ball designed specifically with players age 8 and under in mind.

3) Camp Recreation Balls. Want to put yourself in the pros' shoes? Do it with these authentically imitated camp balls patterned after the ones used by USA Volleyball and the NCAA. These can also be custom designed with your team and logo in mind.

4) Novelty Balls. While most of these are designed to sit on your desk and not do a whole lot else, there's a very trendy gold paneled ball that makes a great gift for coaches, MVPs and anyone else for whom chocolates and flowers just won't do.

Molten might be the new name on the scene, but they're not the only ones making high quality game balls. Come check out our collection of volleyballs at http://www.volleyballproshop.com/.

Volleyball TV (and why the television's not as bad as your mother always told you)

2009-03-03T11:03:00.003-05:00

If you're a volleyball lover you're going to love this new site that's out on the web right now. If you get a chance, take the time to check out http://www.volleyballbuzz.com/. This is volleyball tv, ladies and gentlemen, complete with the official and unofficial commentary of the players' game skills. Now, this isn't something my company is putting on, just something else I stumbled across in my daily browsings. Right now we've got Kerry and Misty at the net, with the speaker giving a walk-through of each of their moves for listeners.

When they're living out in the wild young animals learn the skills they need to survive from their parents by imitating them, step by step. The best way for young volleyball players to learn the skills they need to succeed is by imitating professionals like Kerry Walsh and Misty May, and the play by play commentary doled out at volleyball tv and on ESPN during the competitive season gives players the chance not only to learn how to do things right but also the ability to recognize when they themselves are doing something wrong.

Where are you learning your volleyball skills? Are you studying the moves of the professionals and trying to imitate their style, or are you just grabbing a ball and hoping to go out there and do your best? The best way to learn is by example, so what are you waiting for? Kick on some ESPN, grab your low fat popcorn and sit back. You'll be amazed at how much you can learn.

Come check out our huge selection of volleyball tips and training tools at http://www.volleyballproshop.com/.

The 411 on Mizuno Spandex

2009-03-03T11:01:00.003-05:00

It never fails to amaze me how sometimes things just fall into place. For example, the fact that just last week we were discussing spandex and just this evening I stumbled on Mizuno's…spandex highlight, for lack of a better word, on their website. Mizuno offers three of the hottest types of spandex volleyball shorts currently on the market, and if you check out their sit you'll find a quick description of the benefits of their three spandex designs.

As we mentioned earlier, spandex makes great volleyball apparel because it allows the player complete freedom of movement without any uncomfortable distraction. Mizuno offers three different designs in their spandex selection:

1) The MVP II. This comfy short is for those who've never gotten used to the feel of low-riders, and it fits just below your natural waist. These shorts have a four inch inseam-long enough for modesty, short enough for convenience.

2) Vortex. This is Mizuno's latest design, and it blends the classic comfort of the MVP with the rapid trend in low riding shorts on the market today. These shorts also have a four inch inseam.

3) Low Rider. The name says it all! With a low riding waist and a 2 ¾ inch inseam, these snappy little shorts are the Daisy Dukes of the spandex world. Comfortable and modest while still being fashionable, these are easily Mizuno's hottest sellers.

Spandex is a great choice for when you're deep in the action out on the court, and even I have to admit that it's hard to go wrong with Mizuno. Any one of these fits should suit your needs, sit comfortably under your team jersey or practice shirt and afford you all the flexibility and comfort you need to play your best.

Check out all our great spandex at our store: http://www.volleyballproshop.com/

Trying Out for the U.S. Women's National Team

2009-02-26T22:48:00.005-05:00

Coming off of their recent silver medal in the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, the U.S. Women's National Indoor Volleyball Team gears up for another spectacular season-starting with try-outs on February 20-22. As per the teams official website, over 64 colleges were represented in the competition for the team's 33 open roster spots. "USA women's volleyball has such depth and talent, it is wonderful to see this many outstanding young athletes attending this National Team tryout," said head coach Hugh McCutcheon. "I believe playing for the National Team is the highest achievement possible for our indoor players. In that regard, our goal is to create the best environment for these players to train and compete at the international level."

So what does it take to be able to play for the U.S. Women's National Team? Or any national team, for that matter? (Guys, I'm not trying to leave you out here!) When most of these players first stepped out onto the court as high schoolers their biggest concern probably wasn't how they were going to rise to national stardom. For many volleyball was still a new experience, something fun to do with their friends.

As they aged, so did their ambition. College ball is tough, and there's a lot of competition for spots on the team. You don't play at the college level unless you've got what it takes to keep up with some of the best players in the world. At that point you have to make a choice-is volleyball just a hobby, or do you have what it takes to go all the way?

Is there a point to this? Absolutely! This past week young women from 64 colleges across the country gathered together to make their dreams come true, knowing that most of them would be walking away at the end of their three day try out. They took the chance anyway. You don't have to be a big name on the volleyball circuit to play national ball. You just have to be willing to try.

(Photo taken by Bill Kaufman. Located at http://usavolleyball.org/news/article/10001)

Come check out our huge selection of volleyball gear at http://www.volleyballproshop.com/.

Dancing on the Volleyball Court

2009-02-21T21:05:00.000-05:00

Did you ever take a second to think about how many dance steps professional athletes use when they're out on the courts? The dips, twists, spins and steps that athletes use to work their way around the court without taking their eyes off the ball are necessary skills for success on the court, but off the court most of them could star in a Broadway musical! The object lesson here? Grace and coordination, as much as skill and speed, are the keys to success when you're sending a ball flying across a net at high impact speeds.

Sure, you're probably laughing right now. But did you know that professional football players often learn basic ballet moves? And that ballet and dance are required for high level gymnastics competitors along with their regular training-both men and women? There's a lesson here. You don't have to be able to boogie on the dance floor to boogie on the court, but a little coordination and rhythm will go a long way toward giving your playing performance the extra boost it needs to be extraordinary rather than ordinary.

To pinpoint a specific example, take a look at your basic perimeter defense. Regardless of what type of game you're playing, there is one key rule that every player has to follow-keep your eye on the ball. It's impossible to do that if you have to look where you're going. That's why the cross step, also known as a partial grapevine, is an essential part of your perimeter defense. It affords you an almost unlimited range of motion without ever having to take your eyes off your opponent or the ball.

Come check out our huge supply of volleyball equipment at http://www.volleyballproshop.com/.

Guidelines to Buying a Practice Volleyball

2009-02-20T12:54:00.002-05:00

I like to spend a little bit of time each week flipping around the question and answer forums on the web to see what issues are on the minds of today's volleyball players, and I found one the other day that surprised me. A young woman new to the game was asking about the best brand of volleyball to buy to guarantee the best training experience possible.

Now, I'm not saying it's not a valid question, because it is. The quality of your equipment is going to affect the quality of your practice and, by default, the quality of your game, so it's an important issue to take into consideration. I was just surprised to hear a new player asking about it. Most players who are new to the game assume that one volleyball is the same as another, and that as long as they can hit it over the net and it's not falling to pieces there's nothing else they need to know.

A good volleyball has two basic characteristics:

1) It's regulation sized. Most sports shops sell regulation sized balls, and any carrier that specializes in volleyball equipment is probably only going to stock competition balls, but if you walk down to your neighborhood Wal-Mart all bets are off. The official size of a volleyball is 25.6 and 26.4 inches in circumference and weighs between 9.1 and 9.8 ounces. If your volleyball doesn't fall in this range your ball control could be seriously affected when you hit the court.

2) It's in good shape. Many people prefer to get second hand balls from friends and neighbors for practice when they're first starting out rather than spending the money to purchase a new one; however, volleyballs that are in poor shape, are not properly inflated and are not considered suitable for competition aren't going to provide a competitive practice experience. Again, your ball control is going to suffer when you get out on the court.

Mikasa and Tachikara make most of the balls used in professional games, so they make great practice balls for novice players.

Come check out our collection of regulation balls at http://www.volleyballproshop.com/.

Practice with Pizzazz

2009-02-17T09:11:00.003-05:00

Over the past couple of months I've written a couple of times about the fun, funky and (in some cases) psychedelic volleyball gear that's out there, but it wasn't until I was scouting around online the other night that I realized how far the trend to leave boring solids behind and add some personality and pizzazz to their game. Along with the expected trends in psychedelic spandex, the trend to be something other than ordinary has branched out to cover just about every branch of volleyball.

Gem Sports is now making a pair of zebra print volleyball shorts. Baden makes a tie dyed volleyball. Mizuno is adding lightening streaks to their official game balls. Red Lion and Asics are making funky patterned volleyball socks that are fun to wear on the court. Compression shorts are now available in a huge variety of colors and patterns, including camouflage, floral prints, giraffe prints, faux denim and (my personal favorite) tie dye with a printed peace pattern.

You would think that the desire to be funky would stop with socks and shorts, but some teams are actually carrying that trend over to their team jerseys, opting to leave behind traditional blue, red, white and black in favor of hot pinks and greens, tie dye and fantastic polka dots. It seems that today, taking your personality out on the court doesn't just mean thinking of new ways to slam the ball down your opponents' throats. It also means looking like someone who likes to have fun!

Come check out our selection of fun, funky volleyball gear at www.volleyballproshop.com.

Beach Volleyball vs. Courtside: How Much Equipment Do You Need?

2009-02-15T18:25:00.006-05:00

If you've ever sat and watched a beach volleyball game and an indoor volleyball competition you've undoubtedly noted a few differences-starting with the uniforms and going from there! The differences between beach volleyball and indoor volleyball are vast and don't just center around whether you have to wear spandex or a bikini to play. They encompass different playing styles (which I'll probably get into at some point), different skills and (dunh dunh daa!) different equipment.

Chances are, before you start shopping around for equipment you already know whether you're going to be a beach player or an indoor competitor. (No insult to beach competition intended, ladies and gentlemen-I just didn't want to repeat myself by saying "competitor" over and over. We all know every time that ball's in sight the competition is fierce. It doesn't matter whether you're playing by the surf or a set of gymnasium bleachers.) Most people develop a preference fairly quickly, which makes your job easy when it's time to hit the stores.

Believe it or not, you may actually end up buying more equipment to play beach ball than to play inside. Why? Because when you train all year round you get the chance to enjoy the best of both worlds. You're going to need the usual knee pads, practice gear, net access and ball that indoor competitors wear as well as comfortable outdoor gear (usually swimwear style), a sunscreen with a high SPF and a hat or athletic sunglasses to keep the glare out of your eyes while you're on the sand.

The bottom line? There really isn't a difference between the equipment you need to play indoor or outdoor ball. Why not enjoy them both?

To check out our collection of indoor and outdoor gear, visit http://www.volleyballproshop.com/.

The Benefits of Spandex on the Court

2009-02-11T10:46:00.006-05:00

The eighties left many of us with a nasty taste in our mouths when it comes to spandex, but when you're talking about sportswear there are many, many benefits to wearing this clingy material. Not only does it show off those well toned muscles, it also provides you with more freedom, flexibility and unhindered movement than the average gym short.

Ordinary cotton gym shorts make nice practice apparel because they're loose and comfortable; however, when you need the flexibility to move quickly and with a greater range of movement the fabric's own natural form actually slows you down. It doesn't matter how comfortable your gym shorts are, there is only so far they're going to stretch. Spandex stretches and moves with your body, and unless you're wearing spandex shorts that are two sizes too small (which is a story for another day) your shorts are going to move with your legs wherever they want to go.

Spandex also has the added benefit of holding in heat while at the same time allowing your legs to breathe, which is why so many runners love spandex and spandex/lycra blends for running in the wintertime. Spandex shorts and "sweat"pants will keep your legs warm during chilly practices (especially if you're a beach player) without halting your range of movement, making them the perfect choice for a practice where perfection is the only acceptable goal.

Not all spandex has to be the hot pink, striped abominations we loved to hate twenty years ago! (Although if you're interested there are some fun, funkadelic designs out there that really add personality to your practice clothes!) Today's athletic spandex is available in a wide variety of colors designed to conform to your uniform and your personal taste, making spandex the ideal choice for serious athletes.

Come check out our collection of spandex at http://www.volleyballproshop.com/.

The Many Uses of Pre-Wrap

2009-02-10T19:00:00.002-05:00

If you've ever had the fun of trying to pick your hair out of a hair tie when it's managed to knot itself around it or had to peel sports tape off of your skin (and half of your hair with it!) you're going to love this; someone has finally come up with a non-stick product that's meant to go underneath all these things and makes putting up hair, taping up body parts, protecting your skin from the freeze of an ice pack (or holding them in place) and just about anything you have to do that involves bringing products in direct contact with your skin.

It's called pre-wrap.

Aside from its huge collection of really cool colors, there are plenty of reasons to love pre-wrap. Pre-wrap doesn't get stuck in hair, and it doesn't stick to hair on your body either. It's the perfect choice to wrap hair with before putting it up in a ponytail or to wrap weak joints with before applying tape and/or braces. It's also a great choice for things like breaking in new shoes (can you say "blister proof"?), putting underneath bandages so the clips and tags don't dig into your skin and for preventing sensitive skin from chafing.

All in all, pre-wrap is your skin's best friend on and off the court when it comes to protecting skin and hair from irritants that would scratch, pinch, rub, freeze or pull until you couldn't stand it anymore…and since you have a virtually limitless number of options when it comes to choosing the color of your pre-wrap you can be fashion conscious and health conscious at the same time!

Check out our selection of pre-wrap in a rainbow of colors at http://www.volleyballproshop.com/.

Settling Conflicts on Your Volleyball Team

2009-02-05T10:51:00.003-05:00

"Teamwork is the ability to work together toward a common vision. The ability to direct individual accomplishments toward organizational objectives. It is the fuel that allows common people to attain uncommon results." - Andrew Carnegie

It's inconceivable that a group of people who spends as much time working together toward a common goal as a volleyball team does would get along all the time, but conflict among the members of your team not only destroys teamwork, it sets the stage for conflict out on the court. The ability of coaches, captains and teammates to work together to effectively solve conflicts before they have the opportunity to erode the quality of a team is vitally important.

Effective teamwork requires the input and effort of every member of a team, not just a select few; therefore, the most effective way to manage conflicts is head them off before they evolve. Involve the entire team in major team decisions, offering them the chance to participate when possible and offer their input and suggestions for making it work when it's not. We all know that sometimes decisions come down from on high and no one has a choice in the matter, but by offering your team the opportunity to feel as though they are helping to shape the form of those changes you're setting the stage open communication and, consequently, minimized conflict.

Encourage your team to keep their personal lives off the court, and address the issue quickly when personal problems pop up. I've noticed over the years that it's personal issues between individual players that often rips a team apart, because members end up either choosing sides or stepping away from the conflict in an effort to "stay out of it". Coaches should immediately step in to provide mediation and help players keep their minds on the game when they are on the court, and players should bring the problem to the coach's attention as soon as it begins to cause friction during play time.

Open communication and addressing problems before they have the opportunity to fester is the most effective way to eliminate conflict between members of a volleyball team and set the stage for success out on the court.

Come see our collection of today's best coaching tools and equipment at www.volleyballproshop.com.

Put the Punch in Your Volleyball Top Spin Serve

2009-02-04T14:38:00.002-05:00

You probably already know this, but I'm going to say it because it bears repeating-as many times as possible! If you've got a power server on your side you've got one of the most vital ingredients you need to walk away from that volleyball court a winner. The server influences the outcome of the game with every move they make. A single strong volleyball serve can annihilate the competition before they ever have the chance to give you a run for your money.

How do you put that maximum impact into your volleyball serve? Everyone has a style that works for them, and it's going to be up to you to discover ways to influence your preferred style of serve. That said, there are some basics to cleaning up on the court. If you're electing to do a basic top-spin serve, gather momentum by first stepping forward with the right foot, then the left. When your left foot hits the ground the ball should be directly over your head and your left arm extended to square off your shoulders. When it impacts the ball your hand should be open with fingers slightly extended, and in order to get a good top spin your wrist should pull forward and down.

Most importantly, keep your eyes on the ball! Volleyball is just like baseball in that respect-if you take your eyes off the ball, even for a moment, you're setting yourself up for failure. Yes, you'll probably still be able to get the ball over the net, but it's not going to have the impetus it needs to really make a difference.

Remember, your serve is one of the most valuable ingredients in your game-especially if you're playing with a partner rather than a team. Get enough punch behind your serve and you're setting your opponent up for defeat from the very beginning. Not enough, however, and you've already lost your advantage.

Come check out our huge collection of training resources at www.volleyballproshop.com.

Don't Forget Our Paralympic Teams

2009-01-31T02:15:00.003-05:00

I was sitting at my computer struggling with a bout of insomnia and surfing through the daily news when I came across an article at the USA volleyball official website that reminded me of a corner of volleyball that we don't talk about here very often. In fact, many people don't even know it exists. Sitting volleyball has earned a distinguished place in the Special Olympics, and the U.S. National Teams competed proudly at the 2008 Paralympic Games without enjoying most of the media coverage given to their Olympic counterparts.

I'd like to take a second today to commend the bravery and determination of the men and women of sitting volleyball teams around the world. For those of you who are unfamiliar with the sport, sitting volleyball, the game is exactly what it sounds like-volleyball competition played sitting down. Designed for locomotor-disabled individuals, the game is played on a smaller court with an 0.8 meter wide net set approximately one meter off the court.

Players are required to have one buttock or an extension of their torso on the floor when hitting or attacking the ball. Although designed for those individuals whose physical disabilities prevent them from standing competition, most club teams include non-disabled individuals who enjoy the variety and the fun atmosphere of the game.

The U.S. Women's Sitting Volleyball team won a Paralympic silver in Beijing, defeating the defending team from the Netherlands before falling to top ranked China. USA volleyball has officially announced that the U.S. Women's Sitting Volleyball Team has been named the Paralympic Team of the Year for 2008.

The men and women of the national and club sitting volleyball teams show great determination and fortitude when they're out on the court, leaving behind their disabilities to become something I think we can all relate to-die hard volleyball players. Let's remember them the next we're out on the court feeling as though we're too tired to go on and let their shining example be the guideline by which we measure ourselves.

Come see our extensive collection of volleyball equipment at www.volleyballproshop.com.

The 411 on Volleyball Communication

2009-01-29T20:23:00.002-05:00

It happens over, and over, and over again-the ball hits the court as two players stand there staring at each other going, "I thought you had it!"

If you're a competitive volleyball player you know EXACTLY what I'm talking about. Somehow a group of people with perfectly normal communication skills off the court lose their ability to communicate their intent and organize their actions the minute they step out on the courts. Volleyball is a team sport, ladies and gentlemen, and if you can't communicate with your teammates your game is going to fall apart faster than an ice cream cone in Mississippi in late July.

Simple phrases like, "I got it!" or "Heads up" or even "Mine" will go a long way toward rehabilitating your game. When everyone knows who has control of the ball they can set themselves up to take on a defensive position rather than diving for a ball that they aren't in an optimum position to get anyway. The same principle applies if you happen to see an area of uncovered space while you're out on the court…yelling out to your teammate (politely) to cover a hole before the serve is better for your game and your interpersonal relations than yelling at them after the other team has already scored.

There are numerous ways that teammates communicate, and in time your team will develop a rhythm that works for you. Don't be afraid to encourage your teammates! Letting your team know you support them will go a long way toward improving your team dynamic and keeping everyone working together…and when you're exhausted at the end of a long, hard game sometimes an encouraging word is exactly what you need to go just that little bit further.

Your communication skills are as vital a part of your volleyball game as they are other aspects of your life. Find other great training tips and resources at http://www.volleyballproshop.com/.

Choosing Your Team's Volleyball Jerseys

2009-01-27T19:30:00.006-05:00

Every team has something that ties them together. Over time that something often becomes something intangible, the desire to win and to help your team move on to victory. In the beginning, however, until you get to know each other and develop the personal relationship that makes players into teammates, the only thing binding you together is going to be the color and style of the jersey you all wear when you walk out onto the court.

Your team jersey symbolizes the fact that whether you know each other or not, whether you respect each other or not, you and the people who wear that jersey are out on the courts fighting for a common cause. It sets you apart from the people in the stands and the men and women on the other side of that net. When you're on the court that jersey shows you who your friends are.

Sometimes you won't be given a choice, and tradition will dictate what shirt you wear out on the court. Every once in a while a team will decide to toss the old away and usher in the new, however, and when that happens you and your teammates may find yourselves in the unique position of being able to choose your own team jerseys. Because your jersey is so much more than a shirt, it's important that you choose that jersey with care.

There are some things that are a given when you're choosing your team's volleyball jerseys. For example, you want a shirt in a lightweight material that's going to allow your skin to breathe and won't irritate it when things start to get hot under the collar. Things like color and design, on the other hand, are slightly more negotiable.

When you're choosing the jersey that's going to represent your team it's important to choose a color and design that will make it uniquely your own. Let the entire team give their input. Although you aren't going to be able to make everyone happy, your team might surprise you by how easily they come to an agreement. If no one can agree, narrow the color and design down to the top three and toss them in a hat. Not everyone will be happy, but at least it will be fair.

Remember, your team volleyball jersey isn't just a shirt. It's a symbol of everything that your team stands for. The jersey your team chooses is going to impact the way others see you for the entire season, so it's important to choose with care.

Come see our collection of team jerseys at http://www.volleyballproshop.com/.

Buying Your Volleyball Duffle

2009-01-25T23:13:00.005-05:00

When you're choosing the closets, dressers and cupboards that are going to hold your books, appliances and clothing, what do you look for? Do you just go for the one with the lowest price tag, or do you take things like quality, durability and efficiency into consideration? Knowing that you have to live with the individual "quirks" of these items every day of your life, you're likely to look far beyond the price to ensure that they're able to do the things you need them to do without driving you crazy or costing you hundreds of dollars because of poor quality.

Why, then, wouldn't you take that same approach to purchasing your volleyball duffle?

During volleyball season you and your duffle are going to develop the same close, intimate relationship women have with their purse. All of life's "little essentials" are going to be wrapped up in that bag, making it one of the most important objects you own-yet most people choose their volleyball duffle with less care and consideration than they give their Big Mac.

When you're choosing your volleyball duffle you want to do it with an eye toward both quality and efficiency. Choose a high quality fabric that will withstand the constant friction of skidding across a gym floor or the floorboards of your car, preferably in a bright, easily distinguishable design so you never grab the wrong bag when you're out on the road. Once you've settled on a brand you like, choose a bag that has plenty of small pockets to hold miscellaneous items such as iPods and quarters while still leaving you room in the middle for your practice clothes, your game day uniform, your protective gear, a small First-Aid kit, a practice ball (or two) and your game shoes.

A poor quality duffle bag will fall apart at the least opportune moment, forcing you to spend the time and money to purchase another one (usually while trying to juggle all of your belongings in a tiny plastic sack). A bag that is too small won't be able to hold all of your equipment, and one that is too large or doesn't have the proper organizational compartments will leave you standing in the locker room looking for your lucky socks while your team hits the courts.

Sooner or later your shoes will fall apart, your practice clothes will begin to fade and your kneepads will be replaced, but a good volleyball duffle bag will see you through it all.

Considering the fact that your duffle bag is going to be your home away from home when you're out on the road, it's important to make your selection with care. Come check out our selection of high quality, functional duffle bags at http://www.volleyballproshop.com/.

Men's National Team Honored by the U.S. Olympic Committee

2009-01-23T12:10:00.008-05:00

We interrupt this week's gear shopping guide for a juicy tidbit of volleyball news: Thursday, January 22, the U.S. Olympic Committee officially announced that the U.S. Men's National Volleyball team was named the 2008 Team of the Year.

The honor comes after the team's sweeping victory in Beijing, leaving the tournament undefeated. The third ranking team going into the Olympic Games behind Brazil and Russia, they emerged victorious after defeating both top ranking teams as well as Bulgaria and Russia (ranked 3rd and 4th).

Thanks to their efforts, the U.S. is currently the 2nd ranked Men's Volleyball team in the world. As a team, they were first in kills and second in blocks and aces at the games and were nominated for Sports Illustrated's 2008 Sportsmen of the year award.

Their victory came on the heels of Coach Hugh McCutcheon's personal tragedy. McCutcheon's in-laws, Todd and Barbara Bachman, were the victims of an unknown assailant while sight-seeing in Beijing at the opening of the games. Todd was killed and Barbara severely injured, leading to McCutcheon's absence at the first three matches of the games until his mother in law was stable enough to return to the U.S.

U.S. Men's Team member Ryan Millar is quoted as saying, "It's so good to do this with Hugh and to do this for him and the Bachmans. I think being named the 2008 team of the year solidifies all the hard work that our team put into 2008. Winning the Olympic gold medal is something that will bond our team forever."

Millar's teammate, Reid Priddy, adds, "To be honest…trying to stay in the moment helped us. We're just so proud to be a part of this team representing our country."

Give our guys a round of applause!

Find volleyball novelties, gear and more at http://www.volleyballproshop.com/.

The Low Down on Volleyball Practice Clothes

2009-01-21T09:33:00.006-05:00

When you were young and wanted to play a game of volleyball you probably just tossed on a pair of sneakers or sandals and walked out into your backyard. Of course, that was when the only diving you had to do was to rescue the ball before your younger siblings sent it flying out into the road! Now that you're a competitive player, the meaning of "appropriate volleyball gear" is going to take on new meaning-and a big part of that is going to include your practice clothes.

Why are practice clothes so important? Because no matter what anyone tells you, practice doesn't make perfect. You can practice all day long, but if you aren't practicing correctly you're never going to improve. That means that your practice clothes have to afford you the freedom and flexibility you need to move the way you want to move while still being comfortable.

Most players prefer t-shirts in a lightweight cotton or a soft mesh (like that worn by track runners) for their practice gear, both for their ability to move with your body and the fact that they don't chafe your skin when you start to get a little sweaty under the collar. Ladies, don't forget to add a good sports bra to the mix! Your regular bra won't offer enough support, and the clasps will begin to chafe against wet skin. A comfortable pair of shorts (again, either soft cotton or mesh) ending above the knee is also preferable to denim, because denim does not stretch, it chafes and it's going to limit your movement-and consequently, your performance.

If you're going to be playing, always wear white socks. That is, unless you'd like to see your feet and your very expensive volleyball shoes turn strange colors. In that case, wear whatever you want! Seriously though, white socks allow your feet more breathing room, and the color won't bleed when your feet start to sweat.

Your practice clothes might not seem like the most important piece of clothing you put on in a week, but they're going to have a major impact on the way you play. Come check out our collection of practice gear at http://www.volleyballproshop.com/.

Guidelines for Buying Volleyball Shoes

2009-01-17T14:42:00.004-05:00

If you happen to be a shoe connoisseur, it comes as no surprise to you that the process of buying good, sturdy and yes, comfortable volleyball shoes is a bit more difficult than walking down to your neighborhood Wal-Mart. A good pair of volleyball shoes is vital to your success on the court, however, saving the pain and discomfort of blisters, fallen arches, twisted ankles and long term wear on the knees and hips.

Remember, when you're jumping up for that ball it's up to your feet to take 100% of the impact when you drop back down. You want to make sure they have the equipment they need to do their job, just like you should make sure you have the equipment you need to do yours.

So how do you find a great pair of shoes? The first thing you need to know is what type of shoes you're looking for. An ordinary pair of canvas sneakers aren't going to cut it when you're running and diving around on the court. Everyone has their favorites when it comes to athletic shoes. Personally, I recommend a good pair of cross-trainers. Cross-trainers are designed to offer extra support to the feet and ankles under high impact, and they're the type of shoes preferred by most long distance runners for their comfort and traction.

Mizuno produces a large selection of cross-trainers designed especially to be worn as volleyball shoes to give the player a little extra "spring".

Cross trainers are more expensive than regular sneakers, but they're well worth the investment in the long run. A good pair of cross trainers should provide plenty of support along the arch of your foot so you won't be left flat-footed but be "cushy" enough that you'll be comfortable in them for long periods of time. Use the same sizing guidelines you would use when buying regular shoes; not too tight, not too loose. The name of the game is comfort and support.

A good pair of volleyball shoes is the most vital piece of game or practice gear a player can have. Come check out our extensive collection of cross-trainers geared toward the court at http://www.volleyballproshop.com/.

The Volleyball Gear You HAVE To Have

2009-01-14T19:30:00.007-05:00

When it comes to buying volleyball gear, the bottom line that there are a lot of retailers that would love to talk you into buying a ton of equipment you don't really need in order to boost their profit margin. If you've got the money to spare that's fine, but if you're like most of us and living on a tight budget that slightly inflated list may mean the difference between purchasing high quality gear and second rate equipment that won't give you the performance quality you need.

Over the next few blog posts we're going to look at buying guidelines for your volleyball equipment so you're prepared when it's time to hit the stores, but before we do that I thought I should start by introducing you to the bare basics-the equipment you absolutely, positively cannot live without if you're talking about hitting the court on a regular basis.

First and foremost, you're going to need to purchase a good practice ball. There are hundreds of options out there to choose from, and a second-hand ball is just as good as a new one when you're first learning how to play if your budget is tight. As long as it's regulation sized, you're good to go.

Secondly, you're going to need a comfortable pair of shoes. You can play volleyball in jeans (although you shouldn't), you can play volleyball without proper knee pads, but you absolutely, positively cannot play indoor volleyball without a good pair of athletic shoes on your feet. (If you're a beach volleyball player this is a moot point when you're on the court; however, a good pair of sneakers is going to be vital for training.)

Speaking of training gear, you're going to want to make sure you've got some comfortable practice clothes handy. A great pair of spandex shorts, a comfortable pair of sweats and a tee-shirt that lets you move freely are the basic essentials. Ladies, don't forget to add a sports bra to your shopping list! Not only is it provide more support than a regular bra, it's a lot more comfortable when things start getting hot and sticky.

Knee pads are going to be a must sooner or later, so it's wise to pick them up to protect your joints from the very beginning. Luckly, knee pads now a days do protect the like they are suppose to! To make sure you're never left searching for your gear when it's time to hit the court, invest in a duffle or backpack reserved exclusively for your volleyball gear.

Unless you need to add a net to your collection (which you may if you don't play with an established league) these are the bare essentials you're going to need to get you started. Tune in on Friday for helpful hints on choosing a top of the line ball that will make sure you're primed and ready to play the game of your life when it's time for your first game!

Come check out our huge selection of volleyballs, kneepads, jerseys and other volleyball gear at http://www.volleyballproshop.com/.

The Hottest Brand Names in Volleyball

2009-01-12T15:23:00.018-05:00

When you're shopping for volleyball gear, whether it's a great pair of shoes or a practice ball for the backyard, you want to make sure you're not just getting the best for your money. You want to make sure you're getting the best for your game. It's often tempting to settle for second best and put away the difference for that weekend trip to Malibu, but the bottom line is that the last thing you want to do is cut corners when it comes to your equipment.

Not only does cheap equipment wear out faster (and usually at the worst possible moment), it can also have some nasty side effects. Fallen arches, blisters and banged up knees aren't fun, but that's exactly what you'll get when you cut corners on the quality of your gear.

Since I opened the doors of the Volleyball Pro Shop I've made it my mission to carry the hottest names in volleyball gear to make sure that my customers don't just get the best deals for their money. I want to make sure they get the best deal for their game. Everyone has their own preferences when it comes to equipment, and it won't be long before you too develop your own personal taste in the style and brand of your volleyball gear; however, if you're new to the game and trying to figure out if you're being scammed by a slick sales pitch and a good price tag, here are some high quality brand names to look for:

Accessories and Cool Spandex: Pre-Wrap, Funkadelic Shorts

Shoes: Mizuno, Asics, Nike

Balls: Mikasa, Tachikara

Protective Gear and Uniforms: Mizuno, Tandem Sports, Adidas

You deserve the best every time you step out the court. Good equipment doesn't just benefit your game. It lasts longer, plays better and protects your game more smoothly than cheap imitations.

Come check out our huge selection of high quality gear at http://www.volleyballproshop.com/.

Should I Play Volleyball?

2009-01-09T13:45:00.004-05:00

First and foremost, let me say that there's nothing in the world like the feeling of diving for the ball and making the ultimate save, racking up another point on the scoreboard-in my opinion, anyway. It's often hard for me to remember that there are people out there that don't enjoy the sport, which makes it hard every time someone comes up to me with the inevitable question-do you think I should play volleyball?

If you're already a certified court master, there's no question in your mind what the answer to that question should be. It usually falls somewhere along the lines
of, "Where's the ball?"! If you're waffling with the decision of whether or not to play volleyball, however, and it's blown up into momentous proportions-relax.
If you're still trying to make the decision as to whether or not you want to spend time on a regular basis smacking, bumping and spiking a ball over the net you're probably not sitting around waiting for the next summer Olympics. You've got time.

The beauty of volleyball is that although it definitely requires serious physical endurance, you've got time to build that up while playing. It's not like getting ready to hit the track for your first 5K, where if you're not in shape the minute you step out there you're going to fall on your face. As mentioned in an earlier blog, volleyball was actually designed to be a low impact sport for senior citizens by a concerned member of the YMCA. That makes it a fun, friendly sport, even if you're the type of person who has dedicated themselves to avoiding athletics like the plague.

There's also a great deal of variety in volleyball. You're never stuck in a rut. You can play beach volleyball, or indoor volleyball, or pairs, or team volleyball…the possibilities are limitless. Volleyball is an easy sport to take out of the competitive field and into your backyard, which means you don't have to have a killer instinct and a love of team sports to enjoy.

So should you play volleyball? Absolutely! Give it a try. Whether you're playing competitively or just enjoying a lazy game on the beach, you have nothing to lose.

For all the volleyball info and equipment you can handle, visit our site at http://www.volleyballproshop.com/.

The Ins and Outs of Volleyball Boot Camp

2009-01-07T22:29:00.006-05:00

Whether you're a serious player looking for a way to preserve and promote your professional skills or a weekend athlete who wants to learn the ropes, volleyball boot camp is an excellent opportunity for you to strengthen and grow your skills on the court and develop strong relationships with fellow volleyball enthusiasts around the world.

The word "Boot Camp" often brings the exploited Hollywood version of Army boot camp to mind, with drill instructors constantly in your face and not a moment's peace. Relax, ladies and gentlemen, this is just Hollywood trying to make a buck by putting some comedy on the silver screen-more or less. The purpose of a real boot camp is to put you in an environment where you are able to devote 100% of your attention to stretching and expanding your skills and taking yourself farther than you ever thought you could go.

That's what volleyball boot camp will do for you. There are literally hundreds of volleyball boot camps held year round in every state in the U.S., so finding one in a convenient location near you shouldn't be hard. For (X) number of days and nights (the length varies individually) you'll work with some of the best volleyball players and coaches in the world to develop your offensive and defensive skills and expand and strengthen your training routine to make sure you're lean, mean and ready to go when you hit the court.

Volleyball boot camps may be pricey, but they're well worth the time and expense. If you ever have the opportunity, take advantage of what volleyball boot camp can offer you. The rewards will pay off the minute you hit the court, and you'll walk away with the kind of memories that last a lifetime.

For more training materials and top of the line volleyball equipment, visit http://www.volleyballproshop.com/

Strengthening Your Team's Defense

2009-01-05T09:55:00.004-05:00

The saying, "The best defense is a good offense" definitely doesn't apply for volleyball, where the offense can become the defense and switch again in a matter of seconds. Unlike football, where offense and defense are clearly defined at any stage, in volleyball every player is expected to be both defense and offense at any given point in time.

Because of that, it's essential that your team have a strong, motivated defense.

The question is, how can you strengthen your team's defense? Practice, practice, practice. Every player on your team has unique skills that apply in different areas of the court, and while for some the art of diving after the ball may be second nature, for others it's going to take a little extra effort. Defensive strategy should be practiced both as a team effort and individually.

For individual defensive practice, have the players on your team pair up. One serves, the other saves, and the two volley back and forth until the ball drops. Tell them not to make it easy on each other! In a real competition the opposition is going to do their best to send the ball where you can't get to it, so it's essential that during practice your team invests plenty of time going after wild balls. Forget form here. All you want to do is keep it between the lines!

Be sure you have the proper protective equipment to protect your knees and ankles while you're diving for the ball. The last thing you want is a team full of bruised, banged up players who aren't fit to hit the court because they didn't have proper knee protection and they hit the boards one too many time. Knee pads are a must.

For other training resources and top of the line protective equipment, visit http://www.volleyballproshop.com/.

Does Volleyball Really Need Cheerleaders?

2009-01-04T16:56:00.004-05:00

Cheerleaders are a vital part of pumping up the crowd in competitive team sports, but the exploitation of beach volleyball cheerleaders through professional and non-professional publications alike raises the question, "Does volleyball really need cheerleaders?"

Everyone has their own opinion of the role played by the bikini rockers that jazz up the crowd between points and matches. For some, it's all part of the game. Imagine the Dallas Cowboys without the Cowgirls cheering them on from the sidelines. Despite the controversy that their scanty outfits have raised among some critics of the football community, the Cowgirls are almost as much of an institution as the Cowboys themselves.

Beach volleyball cheerleaders are almost as much a part of the sport to many as the squads found on the sidelines at basketball and football games at all levels, from Pee-Wee to professional. The crowd loves them, dazzling them while the players are preparing the hit the sand all over again.

Some of the volleyball teams, however, are less than amused. The presence of the Personal Plus dance team at the beach volleyball competition in Athens met with disapproval from some of the women's teams. A member of the Australian women's team stated, "It's kind of disrespectful to the female players. I'm sure the male spectators love it, but I find it a little offensive."

Offensive? Not the fun, beach party atmosphere the team was going for, leading to the question of whether cheerleaders in bikinis belong at serious competition. Everyone has an opinion. Some members of the media have a less complimentary opinion, leading to headlines like "Babe A Day! Beach Volleyball Cheerleaders Burning Hot in Beijing" and "Bosoms, Beer and Volleyball!"-a disgrace to the sport and women who represent it.

Others, however, encourage support the crowd pleasing presence of cheerleaders on the sand, claiming it's all in good fun-exactly what these young women were going for when they stripped down to their suits and hit the court.

For all the volleyball equipment and training tips you need, visit http://www.volleyballproshop.com/.

The Biggest Moments of 2008

2008-12-31T12:23:00.010-05:00

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

2008-12-29T22:07:00.011-05:00

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...?

2008-12-27T20:55:00.007-05:00

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

2008-12-26T17:43:00.004-05:00

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

2008-12-24T11:21:00.003-05:00

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

2008-12-18T17:26:00.006-05:00

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!

2008-12-17T15:32:00.005-05:00

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

2008-12-15T10:52:00.003-05:00

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

2008-12-12T22:03:00.006-05:00

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/.

Choosing the Right Jersey

2008-11-10T08:29:00.001-05:00

Choosing the right volleyball jersey can be difficult, especially when you are presented with so many choices. The New National IV Jerseys are among the best in quality and functionality and should definitely be considered. Here are some of the features that may be important to you when choosing your next jersey.

As with any sport, volleyball requires a lot of movement. This means you will need to be free to move in any direction at any given time. You will want a jersey that allows you to do this. This means choosing one with stretchy fabric that facilitates such movement. The arm cut is also important, since you will use your arms to serve and perform other tasks. The wider range of motion you have, the easier it will be to move about in comfort.

When choosing your next jersey, you might also want to consider moisture retention. When playing volleyball, you are likely to build up moisture, so you want a jersey that will allow it to evaporate as quickly as possible. This is important when you are playing any sport that will keep you constantly on the move like volleyball is sure to do.

There are several New National IV Jerseys from which to choose, so it won’t be difficult to find one that will best fit your needs. You want to be comfortable both in practice and during games, so when choosing a jersey, be sure to make your selection carefully.

check out our website to order your New National IV Jersey: http://www.volleyballproshop.com/m7_view_item.html?m7:item=440225-1000

Choosing Officials Gear

2008-11-08T20:55:00.016-05:00

There are many items you may need when choosing officials gear. This blog will list several, and explain what they are and why they are important.

The first piece of equipment is a dual rotation locator. This allows you, the official, to simultaneously track rotation of two teams. Track your players, substitutions, and timeouts quickly and easily.

The next useful item is the linesman flag. You will need more than one of these, but they are very affordable. You can buy them in sets, or even purchase kits if this is more convenient. The kits can include carrying cases, which allow you to carry and organize them easily.

The net setter is the next important item. It measures the correct height of the volleyball net, and enables you to change the height quickly and easily when necessary.

You can also purchase kits that include linesman flags, penalty cards, and a whistle with a lanyard. Depending on the items you need to purchase, the kit may be a great way to organize some, if not all of your necessary items. Keep the kit intact and the other items in carrying cases so they are available when you need them. Purchase an array of products as needed, and take advantage of the great prices you will receive. The gear mentioned in this blog is just a sample of what you will find.

Whether you are a first time official or a veteran, you will find the right equipment sure to
fit any need. You can find all your officials gear right here at Volleyball Pro Shop: http://www.volleyballproshop.com/m7_view_item.html?m7:item=J41-LINESMAN

Combining Fun with Funkadelic.

2008-10-31T09:23:00.007-04:00

When choosing volleyball shorts, you will want to consider several factors. Among them are comfort, color, material, and durability. You want to make sure your shorts are comfortable while you are playing, both in practice and in games. If you are fashion conscious, color can also be a factor. You may want certain colors to use for practice shorts, and others for games. Either way, the possibilities are endless. The material you choose matters as well, since you will be wearing the shorts often and for a sporting event. Lastly, durability is an important factor. The fact that you are playing sports alone means you will want to wear shorts that will last through many wearings and washings. Ideally, you want shorts that combine all these factors into one product you can use over and over again. That is where Funkadelic Sport Shorts can help.

You want your shorts to be comfortable. After all, you will be playing volleyball in them. This is important in both practice and the game itself, so consider this as one of the most important factors. Funkadelic Sport Shorts are known for their comfort.

The next factor is color. Whether you are a fan of crazy prints, bright colors, or fun looks, Funkadelic Sport Shorts has what you need. This allows you to pick and choose shorts for every mood and situation.

Funkadelic Sport Shorts are also made from high quality spandex material made to last through many practices and games. This allows you to play in comfort as they will stretch when you move. Order several pairs and wear them as you like.

The fourth factor is durability. When you purchase these shorts, you can know they will last a long time. Wear them through many practices and games without having to worry about replacing them.

For more information or to view the products go to http://www.volleyballproshop.com/m7_view_item.html?m7:item=FUTI

How to Have the Dream Club Season

2008-10-02T15:09:00.003-04:00

How did your last volleyball season end? Did you end up where you wanted to be? Most of you probably are saying no and I can relate through my years in the sport as well. Any volleyball coach will probably emphasize that success will come down to three factors: goals, effort, and preparation.

Goals-The most successful teams set goals for themselves. When the going gets tough, how will you push yourself to succeed at a higher level? There will probably be many days you do not want to get out of bed but those goals can be the bigger reason why you push through any disinterest or apathy. Having a common goal with your teammates helps unite the team as well. This makes everyone accountable to everyone so that you can push yourself and others and the same will be done for you.

Effort is pretty easy to understand. You may have a good team which can win most matches very easily. What happens when you get to States and meet an equally talented team? The prepared team will likely win because of the effort it put forth in practices and earlier matches. Effort moves beyond practices to how hard you play in games.

Whenever you are competing against other teams, the more prepared team will win the majority of the time. If you have prepared accordingly, you will not be surprised by anything that the other team does and probably have practiced against different tactics they may utilize in practice. This comes down to how you prepare in practice. If you watch any elite athlete or talk with any elite athlete, many will talk about how important practice is. It is simply a preparation for the game. Do you think that your body will be able to produce at a higher level simply because it is a game? If you have not exerted yourself in practice, how can you expect your body to work at a higher level than it is used to?

This also involves a good game day routine. There is a great book you can buy and the following is an excerpt of some of the different things you need to do to succeed. I won’t get into that since you can follow the link but this will help you with preparation on game day. A proper game day routine will involve certain key elements so make sure that your team is following these rigorously. It could be the small difference between a win and a loss.

Success can be determined many times by the will of the winning team. This can come from the effort, preparation, and goals the team members have in place. Think about how you want your volleyball season to turn out and how you can make that happen.

For any product-related need, visit http://www.volleyballproshop.com/.

Indoor and Olympic Success

2008-09-20T12:12:00.004-04:00

The United States has had very good success within these Olympics. Some of the success was expected, especially when you look at beach volleyball. Misty May and Kerri Walsh were expected to defend their Olympic gold title, given that they were ranked number one in the world and have not lost for so long. The number one men's volleyball team of Dallhauser/Rogers won gold, matching the team of May and Walsh.

What was not expected was the strength of the Americans and indoor volleyball. The women's Olympic indoor volleyball team defeated the Cubans in a three set sweep and moved on to the gold-medal game. This ensured the Americans they would have the best Olympic tournament finish since 1984. The women have played a particularly strong tournament considering their overall record of 6-1. The lone loss came at the hands of the Cuban team the US just beat. This explained why their recent win against Cuba was so satisfying. The US won rather handily in this game, finishing the three sets with the following scores: 25-20, 25-16, 25-17. The women had previously beaten China to set up the match against Cuba in the quarterfinals. That meant added drama due to the fact that the US is coached by one of the Chinese legends, Lang. To finish the tournament, the US lost to Brazil, which did not diminish the overall results.

The men's indoor volleyball team was up to the task as well. They had not finished with the medals since 1992 and are presently working to end that 16 year drought. The men were undefeated and had to charge back from a deficit to beat Serbia in five sets in a match which lasted a whopping two hours. The United States beat Russia and finally Brazil to win the gold medal.

From watching the United States play, it was very easy to see the kind of heart that they are playing with in every match. If you did not keep up with volleyball throughout the Olympics, the head coach left the team to be with his wife because her parents were both stabbed in Beijing. The father subsequently died and the mother’s condition stabilized and then upgraded to good condition. When unfortunate incidents happen like this, it often will inspire team to circle the wagons and push harder to reach a level of success it might not have expected before. This seems that it happened with the United States men’s team so far.

If you have any equipment needs like the Olympians did, Mizuno filled those needs. When you need equipment in the future, look towards http://www.volleyballproshop.com/.

New and Great 2008 Volleyball Products

2008-09-15T20:08:00.006-04:00

Here are a few of the new and great 2008 volleyball products. With the overload of information you probably receive about volleyball, it can be pretty hard to keep up with some of the new products out there. For all that changes out there, much of it will remain the same.

I will include a link here along with a brief synopsis of an article so you can decide to read the full article. If you have been coaching volleyball for a long time, you have undoubtedly seen your share of ankle injuries. There was actually a study completed just recently. To start off the discussion, it is estimated that 36% of injuries in volleyball are ankle injuries. At the University of Pennsylvania, it became a requirement to wear padded ankle braces on both ankles in practices and matches. As a result, the University of Pennsylvania players only had one ankle injury over seven seasons. Compared with results compiled over the NCAA, the number of ankle injuries decreased significantly. If your team has been struggling with ankle injuries, this may be a good way to go. The end of the article does link you to a website where you can check out ankle braces and see if this may be worth an investment of time and money on your part.

If you are a fan of Mizuno, there were new shoes that were sent out around April 1st of this year. It is the Mizuno Wave Tornado for both men and women. Here is a picture of the shoe. If you are unclear on what volleyball shoes you want to get, look into Mizuno as it is one of the best producers of volleyball products you can think of. You can seldom go wrong with Mizuno and if you talk with friends who are knowledgeable about volleyball, they will probably steer you in the same direction.

The new product that everyone is raving about is the Funkadelic Sports Shorts. The basic black, red or navy spandex are a thing of the past, you can now get spandex with zebra print, tye dye and many other combinations. These are the new craze in our volleyball world. Show your style at practice or in a team uniform.

If you want to buy volleyball products, visit my online volleyball pro shop, http://www.volleyballproshop.com/.

The Latest and Greatest

2008-09-12T11:52:00.003-04:00

The Latest and Greatest: Product Reviews

Here are a few different brands that you can read about to help you find the best volleyball gear. Because being the best means having the best.....

One company you can never go wrong with is Mizuno. Just follow this link to see what they have available for you in 2008. If you look along the right side of the page, there are different articles which talk about some of the recognition Mizuno has received from different companies evaluating their products (such as Volleyball Magazine). One of the neat things when you look at their website is that you can play around online to find a uniform that your team will like. As with many high school teams, there is a budget in place ahead of time but this may be a fun way for your team to bond. If they can design their own uniforms and allow you to order this from a local store, this can be the best of all worlds, especially if you have old outdated uniforms.

Here is something a little outside the realm of products but along the same tangent. If you are looking for new ways to condition yourself or your athletes, train the LIBERO, or practice planning, check out the following website. Here will will find a video (DVD) for every aspect of the volleyball game from on the court training to practice planning.

If your team is in need of volleyballs, Mikasa has been one of the leading manufactures in the volleyball word, as seen at the Beijing Olympics. The FIVB (Fédération Internationale de Volleyball) decided at its World Congress held on June 16 -17, 2008 that the new MIKASA MVA200 volleyballs with unique cover materials will be used as the official game balls at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games. The 24 qualified teams (12 Men and 12 Women teams) are already practicing with this revolutionary new volleyball. MIKASA volleyballs have been used as the official Olympic volleyballs for eight out of ten. If it is the best in the nation is using Mikasa why aren't you.

The best volleyball equipment can be found at the one stop shop VolleyballProShop. I hope this helps in your quest for the best equipment.

Team Success for your 2008 season

2008-09-10T15:17:00.010-04:00

Now you want your team to succeed. This goes without question and this particular blog post is going to talk about 2008 high school volleyball products which can help your team. We will get into products a little bit but this will focus primarily on videos and training.

The first is to know your rules. Some of the rules have changed for the 2008-2009 season and if you contact your states high school association you can obtain your states rulebook. You may want to check this out or bookmark to this link if you need this. If you need to challenge a referee, it is always better to know the rules pretty well and the updated rules at that!

Here is a great article about why you will want to use video for your training sessions with your team. In the article, the author explains that it can help in scouting matches. This can be especially important when you get to the states or districts near the end of a season. You can have a chance to understand the other team’s tendencies.

You can pick up videos that show your team particular techniques that they are struggling with. As a coach you need to have continuing education because the game is ever changing. This link will give you many videos/books that will focus on every aspect of the game. To be the best coach for your players continue to grow thru education.

A video that will focus on the basic fundamental of the game is "Coaching Volleyball Skills and Techniques". This is not a new product as goes with the theme of the post but it does have great skills you may want to work on with your team. You can find the video here. It can be good to find videos like this to include in your repertoire of different drills and trainings. You can use this video in practice for the same reasons argued in the article from the paragraph above.

Hopefully this has provided some benefit to you. Having the right equipment and products is always important. Taking the time to critique and improve upon the coaching and training regimen can have a profound effect on your high school program.

Products (and bookmarks) for the Coaches!

2008-09-08T13:16:00.006-04:00

Here is a great website with which you are able to view a strong variety of different products for your volleyball team. This can allow you to do most of your shopping from one main website so that you don't have the jump from website to website depending on what your team needs. Having a consistent source for your apparel, coaching needs and officialiating needs means you will be very good and efficient in your shopping needs: http://www.volleyballproshop.com/

You probably used this particular website before. If you haven't visited it, make that one of your actions for today. There are so many articles of information about volleyball in general. There is information about how the Olympics have been going and there are even different blogs from some of the actual beach volleyball teams.

If you want to catch up on some great material, you may want to look at some of the back issues of Volleyball Magazine. Here is a link to the different back issues you can find: http://www.volleyballmag.com/archive/. You will have to pay for the issues but if you need some up to date information, you will likely want to look here. They have great articles on many drills you can incorporate into practices for your girls’ or guys’ team.

Here is another good website if you want to work on preventing injuries to your team as well. This particular website speaks specifically about hand injuries: one of the more common injuries within the sport: http://volleyball.about.com/od/commoninjuries/.htm.

I hope that you enjoy some of these different websites that I've just given you. You can use these for product reviews, information as far as what is hot for the year, and just a general understanding and enjoyment of the sport. Hopefully you can bookmark one or two of these and visit them again.

Fashion, Fit and Function

2008-09-06T20:36:00.012-04:00

As quoted in "Sporting Goods Dealer"..... Trends in volleyball apparel and footwear target performance and style. It's a category with skyrocketing participation and a consumer base filled with players and parents willing to purchase the best for volleyball.

Trends in volleyball are moving toward tight-fitting uniform tops and short spandex. Performance fabrics and more fashionable silhouettes and colors are also driving the market. In warm-ups, styles with hoods, iPod pockets and Capri pants are also entering the mix. "Players want to look good" They want to look stylish and fashionable and the fabric story is about comfort and moisture wicking. This is noticeable with the Mizuno Techno Volley II. The tops are spandex- the tighter the better. Jersey styles have gone from a boxy fit a few years ago to a streamline and fitted look. "Teams are looking to set themselves apart".

The fashion and performance fusion is also evident in the volleyball footwear category. Players have tended in the past to wear running shoes on the court, and volleyball vendors responded by creating volleyball shoes with style that incorporated running shoe features, while also offering stability and lateral support. Mizuno's Tornado and Wave Lightening volleyball shoes reflect this trend. The shoes offer support and durability, yet also feature visible technology and a running silhouette.

In addition to apparel and footwear, accessories are an important volleyball category. Knee pads are a necessity and ankle braces are worn by the majority of the players on the court, as well. Many players have taken to rolling or pushing down their knee pads to improve leg movement and Mizuno has designed a knee pad, called the LR6, that can be worn just below the knee cap, to mirror this trend. The padding is at the top of the knee pad.

(Sporting Goods Dealer - Oct/Nov 2007)

If you are looking to find Fashion, Fit and Functional volleyball gear then Mizuno brand is for you. Be the best while wearing the Best......

Mizuno and its Volleyball Competitors

2008-09-06T13:03:00.011-04:00

This blog will look at some of the different shoes you can use for your 2008 volleyball season. This will be one of the most, if not the most, critical piece of equipment you can possibly have. With the constant movement on the court, you want your equipment to respond the way your body responds and in a comfortable fashion as well. When you are looking for what is important in a volleyball shoe, there are several factors. I don’t want to take a whole blog post to write about this so I found this helpful article which explains what you should look for in a shoe.

Mizuno has always been known for making great volleyball shoes. This reputation continues to stand up for 2008 from the different reviewers at Volleyball Magazine. You will probably be going with the latest edition of the Mizuno Wave Spike 11 or Tornado 3 if you are looking for high quality Mizuno shoes. Here is a link for the Mizuno Wave Spike 11.

The 2007 Volleyball Magazine Shoe Review was conducted in the October issue of Volleyball Magazine, and for the second consecutive year, and the third time in a four year span, a high performance Mizuno volleyball shoe has earned the prestigious "Editor's Choice" award.

In 2007 the Mizuno Wave Tornado 2 was chosen as the best of the best in volleyball shoes. The previous Mizuno winners of Volleyball Magazine's "Editor's Choice" award were the Mizuno Wave Lightning (2004), and the Mizuno Wave Lightning 3 (2006).

Asics is not as well known within the volleyball world as say a Mizuno but this is a company with a very strong reputation for quality shoe wear. If you are struggling to find Mizuno shoes which are comfortable for you, take a chance on Asics.

This should have given you a good idea what type of shoe wear you may want for your 2008 season. It is probably better to get this done now when you can start breaking it in when the preseason starts instead of halfway through the season when you're used to a different company's product. Prices can vary on this page anywhere between $52.99 to over $100 depending upon your budget.

Knee Pads: Protecting the Body

2008-09-04T21:52:00.004-04:00

According to volleyball magazine, Mizuno Gear is designed specially to help you be the best volleyball player. If you coach junior varsity and have new players, this may be a good recommendation for them: LR6 Knee Pads. Other than shoes this is one of the most important item for volleyball players. It may be a good idea to stock up on some before the season begins if you have a great deal of new players.

When you are looking for knee pads, this can depend partially upon what you are looking for. You want to make sure that the knee pad is comfortable to wear, given that you want no clothing distractions during your matches. When looking at knee pads these days make sure they have a Dri-FIT fabric which has added support on the side of the knee pad. This can help anyone who may have problems with their knees. Mizuno has a wide variety of knee pads and it is important to read through the description for what you want.

All of Mizuno's pads are built with half an inch of dense foam to protect your knees. That are five different padded areas so that you know your knee is protected whichever way your body may be going. Mikasa also has a few knee pads you can look into as well if you are passionate about this particular brand.

When looking at these, prices could vary from as low as $4.06 to as much as $25.99. That should give you a better idea regarding prices and variations on knee pads if you need to buy new ones for your upcoming 2008 season. Just remember that the best in the nation wear Mizuno..................

Misty and Kerri: The History

2008-09-01T08:02:00.000-04:00

You have probably read by now that Misty May and Kerri Walsh won the gold medal. I thought that I would use my blog post to share some information

Kerri and Misty have been together as partners since 2001. Their families actually introduced them to be partners. Misty was looking for a new beach volleyball partner and Kerri was tired of indoor volleyball. The two have been partners since then. There were rumors in 2006 about a possible break-up as partners, even given the high level of success that they were enjoying. They eventually had a long talk between the two of them and patched things up. Since then, they have dominated the beach volleyball circuit. As an indication of their success, they have not lost in almost a full year with nary a loss so far in 2008. They have also become the only Olympic champion to repeat in beach volleyball. A Brazilian team had a chance to repeat this particular feat but ended up losing in the semi-finals on the men’s side of the beach volleyball draw.

This will probably be the last time than Misty and Kerri defend the Olympic title. Both have expressed a desire to start families with both being in their early thirties. To be more specific, Misty is 31 and Kerri just turned 30 a few days ago.

Misty and Kerri did a great job to win the match at the end of the sets. Look at how close it was going into the final few points of each set: either at 16-16 or 18-18. They were able to turn on the afterburners for the final few points to take the two sets from the Chinese. Even when a medical timeout was called, this did not break the concentration of May and Walsh. They were able to take the time to focus and come out swinging. This is a great lesson in the importance of concentration and focus at the ends of matches. This proved to be the difference maker in the match.

Looking ahead to the next Olympics, the Chinese team of Tian and Wang should be back and will likely be considered the favorite for the gold medal. There are currently ranked number two in the Bible world and actually were the last team to beat Misty May and Kerri Walsh, roughly a year ago. This has proven to be one of the strongest, if not the strongest team, in women’s beach volleyball history.

Products to Help Your High School Succeed

2008-08-25T16:19:00.001-04:00

High School volleyball has started so this should help you if you are looking to have your team succeed during the year.

One of the first big keys whenever we talk about volleyball is what we are wearing. It is essential to have the right knee pads and shoes because bad equipment gets in the way of us doing your best. Here is a quick web page talking about the shoes Mizuno makes such as the Wave. If you read through that same website that was referenced, praise was given for the kneepads produced by Mizuno as well. The website references Volleyball Magazine for its reviews of past products. These references are out of date by a bit as they are coming from 2005 but Mizuno has been producing the same high quality products for a long time. Mizuno

was rewarded with good critiques for their shoes again this year.

Another thing to point out from this article is that Mizuno has remained a sponsor of USA Volleyball through 2008. Mizuno is actually the official sponsor and supplier for the USA Volleyball team for the Olympics. Think about that. All of the great volleyball players you have been seeing on TV are sporting the same gear that has been mentioned and you can find the

best volleyball gear at http://www.volleyballproshop.com/.

Whenever you are looking at getting new gear, it is good to see what objective observers have said. Check out what Volleyball Magazine has to say. If you are still uncertain, ask your friends what they have been using. There is nothing better than a personal testimonial. At the end of the day, you are the one who has to wear the gear so make sure you are comfortable with it.

This should give you an idea what may help when you are beginning your season. Training has begun and it is probably fair to assume that all of you want to have a great season. That is what all the hard off-season work is for. If you want to be the best then you want to have the best volleyball gear and you can find that at http://www.volleyballproshop.com/. We are here for you because of you.