Merry Christmas

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Festive Fun for Holiday Training

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

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

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

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

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

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

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