Buying Your Volleyball Duffle

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

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

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

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

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/.