In recent years, arm sleeves have surged in popularity among volleyball players. Many players thought this was a trend that would not last, but it seems to have stood the test of time since it is still a popular equipment item for volleyball players. But why are arm sleeves relevant in volleyball?
Wearing arm sleeves offers many real advantages that certain players can greatly take advantage of. These advantages are:
- Extra cushioning and protection from repetitive ball contact discomfort
- Prevent friction and floor burns
- Temperature Regulation
- Help with muscle recovery
- Help players that sweat a lot
- Style points
Alright, that last point is probably not exactly an advantage, but someone could think so! Understandably, these advantages might not benefit all types of players, but you should not overlook the real impact they have on performance. Experienced players and coaches might say that these are mostly placebo effects and do not contribute to improved performance, but I disagree.
Before we go any further, I’d like to make one thing clear. Arm sleeves are not meant to make you better at passing the ball all by themselves but instead can help you in many other facets. Let me tell you more about these advantages.
The Advantages of Wearing Arm Sleeves in Volleyball
Now that I’ve listed the benefits I would attribute to arm sleeves, I would like for you to understand these advantages. So let’s go over the main benefits in more details:
Extra Cushioning
It is unclear if sleeves actually help relieve pain from volleyball themselves or if they act as a placebo. Many experienced players will not see a difference with or without arm sleeves. In most cases, the more experience you have playing volleyball the more you develop your tolerance of the pain caused by receiving the ball. That being said, arm sleeves are an extra layer between your arms and the ball, so they definitely will take some of the sting out. If you are somewhat new to playing volleyball and you dislike the pain of passing or receiving a ball, one thing is for sure, arm sleeves are not gonna make it worse.
Friction Prevention
This advantage might apply to more experienced players that are familiar with hitting the ground a lot. When you play volleyball, it is normal to be hot and humid, which could make diving for the ball difficult because of the extra friction. For players that dig and defend a lot, arm sleeves could help you dive for those pancakes and keep the ball in play.
Sweat and Temperature control
Obviously this will not apply to all players, but a big subset of players that can relate to being sweaty beasts might want to know more. I, myself sweat profusely whenever I do physical activity and I understand the desire for some help in this department. Speaking of experience, your setter will not be happy with you if you are passing them a ball covered in your wet and slippery sweat.
Jokes aside, unless you literally sweat out liters of water, arm sleeves should be able to help you out. You should look for a sleeve composed of a material that is somewhat absorbent. Sleeves will also help in controlling the heat of your body which could naturally reduce the output of sweat from your body in the covered area.
Compression Sleeve Benefits
There are a lot of different sleeves for your arms available out there, and they are not exclusive to volleyball. Among the sleeves available, compression sleeves have been picked up in other sports such as running and basketball. That is because compression sleeves offer benefits for all types of athletes. They are known to help with blood circulation and prevent swelling. In volleyball with the repeated use of your arms, this could help tremendously relieve and loosen up the muscles so that they don’t hurt throughout your performance and after.
Style Points
Somebody once said, “Look good, play good!”. I don’t know about you but I believe there is some merit to that claim. The saying suggests that if you look good on the court, there is a chance that you feel good about yourself, which will likely make you perform well. Just a suggestion to upgrade your game.
Are You the Type of Player Who Would Benefit from wearing Arm sleeves?
Now that we understand the benefits, we know that not every volleyball player will need arm sleeves. Interestingly enough, there was a time when women volleyball teams had game jerseys with long sleeves. They are losing popularity more and more and that could be because they don’t benefit all types of players. Who then could take advantage of them the most?
Firstly, new players. If you experience great discomfort when receiving or passing the ball, you might want to consider arm sleeves. Not only should they help with the pain, but some models have specifically placed logos on them to demonstrate visually where you should contact the ball (more on that below).
The players that benefit most from arm sleeves are often liberos and defense specialists. Since they are, on average, the players that participate in most defensive plays, it’s only normal for them to benefit from arm sleeves. I would also suggest that players that simply play a defensive position could benefit from wearing arm sleeves. So basically, everyone, with the exception of middle blockers.
Players that sweat a lot should also really consider arm sleeves, and especially if they are passing the ball. As I’ve said before, if you don’t want your setter screaming at you because you get your sweat all over the ball, maybe consider arm sleeves.
Finally, any player who would benefit from compression sleeves or dry-fit sportswear should consider arm sleeves. If you find that you are often cold, sleeves could help you control your body heat on top of the already mentioned benefits of compression sleeves.
How Popular Are Arm Sleeves?
To demonstrate how popular arm sleeves are in volleyball, I chose to have a look at the men and women’s final of the 2019 Club World Championship and investigate how many players were wearing arm sleeves. On 2 men and 2 women teams, for a total of 28 players (6 players +1 libero per team) competing on the court, I counted a total of 10 players wearing them (4 women and 6 men). If you are curious, you can have a look for yourself below.
My Recommendations
Before buying any of my recommendations, please remember to consider the size of your arms. It is important that you get a pair that will not fall off your arms after every play. Now, here are some of my recommendations for different types of players:
Best Arm Sleeves For Beginners
My recommendation for beginners is Arm2Aim Volleyball Sleeves. These are perfect for someone who’s just getting into volleyball. They have extra padding material to cushion the blows but also to help you recognize where you should make contact with the ball. They have two different models, a longer one with thumbholes and a shorter one without. Thumbholes have the added benefit of making it harder for the sleeves to move around on your arm. Check them out here.
Best Arm Sleeves For Defense
For my defense experts, I recommend Mizuno Arm Sleeves. Experienced players should recognize the brand immediately since Mizuno is a reputable brand in volleyball equipment. These arm sleeves extend from the bicep to the forearm and are slick and simple. This model is also designed based on the official sleeves equipment used by the US national volleyball teams. Be aware that they are OSFM (one size fits-mosts). If you are very thin, or very large, these might not be what you need. Check them out for yourself here.
Best Compression Sleeves
This category is more of a general option for all range of athletes looking to take advantage of compression sleeves. My pick for you is UA Unisex Performance HeatGear Sleeve. Being a reputable brand, Under Armour crafts some of the best pieces of athletics equipment out there. These are no different. The material is designed to absorb sweat and to dry quickly. It is made to be ultra-tight, to increases blood circulation to your muscles and to boost recovery times. Please note that these are NOT sold in pairs. They are sold as a single sleeve. Have a look here.
Conclusion
I would like to conclude by repeating that sleeves are useful to some players but probably not for everyone. Arm sleeves are not designed to make you better at passing but instead offer you many benefits to help other facets of your game. Although not necessary to all players, arm sleeves could fit you nicely if you are 1. a Libero or defense specialist, 2. you sweat a lot, 3. a beginner with sensible arms. Some players prefer wearing will prefer wearing dry dit or compression sleeves so you should definitely experiment to find out what works best for you.
