The Volleyball Equipment Every Beginner Needs!

Welcome aspiring volleyball star! This is my list of recommended equipment for volleyball beginners. When starting out, I wouldn’t worry too much about getting all the official “volleyball” equipment. I would rather focus on essentials and things that will help you get into the game. These items are listed below:

  • A volleyball
  • Knee pads
  • Arm sleeves
  • Elbow pads.

I put this list together to cover some of the equipment a beginner might enjoy to help them get comfortable with volleyball. I hope you find something that appeals to you on this page.

Volleyballs

Obviously, a volleyball player needs a volleyball. You need the ball to play, to practice, or just have it around. The more you can play with a ball, the faster you can get comfortable with it and progress on your volleyball journey.

If you have a growing interest in volleyball, even as a beginner, I would only recommend that you obtain the best option available at the time of this writing, and that is The Molten FLISTATEC Volleyball.

The Molten FLISTATEC Volleyball

To put it simply, this volleyball is used for most high-level competitions in volleyball. It is currently the Official game ball of the NCAA and also officially approved by the Fédération Internationale de Volleyball (FVIB).

I can attest to the level of quality of this ball since I currently own one, and it is also the model that I competed with when playing in College. I’ve owned it for more than 8 years now and it is still in great shape. This ball is not going to let you down. You can grab one from amazon here.

Knee Pads

Volleyball players wear knee pads for a simple reason, protection. The sport of volleyball is all about keeping the ball off the ground and knee pads give players confidence whenever they are diving to the ground for the ball.

Beginners are highly susceptible to feel afraid of diving for the ball. Knee pads are there to help any player feel more comfortable with hitting the ground. When looking at knee pads, you want a tight pair of cushioned pads that are not too tight as to hinder your movements but enough to not be slipping out of position. Personally, I recommend the reputable Mizuno Volleyball Knee Pads.

Mizuno Volleyball Knee Pads

These knee pads are loved by all levels of volleyball players, from beginners to professionals. They are affordable, offer great protection, and fit tightly around your knees. It may require some getting used to, but I assure you that these knee pads will help any beginner build confidence when playing.

Arm Sleeves

Arm sleeves are generally used to help reduce the strain and pain that repetitive ball contact can have on your forearms. Beginners are typically even more susceptible to this kind of pain since they normally have had almost no exposure to this kind of contact. That is why I recommend the Arm2Aim Volleyball Sleeves.

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 on Amazon here.

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.

Elbow Pads

I’ll start by saying that elbow pads are not for everyone. They are mostly a piece of equipment targeted at beginners, or defensive players. Much like knee pads, they help build confidence and offer some protective cushioning for when hitting the ground. The issue is that a great many players do not enjoy the restrictions that come when making any hitting motions with your arm when wearing elbow pads.

Tandem Sport Elbow Pads

To be clear, the most important part of volleyball is to keep the ball from hitting the ground. If elbow pads will help you gain the confidence needed to jump, lunge, and dive for the ball, then you should consider grabbing a pair. I recommend the Tandem Sport Elbow Pads.

Tandem Sport Elbow Pads

This beginner-friendly model of elbow pads will help you get into the habit of covering for every ball. Its small size protects what is important without affecting your maneuverability too much. Get yourself a pair from Amazon here.

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