Shoes: what actually makes a difference
An indoor volleyball shoe has three features that set it apart from a running shoe, and they are all linked to how a volleyball player moves: vertical jumps, landings, short lateral movements and sudden stops.
The sole. Made of non-marking rubber, with a pattern that provides grip on wooden floors and linoleum. A running sole is designed for heel-to-toe rolling, not for lateral braking: it will slip on a gym floor.
Heel and forefoot cushioning. This absorbs the impact of landings. It is why a worn-out volleyball shoe must be replaced even if the upper is intact: the cushioning wears out before the shoe looks damaged.
Lateral support. Ankle sprains are the most common injury in volleyball, usually occurring at the net when landing on another player's foot. A shoe with good lateral structure does not eliminate the risk, but it reduces it.
What does not matter: low weight beyond a certain limit, colours, or the model worn by professionals. Fit is what matters: a mid-range shoe that fits you well is better than a top-tier shoe that lets your foot slide around inside.
To play outdoors on concrete or asphalt, you need a more durable sole, as indoor soles wear out in just a few matches. In beach volley, you play barefoot: shoes are only allowed if the referee authorises them due to extremely hot or cold sand.
When to replace them
Three signs: the sole is smooth at the contact points (outer forefoot and heel); the midsole is visibly compressed or feels "dead" on landings; the shoe deforms laterally under load. Those who play twice a week generally replace them once a season: continuing to play in worn-out shoes does not save money, it just shifts the cost from the shop to the physiotherapist.
A free tip: only use gym shoes in the gym. A sole dirty with gravel loses grip and damages the floor.
Knee pads
They are not an accessory for professionals: they are the reason you can keep defending on a hard floor for years. They are for anyone who plays on wood, linoleum or concrete and dives to the floor — which means everyone who defends.
How to choose them:
- Long and padded for those who defend a lot and often end up on the floor: they also protect during rolls.
- Short and thin for those looking for freedom of movement who rarely dive, typically middle blockers and opposites.
- Snug but not tight. A knee pad that slips down during play is worse than no knee pad at all, because you dive believing you are protected.
They are not needed for beach volley: the sand does their job.
Anyone who has already had joint problems or serious sprains should speak to a professional about braces and ankle supports, rather than choosing based on hearsay.
Clothing and what the rules say
The rules are brief and clear. A player's equipment consists of a shirt, shorts, socks and shoes; shirts must be numbered and the numbers must be legible and contrasting; the on-court captain wears a stripe under the number on the chest. The kit must be uniform for the whole team, and the libero wears a shirt of a different colour that contrasts with their teammates'.
The rule that is always forgotten: you must not play wearing items that could cause injury. Rings, bracelets, watches, necklaces, protruding piercings: everything must be removed. If a piercing cannot be removed, it must be taped over. It is a basic safety rule that is rarely enforced in amateur tournaments, but it protects fingers in particular.
Long fingernails fall into the same category: in a sport where ten fingers meet the ball at high speed, and sometimes a teammate's hands, they are a real hazard.
What to pack in your kit bag
Essential checklist for a match or tournament:
- two pairs of socks, because by midday the first pair will be wet;
- a spare shirt (two for a tournament);
- knee pads;
- a large water bottle, not a small one;
- hair tie or band for long hair;
- plasters and finger tape, which is the one thing everyone always needs and nobody has;
- flip-flops for the changing rooms;
- for outdoors: cap, sunglasses and sun cream.
One last thing about amateur kits
If you are playing in a tournament, wearing shirts of the same colour is not just a formality: with six players per team on a crowded court, telling who is who from a distance is a practical issue for both referees and players. You do not need a numbered kit, just make sure the two teams are not wearing the same colour. If you are organising, asking captains for their shirt colours during registration is the cheapest way to avoid having two teams in white on the same court.