(Part 2) Best products from r/volleyball

As a novice (read: getting back into) in the weightroom, basically anything you do will improve your fitness level.

You're likely going to want to invest time in learning mobility and maintenance drills. That book will also help you correct form faults in the Olympic and other bigger lifts. If you get any book in this post, get the one mentioned in this paragraph.

Clean and Snatch variations for explosive power. Squat and Deadlift are full-body workouts. You can't clean more than you deadlift, so think of squat and deadlift as your strength leaders while clean and snatch are your explosive exercises. Since you're just starting 3setsx5reps is a good place to start.

Get into yoga or Pilates on the ball to work your core muscles.

You're going to want to work your shoulders, so side/front raises, etc. Triceps/biceps (If you work one side, work the other at least for balance) are important so dips or tricep extensions are useful as are pullups/chinups. Pushups and/or bench press variations.

Don't do jump training (which are Plyometrics)[1][2][3] until you have a strength base in your squat of 1.5x-2x your bodyweight. This is partially because plyos don't build strength, they train the CNS for the stretch-shortening cycle and your "explosiveness", so to speak, is a percentage of your strength (a loose guide of maximum strength is how much weight you can safely squat). Learn how to use plyos before actually doing them. They are fairly low rep, full-recovery type exercises. Maybe 100 jumps in a training session (remember, this are meant to be trained more explosively than the 300+ jumps in a match and your CNS gets tired).

Essentially look at the movements you're performing and do the exercises that fit. The big lifts (cleans/snatches/squats/deadlifts) will teach you how to set your body when jumping. You need to twist your core to start your swing to hit a ball, you'll need to have a stable shoulder so that you can finish your swing up through your pec/tricep/forearm.

If you're interested in learning more about squatting, etc this book is as good a place to any to start, but the book mentioned in the first paragraph can get you started as well.

[1] Basic Plyos

[2] More Plyos

[3] Higher Level Plyos

Other than the safety aspect of impaling your hand on the rake, that's a great idea! I may set up something like that at home for when my (brand spankin' new) practice partner is unavailable. Something like your setup (minus the rake head lol) could be adapted to work with this.. Bonus points for not having to chase the ball.
https://www.amazon.ca/Puredrop-Volleyball-Training-Equipment-Aid/dp/B01NAU69Y0/

I've been playing in these for about the past year. https://www.amazon.com/adidas-Performance-Court-Stabil-Volleyball/dp/B01GEYUQWC. I like them. fit well. Traction is nice, and I'm very picky about traction. The colorway is also sick. I coach at a HS and I've gotten compliments on them from kids who think they're some kind of Adidas basketball shoe.

Just got a pair of KD 8's (this is the "PG County" colorway). Traction is also good. I actually consistently jump like an inch higher in them than in the Adidas which is strange. I have a pretty wide foot though and the front is a smidgen narrow for me.

Also adding a pair of the Hyperattacks (I'm going with the Unlimited colorway) to the rotation next week. so if you haven't made a decision by then perhaps I can offer my opinion on those as well. Never used any Kobe shoe.

Oh I have useful information for once! If you have a friend/partner to work with, get a resistance band and put it around your hips and give both handles to the person helping you out. Start out with a bit of resistance and have them try to hold you back while you do your approach, but make sure they follow you for a step or two so you dont land funny. My coach had us do that last year once a week for thirty or so reps and my vertical increased by four inches. Another thing that helps is if you get really light weights and strap them to your ankles, then jump rope for thirty minutes a day. My friend does this in off season and it keeps her vertical up and its still increasing, albeit slowly.

To add onto what's already been said, Google your area and see if you can find any club programs to get some coaching. For example, many clubs near me offer lessons to juniors 1 night of the week, usually Friday. I'm in NJ, but I assume this isn't something special to here.

If you can, try to play some sand/grass over the summer. It'll get you actual game touches, and since it's doubles, you get to work on a lot of skills simultaneously, unlike indoors. Personally, I prefer sand, it's easier on the body when diving for me. The drawback is that you're typically not as explosive on sand as grass or indoors.

As for a ball, this is my favorite

PS - I'm hoping for Season 4 in Fall 18, such a good show

I personally like a backpack, but for you I'd go with a duffel/gym bag. Nike has some pretty good ones, and I always advocate for Mizuno because they're my own favorite brand.


My old club uses this duffel: https://www.amazon.com/Mizuno-Bolt-Duffle-Grey-Black/dp/B01449G7WC/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1475066243&sr=8-2&keywords=Mizuno+duffel+bag

I totally agree with the comments that say rehab is more important than a knee brace.. that being said, I found an awesome knee brace that works really well with rehab.. and it also includes a free downloadable guide full of rehab exercises that you can do.. here it is.. https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B015ZTLBNA

If you're looking for something for grass and portable, I bought a Park and Sun Classic net and it's pretty good. It's relatively easy to set up once you get the instructions right and hasn't seemed to sag at all. I use it mainly to practice spikes on so it gets banged on and holds up well. I will eventually start a meetup group for grass using it. I only wish it the bottom was more taught - you won't recover any balls that hit/roll off the net with this one.

I'd be willing to bet you're actually referring to the "pro touch" that was the standard in men's ncaa before the "flistatic" took over. The "super touch" was - and still is - the ball used by women's ncaa. They look similar but the pro touch has less padding and as such stings a little more on receive and requires adjusting if you go for an overhead pass / set if you're accustomed to more padding (the reverse is true when going back to the super touch)
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B002R7B9BI/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_4lmuDbFFEDA0H

I've used a D43 ( https://www.amazon.com/Mikasa-D43-Olympic-Replica-Volleyball/dp/B003WCOMMU/ref=sr_1_12?s=team-sports&ie=UTF8&qid=1519651869&sr=1-12&keywords=volleyball ) for over a year now just volleying and passing against brick walls and stuff and it is perfectly fine, for the price it's better quality than you'd expect and it's pretty durable.

I also suffer from bouts of PT.
While I agree that rehab is best and mine has gotten MUCH MUCH better, this knee sleeve worked wonders for me and was the best I found.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B004TTW3AI/ref=sxts1?ie=UTF8&qid=1487850882&sr=1&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_FMwebp_QL65

Buy one of these ascics single ball carrier and then you don't have to worry about being limited to a sports bag that can carry a ball.

I use that plus my every day go-to pack, Poler rucksack. Although I use that bag for everything, hiking, snowboarding, traveling, backpacking, sports. Pricey but one of my best investments for active gear.

I would stick with volleyball specific shoes. I have found with cross trainers, that they aren't really made for the sudden motions in all directions. I used two pairs of cross trainers before I bought my current pair of Asics Volleycross's which have lasted me for more than a year now, when my cross trainers only a few months.

Basketball shoes just don't feel right for me at least when playing in them.

I would definitely recommend the Asics Volleycross's. They are a reliable shoe that has lasted me a while and feel great after you break them in a bit.

Check out some of the football shorts at Dicks/Amazon. I played Flag football for about 16 years before I switched to volleyball for my sports/competition outlet.

They are basically like compression shorts with some hex padding built in. Here is an example: https://www.amazon.com/TUOY-Compression-Protector-Football-Paintball/dp/B0177ED8LY/ref=sr_1_11?ie=UTF8&qid=1505736334&sr=8-11&keywords=football+shorts

I don't know if you'll be able to wear them in high school or not, but as I get older and want to stay active I'm always looking for ways to protect my body.

MB here....these bad boys are the best vball shoe I've ever had.
These shoes are MT's...meaning they are ''middle tops''. The ankle support is half way between a high top (basketball shoe) and a low ankle (mizuno vball shoes).

The middle tops gives me tons of ankle support without being too much like basketball shoes. Makes getting into position for blocking a breeze. These are also light weight so you don't sacrifice vert.

Keep painting that 10 foot line brotha!

https://www.amazon.com/ASICS-Gel-Netburner-Ballistic-Volleyball-Midnight/dp/B00R1X6FR6/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1474492438&sr=8-3&keywords=netburners

Ultra zoom is more comfortable and better range of motion than Active Ankle. I never liked the lace up kind.

Ultra Zoom Ankle Brace, Black, Small/Medium https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00IUIJY7O/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_CpiPAb80HRASB

I have been looking at this PowerNet Volleyball Practice Net Station | 8 ft Wide by 11 ft High | Ball Return | Great for Hitting and Serving Drills | Perfect for Team or Solo Training | Three Minute Setup | Bow Style Frame https://smile.amazon.com/dp/B015VR0IWQ/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_KZXvCb91FMQBQ thoughts?

My daughter has [these](adidas Women’s Crazyflight X Volleyball Shoe,White/Night Metallic/Grey,7 M US https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01N0TFBQR/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_t6ODAbSV3D8WH) and loves them. Says they grip the floor awesome.