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An ultimate test of reaction time, speed, endurance, and accuracy, volleyball has grown from its humble beginnings in a Massachusetts YMCA to the 2nd most popular sport in the US. Named for the back and forth nature of the game, volleyball is a competitive sport in which players attempt to ground a leather ball on the opposite side of a net while the defending team tries to prevent it from touching the ground. Competitive high school, college, and professional variations of the game are generally played indoors. Beach volleyball is also a popular variation of the game played on sand.

Luckily, volleyball is a low maintenance sport that doesn’t require too much equipment. You can set up a court in your gym, backyard, or on your favorite beach. While it may be easy to purchase a recreational volleyball set like the Champion Sports Volleyball Set or the Park and Sun Spectrum Classic Volleyball Set, serious players and teams may be looking for separate, individual items to benefit their teams or court set-up.

Let’s begin with the volleyball. Central to game play, the type of volleyball you buy all depends on whether you’re playing indoors or out. Indoor competitions generally require a leather volleyball, which is beneficial because it is lightweight and softer on the forearms (try the Molten Super Touch Japanese Leather Volleyball or the Mikasa VFC200 Leather Volleyball). Unfortunately, leather absorbs water or moisture, so it’s not such a great idea for outdoor use. When playing outdoors, you’ll want to find a quality synthetic leather or rubber volleyball like the Champion Sports Beach Play Volleyball or the MacGregor X300 Rubber Cover Volleyball.

Setting up your volleyball net requires a few important pieces of equipment: uprights, ground anchors and sleeves, and of course, the net. For programs on a budget, volleyball net systems may be a smart option. Sets like the Gared Sports 6000 Scholastic Volleyball System, or the Spalding One-Court Multi-Sport Net System include multiple pieces of net equipment, so you can effectively set up an indoor volleyball net. Here is an explanation of each individual piece of equipment, just in case you choose to buy separately:

• Net: volleyball nets are generally made out of polyethylene or nylon. At the top of the net is what’s known as the headband. This vinyl or nylon piece of material holds the net together and is what the cable slides through. Higher quality nets feature side and bottom taping for stability. For more heavy use, look for a net with a steel cable (try the Champion Sports VN700 Olympic Volleyball Net). For a more affordable option, look for a net with a poly or nylon rope (try the Mikasa Variety Premier Competition Volleyball Net).
• Floor Plates and Sleeves: ground sleeves are permanent metal pieces planted into the ground. You simply slide and lock an accompanying upright into place. They usually include a metal piece to cover the hole when not in use (Spalding Locking Volleyball Floor Plate and Sleeve).
• Uprights: refer to the poles used to hold the net secure and upright. These steel or aluminum poles generally feature a net attachment system and an adjustment mechanism for fixing the tension and height of your net. A quality option includes the Spalding Multi-Sport Aluminum Volleyball Upright Package while a more affordable option includes the Spalding Elite Steel Center Volleyball Upright.

Creating the boundary lines for your volleyball court is the foundation of any match. While indoors, using floor tape is your best option. It is available in a variety of widths and colors. Laying down floor tape is easy with a floor tape applicator, which holds a roll of tape and easily rolls out your tape in any configuration you need. Try the Champion Sports Floor Tape and the Gamecraft Floor Tape Applicator.

Of course, you want to make sure your players are safe. The Mikasa Premier Series or SSG volleyball knee pads protect your players knees as they jump, dive and dig. Once your net is set up and game play has begun, you want to make sure you have a quality and effective way to store your volleyballs. Dazadi has a variety of volleyball storage options available to suit your individual needs. So, join the millions of teams, clubs, players and fans nationwide with your very own quality volleyball court!