Volleyball equipment has come a long way since Mr. Morgan first started the game. There has been many cool volleyball inventions, and amazing technology behind regular equipment. I'm going to inform you on the science of volleyball equipment and not only that, but some cool inventions that are used in Volleyball.
spandex
Yes, the short shorts Volleyball players wear actually have a name, and are worn for a reason. The chemical makeup of spandex allows it to be soft but durable at the same time. Chemical and Engineering News further reports that spandex fibers allow it to stretch up to 600 percent and return to its original shape. Therefore, spandex is ideal for volleyball players who are constantly reaching, jumping, and diving during games. Spandex is not only really durable, it will not break down from sweat, or for beach volleyball players, sunscreen. Spandex shorts are also a regulation, meaning you have to wear them during a volleyball game. Spandex allows you to move freely, where regular shorts would get in the way. The two most popular brands of spandex are Mizuno and Nike. Both brands pull moisture away from the body. So yes, there are many reasons volleyball players wear spandex, not only because they are regulation, but they're also very convenient.
Volleyball shoes
As a volleyball player, you need proper footwear to perform at your competitive best. Avoid ordinary shoes and cross trainers if you practice and compete on a regular basis. Volleyball shoes support areas of your feet, ankles, and legs that experience impact and stress during a game. They also address physical movements specific to the sport. Whether you play on a school team or a professional league, be aware of important considerations when selecting a volleyball shoe.
Heel: The heel, the largest bone in the foot, is responsible for most common foot problems in America, according to Brooklyn Foot Care Center's website. High-impact sports such as volleyball increase the likelihood of heel injuries. The heel of a volleyball shoe plays an important role in safety and comfort. Volleyball shoes incorporate heel cushioning to absorb hard landings. An integrated counter, or support, wraps around the back of the shoe to keep the heel in place during lateral moves.
Midsole: The midsole provides the greatest amount of cushioning in a volleyball shoe. Volleyball shoes often feature injected ethylene vinyl acetate or polyurethane midsoles, however some manufacturers utilize proprietary materials, such as gel, air or other plastics. The midsole helps absorb the repeated shock of constantly raising up on the balls of your feet and landing flat on the court.
Upper Materials: Volleyball shoes should be made of lightweight materials for striking and fast paced court movements. In many cases, the upper shoe features a mesh and leather combination. The mesh offers ventilation and helps reduce perspiration and overheating. Volleyball shoe styles resembling high-tops, may use leather or leather-like materials to provide extra ankle support.
Heel: The heel, the largest bone in the foot, is responsible for most common foot problems in America, according to Brooklyn Foot Care Center's website. High-impact sports such as volleyball increase the likelihood of heel injuries. The heel of a volleyball shoe plays an important role in safety and comfort. Volleyball shoes incorporate heel cushioning to absorb hard landings. An integrated counter, or support, wraps around the back of the shoe to keep the heel in place during lateral moves.
Midsole: The midsole provides the greatest amount of cushioning in a volleyball shoe. Volleyball shoes often feature injected ethylene vinyl acetate or polyurethane midsoles, however some manufacturers utilize proprietary materials, such as gel, air or other plastics. The midsole helps absorb the repeated shock of constantly raising up on the balls of your feet and landing flat on the court.
Upper Materials: Volleyball shoes should be made of lightweight materials for striking and fast paced court movements. In many cases, the upper shoe features a mesh and leather combination. The mesh offers ventilation and helps reduce perspiration and overheating. Volleyball shoe styles resembling high-tops, may use leather or leather-like materials to provide extra ankle support.
KNEE PADS
In addition to proper athletic shoes, indoor volleyball players should invest in a good pair of volleyball knee pads. When it comes to volleyball, your knees may take as much abuse as your arms and hands, especially when playing volleyball indoors. According to the National Institute of Health, knee injuries occur most frequently for volleyball players. Before you go for that dig, protect your knees with volleyball knee pads. In addition to protecting your knees and knee caps, it also protects your ligaments from serious injury.
Padding: Volleyball knee pads resemble a stretchable fabric sleeve typically 6 to 9 inches long with some form of thick padding -- either high density foam or memory foam -- placed around the tops of the knees. High density foam provides superior protection and comfort as well as the ability to stay flexible while playing the game. Memory foam contours better around the knees, providing even better protection and support. Both types are built with durability as well as an outer coating to keep you from sliding across the floor.
Fabric: Volleyball knee pads are made out of a variety of fabrics such as cotton, polyester, rubber, Spandex or a blend of fabrics. Some volleyball knee pads also wick sweat or provide some kind of ventilation system; fight odors and bacteria, as well as provide breathable protection and even ward off staph infections.
Design: There are two types of volleyball knee pads styles available -- bubble and flat style. Bubble style is the most recognizable form of volleyball knee pads. These provide a big, thick, padded cushion on top of the knee. The disadvantage of this style is that it may be difficult to maneuver and it doesn't provide much protection for the sides of your knees.
Flat style volleyball knee pads are a slimmed down version of the bubble style. Some features include less bulk and more protection around the knee, not just on top of it. The disadvantage of flat style knee pads is that it doesn't provide thick protection on top of the knee like the bubble style does.
Padding: Volleyball knee pads resemble a stretchable fabric sleeve typically 6 to 9 inches long with some form of thick padding -- either high density foam or memory foam -- placed around the tops of the knees. High density foam provides superior protection and comfort as well as the ability to stay flexible while playing the game. Memory foam contours better around the knees, providing even better protection and support. Both types are built with durability as well as an outer coating to keep you from sliding across the floor.
Fabric: Volleyball knee pads are made out of a variety of fabrics such as cotton, polyester, rubber, Spandex or a blend of fabrics. Some volleyball knee pads also wick sweat or provide some kind of ventilation system; fight odors and bacteria, as well as provide breathable protection and even ward off staph infections.
Design: There are two types of volleyball knee pads styles available -- bubble and flat style. Bubble style is the most recognizable form of volleyball knee pads. These provide a big, thick, padded cushion on top of the knee. The disadvantage of this style is that it may be difficult to maneuver and it doesn't provide much protection for the sides of your knees.
Flat style volleyball knee pads are a slimmed down version of the bubble style. Some features include less bulk and more protection around the knee, not just on top of it. The disadvantage of flat style knee pads is that it doesn't provide thick protection on top of the knee like the bubble style does.
Besides, science improving regular volleyball equipment engineers have used science to create some pretty cool volleyballs, volleyball gear, and machines used during practice. Here I am going to inform you about some of these amazing inventions.
Mikasa mva200 beach volleyball
The Mikasa MVA200 Beach Volleyball is a volleyball designed for the 2008 Beijing Olympics created by Mikasa. The standard 18-panel design of a volleyball was changed to a "petal" arrangement of just eight panels. This greatly decreased the amount of seam length and glue required to build a standard volleyball. Glue was only applied to the edges of each panel essentially capturing air between the panel and the bladder, the center of a volleyball, and helping the ball feel softer. A dimpled microfiber surface was added to the exterior to promote a turbulent flow around the ball. The result is a ball flies straighter and bounces more (3.5 percent) but actually impacts the arms with less force (5 percent) when compared to the previous model. Mikasa sent this Volleyball to all of the competing olympic teams of the 2008 Olympics to be approved and had wonderful results. The Mikasa MVA200 was used in the 2008 Beijing Olympics, but the world of beach volleyball upgraded to the Mikasa VLS200 for the 2012 Olympics. The VLS200 is much like the MVA200 just a little more advanced in aerodynamic technology.
nike zesti beach volleyball sock
Beach volleyball players have a natural preference for playing barefoot because going shoeless allows them to move more freely in the sand. When asked if they would ever wear footwear, the athletes who Nike works with said they would consider lacing up for conditions that can detract from their focus, like in venues where the sand is extremely hot, cold, or coarse. The Nike Zesti (Zesti meaning "Sun" in Greek) beach volleyball sock was created for Beijing to address these obstacles, utilizing the opportunity to add performance innovations that will also help players get to the ball faster.
Made from a tightly knit seamless fabric that fits like a protective second skin, the Nike Zesti is feather-light, breathable and impenetrable to sand. Molded blown rubber cleats on the outsole provide another layer of protection, while giving athletes additional traction in deep sand. Thin Bemis weld lateral ribs (the same used for Nike’s No-Sew apparel seams) support the feet and keep the cleats securely under foot during critical cuts and dives. The sleek silhouette of the Nike Zesti also serves a second purpose: by upholding performance integrity and minimalist design, the innovative footwear complements the “less-is-more” aesthetic of beach volleyball attire.
Unique colorways of the Nike Zesti were designed for 12 beach volleyball teams including USA, China, Germany, Italy, Georgia, Switzerland, Ukraine, Estonia, Canada, Bulgaria, Norway and Portugal. The challenge was creating one color combination per country to match all three uniform options available to the players. As a result, when the athletes hit the sand in Beijing , the myriad of apparel and footwear combinations was as dynamic as their play.
Made from a tightly knit seamless fabric that fits like a protective second skin, the Nike Zesti is feather-light, breathable and impenetrable to sand. Molded blown rubber cleats on the outsole provide another layer of protection, while giving athletes additional traction in deep sand. Thin Bemis weld lateral ribs (the same used for Nike’s No-Sew apparel seams) support the feet and keep the cleats securely under foot during critical cuts and dives. The sleek silhouette of the Nike Zesti also serves a second purpose: by upholding performance integrity and minimalist design, the innovative footwear complements the “less-is-more” aesthetic of beach volleyball attire.
Unique colorways of the Nike Zesti were designed for 12 beach volleyball teams including USA, China, Germany, Italy, Georgia, Switzerland, Ukraine, Estonia, Canada, Bulgaria, Norway and Portugal. The challenge was creating one color combination per country to match all three uniform options available to the players. As a result, when the athletes hit the sand in Beijing , the myriad of apparel and footwear combinations was as dynamic as their play.
ACuspike hitting machine
Whether an athlete trains with weights, a stop watch, or a baseball pitching machine, the key to perfecting and improving any skill is repeatable and measurable increases. AcuSpike makes it easy to track individual progress over time, including maximum vertical jump while maintaining a downward ball trajectory.
Traditionally, hitters could only practice hitting with the assistance from a setter or coach. What's more, younger athletes often don't fully develop their volleyball approach until they can clear the net. AcuSpike makes it possible to train without a setter, and with or without a net, at your convenience.
Expert volleyball players will find the AcuSpike useful as an endurance, conditioning, and vertical jump training tool. With AcuSpike, an athlete can exercise their approach and jumping limits to exhaustion, with measured feedback.
To meet every hitter’s personal training targets, AcuSpike's height can be adjusted easily between 6 ft and 11ft (ground to the top of the ball). AcuSpike lets experienced volleyball players fine tune their technique, by monitoring vertical jump or hitting force in response to changes. It can be also used to test vertical jump height.
Since AcuSpike releases every ball, you see the trajectory and power of every hit, giving you valuable feedback. Nearly all of the energy of each hit is transferred to the ball, which means that AcuSpike is instantly ready for the next hitter, with no machine vibration.
AcuSpike ball grippers are made from a thick, high compression foam, with contoured shapes for improved performance, and covered with ripstop nylon for maximum durability. The gripper rods are made from durable and flexible fiberglass, similar to tent poles.
I actually have practiced with an AcuSpike Hitting Machine and not only are they a lot of fun they are very easy to set up, adjust, and you can practice hitting by yourself over and over again without having to reload or someone setting a ball to you.
Traditionally, hitters could only practice hitting with the assistance from a setter or coach. What's more, younger athletes often don't fully develop their volleyball approach until they can clear the net. AcuSpike makes it possible to train without a setter, and with or without a net, at your convenience.
Expert volleyball players will find the AcuSpike useful as an endurance, conditioning, and vertical jump training tool. With AcuSpike, an athlete can exercise their approach and jumping limits to exhaustion, with measured feedback.
To meet every hitter’s personal training targets, AcuSpike's height can be adjusted easily between 6 ft and 11ft (ground to the top of the ball). AcuSpike lets experienced volleyball players fine tune their technique, by monitoring vertical jump or hitting force in response to changes. It can be also used to test vertical jump height.
Since AcuSpike releases every ball, you see the trajectory and power of every hit, giving you valuable feedback. Nearly all of the energy of each hit is transferred to the ball, which means that AcuSpike is instantly ready for the next hitter, with no machine vibration.
AcuSpike ball grippers are made from a thick, high compression foam, with contoured shapes for improved performance, and covered with ripstop nylon for maximum durability. The gripper rods are made from durable and flexible fiberglass, similar to tent poles.
I actually have practiced with an AcuSpike Hitting Machine and not only are they a lot of fun they are very easy to set up, adjust, and you can practice hitting by yourself over and over again without having to reload or someone setting a ball to you.