Why Play Volleyball? - Athletico (2024)

You don’t have to be Misty May-Treanor or Kerry Walsh Jennings to enjoy the game of volleyball. Volleyball is a great sport that can be enjoyed by people of all ages and skill levels. It can be played year round as it can be played both indoors and outdoors. Aside from the pure enjoyment of the game, volleyball has many benefits.

First, it’s a fun way to burn calories. Playing 45 minutes of volleyball can burn up to 585 calories. Volleyball also improves muscle strength and tone. The activities required when playing volleyball strengthen the upper body, arms, shoulders, thighs, abdominals, and lower legs. In addition, volleyball improves hand-eye coordination, reflexes, and balance. Last but not least, volleyball teaches teamwork and communication and is a great social activity.

As with any sport there is a risk of injury when playing volleyball. Common injuries in volleyball can be grouped into two categories: overuse injuries and traumatic injuries. Some overuse injuries include rotator cuff tendonitis, elbow or wrist tendonitis, Patellar or Achilles tendonitis, and low back pain. Traumatic injuries include shoulder dislocation or separation, rotator cuff tears, wrists sprains, finger fractures, Achilles tendon tears, ligamentous injuries, torn knee cartilage, ankle sprains, muscle sprains and strains, and herniated discs.

To prevent injury, participants should:

• Perform a warm-up consisting of stretching and light aerobic activity prior to play
• Participate in a comprehensive training program including flexibility, strength training, jump training, speed and agility drills, and endurance training
• Wear appropriate shoe wear with skid-resistant soles
• Use good technique
• Clean off the courts before play. Look for slippery spots if playing indoors and look for debris if playing outdoors in the sand or grass.
• Allow for adequate recovery
• Stay hydrated

Training Program
A comprehensive volleyball training program can decrease injury and increase explosive power, jump height, stamina, and speed and agility on the court. It should include the following:

• Stretching of the lower extremities, shoulders, and lower back
• Strengthening exercises for the abdominals, legs, and shoulders especially the rotator cuff
• Jump training including box jumps, lateral jumping, and block jumps
• Speed and agility drills including sprints, ladder drills, court circuits, and lateral shuffles
• Endurance training such as running or swimming to improve stamina with long matches

So grab a few friends and head to the beach or the gym to enjoy the many benefits of volleyball and have some fun!

Read more health resources related to these topics:

FitnessSportsVolleyballbeach volleyballclub volleyballfitnessrecreational sportssportsvolleyball

36 Comments

1. 

   Mya

   March 13, 2015 at 10:22 am

   I play volley ball for and half and hour every Saturday

2. 

   Rebecca

   April 9, 2015 at 6:23 pm

   Helpful!!!

3. 

   Stacy

   May 7, 2015 at 9:18 am

   This was helpful!!!!!

4. 

   chasity

   September 29, 2015 at 1:14 pm

   very helpful!!

5. 

   Abby

   December 11, 2015 at 8:25 am

   That is very helpful thank you

6. 

   Bailey

   October 13, 2016 at 1:14 pm

   This is all of the reasons I have the biggest passion for volleyball. you can stay active playing and its a lot of fun! Thanks for this!

7. 

   Sara

   November 12, 2016 at 12:52 pm

   Thank you this was very helpful for a gym project. I love volleyball,too.

8. 

   Loren

   February 6, 2017 at 10:32 pm

   Hello there,
   I want to stand out from my siblings who have good grades but aren’t athletic I have been considered to have good grades. I don’t think my grades are good enough though. I would like to know reasons why You play Volleyball. I want to be successful without someone helping me take baby steps. I am a club volleyball player. I love the sport, it is my passion. I have 3 personal reasons why I play. What are thoughtful reason you play Volleyball For?

9. 

   John

   February 17, 2017 at 9:29 am

   I thought it was really interesting how the article mentioned that you can burn up to 585 calories playing just 45 minutes of volleyball! It seems like volleyball could provide a good form of exercise. Does this depend on the court size? Either way, I’d definitely consider buying an olympic volleyball and get my exercise the fun way!

10. 

    Natalie HerBurger

    April 11, 2017 at 1:22 pm

    I play 7 hours of volleyball every seturday and 3 every Sunday – I’m a fifth grader

11. 

    Katie

    April 26, 2017 at 7:15 pm

    I spend 12 hrs of club v-ball, 32 hrs of competitive cheer, and 2 hrs of dance a week!

12. 

    natalie rezabek

    May 22, 2017 at 1:48 pm

    I play volleyball as a sport! but I finnished Saturday 5/20/17

13. 

    khalid

    June 23, 2017 at 5:20 pm

    volleyball gives me confidence and teaches team coordinating skills.

    See Also

    History of Volleyball – NCVA

    It gives me energy and makes me active all the day in my work.

    I play three times a week for 3 hrs each day.

14. 

    Abira Lopez

    July 23, 2017 at 2:10 pm

    Thia was really helpful!! Now I know that I definitely join my high school’s volleyball team.

15. 

    Dashae

    September 27, 2017 at 1:56 pm

    it really helps

16. 

    Kylie Dotts

    October 5, 2017 at 9:11 am

    I like how you said that playing 45 minutes of volleyball can burn around 585 calories. This makes me want to buy an indoor volleyball net and get my family to go and play as often as possible! Not just for my benefit but for the benefit of my kids and husband as well. With how much the world seems to be moving toward a move digital age there needs to be time and room to enjoy playing sports and spending time together as a family.

17. 

    Katelynn

    October 12, 2017 at 12:28 pm

    I play volleyball for 2 hours every day with stopping ones or twice and I play it in my spare time.

18. 

    Carlie

    October 26, 2017 at 12:26 pm

    Volley Ball is AWESOME. And everybody should know!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

19. 

    Haley

    November 12, 2017 at 5:47 pm

    Volleyball is amazing. I’m in club volleyball too! It’s really fun

20. 

    Chloee Villmer

    November 21, 2017 at 1:26 pm

    I am very thankful for you posting this on here and you should not ever be afraid to play a sport that you would dearly enjoy thanks for showing hoe helpful that volleyball can actually be! AGAIN thanks

21. 

    Leah

    September 17, 2018 at 3:47 pm

    I have been playing v-ball for 4 years it is a very good experience for me. My family has been doing in for awhile to they say it is a good way to exercise.

22. 

    volleyball

    December 1, 2018 at 10:43 am

    I play 2 hours of volleyball every day. thanx!

23. 

    Abigail

    February 3, 2019 at 10:13 am

    Volleyball is my favourite sport and I am very competitive. I’m working on a project for school and this information was very helpful. Thank you!

24. 

    Cienna Alleyne

    March 28, 2019 at 4:15 pm

    I used this to convince my mom to play volleyball at school

25. 

    maya

    April 28, 2019 at 3:55 pm

    i love volleyball i have seen is sense i was like 5 yrs old and know that i’m older i play and its a fun sport “helpful”

26. 

    Hailey

    May 1, 2019 at 3:51 pm

    I’m on a high school volleyball team. I Practice for two hours from Monday to Saturday. On Sunday’s, I practice for at least five hours. With short breaks in between each hour. This was very helpful for my younger sister who also have a passion for volleyball and one that keeps growing.

27. 

    Tim Frechette

    June 12, 2019 at 3:51 am

    I love playing volleyball. It has lots of benefits for the body and it is very fun to play especially when you play with your friends! Thanks for sharing this.

28. 

    Savana franklin

    September 30, 2019 at 1:55 pm

    i love to play ah its sooooooo FUN

29. 

    Tayla

    November 18, 2019 at 12:09 pm

    This is so helpful thank you very much now I know more things about volleyball I can’t wait to start volleyball over the summer and I LOVE VOLLYBALL SO MUCH

30. 

    Scott

    October 9, 2020 at 11:31 am

    I found this really interesting and helpful. Hopefully Ryan and Noah will play volleyball with us Saturday!!

31. 

    nate

    February 9, 2021 at 8:45 am

    will i love soccer so much i made club of soccer players

32. 

    Hailey Booth

    September 22, 2021 at 10:23 am

    Yes me too <3 VOLLEYBALL is awesome if you want we can call or talk at 469-450-9527. We could start a VOLLEYBALL club.

    If you call say you are one of my best freinds and you want to talk about VOLLEYBALL!!!!

    I am 13 years old! and i am in 8th grade..

33. 

    Poppy

    September 28, 2021 at 12:30 pm

    Thank you so much this was very helpful

34. 

    Jude Petrus

    December 20, 2021 at 8:43 am

    Thanks for all these explaination on volleyball.
    I want to know more on how to develop volleyball court and it cost Price.

35. 

    Bristol

    November 7, 2022 at 9:28 am

    I play volleyball for high school as an 8th grader at walton verona middle scchool and it is the best I’m an outside hitter and its the best if you get good sets most of the time there good sets and if there not most of the time my hits dont go over if its a bad set but if its a good set they go over and we get the point

36. 

    LED

    March 1, 2023 at 11:05 am

    Basketball is way better.