A beginner's guide to getting started the right way
Starting volleyball for the first time is exciting, but it can also be a little overwhelming. Between practices, games, and everything the more experienced players show up wearing, it's not always obvious what you actually need versus what's just extra.
Here's the reassuring part: volleyball doesn't take much gear to get started. A handful of essentials cover you, and everything else can wait until you've figured out what actually works for how you play.
The Essentials
At the most basic level, three things cover almost everyone starting out.
Volleyball shoes. These are built specifically for indoor courts, with non-marking soles designed for grip during quick cuts and stops. Volleyball is full of jumping, sudden direction changes, and hard stops, so shoes built for that matter for both performance and staying upright.
Comfortable athletic clothing. Most players wear spandex or athletic shorts with a breathable shirt or jersey. Flexibility is the whole point here, as you'll be diving, reaching, and reacting constantly, and clothing that fights you slows you down.
A volleyball. Most beginners won't need to buy one since your team, school, or club almost always provides balls for practice and games. If you're working on skills on your own time, a quality ball is worth the investment once you're serious about it.
Knee Pads: More Important Than Beginners Expect
Knee pads are one of the most recognizable pieces of gear in the sport, and there's a reason for that.
You'll figure this out fast once you start playing: volleyball puts you on the floor constantly. Diving for a dig, dropping into a defensive stance, or reacting to a ball you didn't see coming puts your knees in contact with the ground more than almost any other part of your body. Injury data on the sport backs this up: the knee is consistently among the most frequently injured areas in volleyball, right alongside the ankle.
Most players start with traditional knee pads that sit directly on the knee. They're widely used, and they do the basic job. That said, a lot of players eventually notice the same complaint: traditional pads shift, bunch, or feel restrictive once you're actually moving fast. That's part of why newer designs have started rethinking the placement entirely. The Patella Protector, for example, is built to sit just below the knee while still covering the patella, which keeps protection in place without getting in the way of natural movement.
You'll figure out what fits your style as you go, but starting with some form of knee protection from day one is worth doing rather than waiting until after your first hard landing.
Optional Gear That Can Help
Once the basics are covered, a few additional pieces can make a real difference for some players.
Ankle braces are common in volleyball, especially for players wanting extra stability or recovering from a previous injury, and there's good reason for that. The ankle is one of the most frequently injured areas in the sport, right up there with the knee, which is exactly why so many experienced players wear support even before they've ever rolled one.
Arm sleeves are optional, but plenty of players like them for comfort while passing and diving, or for the compression itself.
Hair ties, headbands, and sweatbands seem minor, but for a lot of players, staying comfortable and out of your own way during a rally makes a real difference in focus.
None of this is required. It's the kind of gear you add once you know what you actually need, not before.
What You Don't Need (Yet)
One of the most common beginner mistakes is overbuying gear before knowing what you'll actually use.
You don't need multiple pairs of shoes, every accessory advanced players wear, or the most expensive version of everything on the shelf. That stuff tends to sort itself out with time and personal preference. At the start, three things are enough:
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Good shoes
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Comfortable clothing
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Basic knee protection
That's a complete starter kit. Everything else can wait.
Why the Right Gear Actually Matters
The right equipment helps your performance more than you’d think. It changes how freely you're willing to move and make plays.
There's real research behind this connection: athletes who feel physically prepared tend to commit more fully to a play, react faster, and hesitate less under pressure. In a fast-paced sport like volleyball, even a millisecond hesitation can prevent you from making a play. When you've spent so much time training and preparing for a game, the last thing you want is to get on the court and worry about your gear failing.
Final Takeaway
Volleyball is easy to start and takes years to master, but the equipment side doesn't have to be complicated. With the right essentials like shoes, comfortable clothing, and basic protection, everything else can be figured out as you go.
At the end of the day the equipment is just there to make you perform better. The part that really counts is developing your skills and confidence.
Sources
Feltz, D. L., Short, S. E., & Sullivan, P. J. (2008). Self-efficacy in sport: Research and strategies for working with athletes, teams, and coaches. Human Kinetics.
Sandler, C. B., Green, C. K., Scanaliato, J. P., Sandler, A. B., Dunn, J. C., & Parnes, N. (2023). Comparison of volleyball-related injuries at US emergency departments between high school and collegiate athletes: A 10-year NEISS database study. Orthopaedic Journal of Sports Medicine, 11(6). https://doi.org/10.1177/23259671231180534