More Equipment

Volleyball Coaching Boards Reviewed

Volleyball coaching boards are a great teaching tool for a coach to use at practice or at a match. Take a look at how these boards compare.

When I am looking for a coaching dry-erase board, there are a few features that I look for.

I want to have one that is based on a dry eraser marker. I do not want to deal with chalkboards and chalk. Almost all of the boards these days have transitioned to the dry-erase method, but that is a requirement for my shopping list.

Volleyball Coaching BoardsI want to have one that is very durable. The board will travel quite a bit from team practices to matches. The more durable it is, the better. Well, and let’s face it…some coaches may put the coaching board under their own kind of…ahem…stress test. Yes, some coaches let their anger get the best of them and the board may become a flying projectile. The board must be able to withstand some punishment.

I also like to have a board that has a clip or a spot for the dry-erase marker. That way, I never have to wonder where I put it or the marker getting lost.

In looking at many volleyball coaching boards, I only found one that passed these criteria and provided a great coaching experience. That is the board from Champion Sports.

This coaching board has two sides which is a great additional feature to the ones that I mentioned above. That way, you can draw up multiple plays for different scenarios.

There is also the durability factor. This board comes highly rated by some people that have put their own stress test on it.

The board is really the complete package for what a volleyball coach would need. It is a great board that will present the best opportunity to get the best performance from your team.

If you would like to pick one up, you can get it from Amazon.com here: Champion Sports Volleyball Dry Erase Coach Clipboards

I hope you enjoyed this information on volleyball coaching boards. I hope you like this volleyball board and that it meets your needs as well.

Volleyball Carts Reviewed

There are a lot of volleyball carts available for purchase. How do you know which one to use and why? That is the purpose of this page. We will review what you should be looking for in a volleyball cart and which ones meet the criteria.

Cart Criteria

When you are looking for a cart to hold the balls during practices, there are a few things that you should be looking for. You want to have a cart that can hold a lot of volleyballs. Some carts are small and can only hold a few balls and this will not help you get as many repetitions in.

You also want to have a cart that has wheels at the bottom of the frame. This way, it can easily be moved around the court as needed without having to lift it up. If it doesn’t have wheels, I would not even consider purchasing it as it will only damage the court by dragging it everywhere.

A sturdy frame is also an important feature for volleyball carts. No reason to have something that is flimsy that will break or bend on minimal contact.

Although it is not a necessity, I also like to have a cart that can collapse. If it is collapsible, it can easily be stored or transported.

With those criteria in mind, here are a few carts that pass these criteria:

Tachikara Portable Cart

Top Volleyball SuppliesThis is the highest rated cart that I have seen and for a good reason. It has all of the features that were mentioned above.

The cart can hold up to 36 full size volleyballs. I love this because it allows you to get in a lot of repetitions during your drills.

The cart is also designed to be a little taller. While this may not matter to some people, it is a big deal to me. I am quite tall (6’6″) and most things are not made for taller people. This makes it easy for me to continuously get balls out of the cart without straining my lower back.

The cart is easily collapsible, and made of a sturdy aluminum frame. People have commented on how durable this cart is and thought it was a great value for the cost.

You can pick up this volleyball cart at Amazon.com here: Tachikara Portable Ball Cart

SSG Storage Cart

Volleyball CartsThis volleyball cart has many of the same features, but it is not the same level of quality. As a result, you will see a significant price difference.

This cart can hold up to 30 volleyballs so the storage capacity is similar to that of the Tachikara cart. This capacity will still allow you to get in plenty of repetitions in your drills.

The cart also has wheels on the bottom to make it easy to move during practice. In addition the cart also can collapse for easy storage or for travel.

The main thing that I do not like about this cart is that the bottom of the cart is made of mesh fabric. Some people may think that is a good thing as it keeps the air moving and sweat can drip from the balls. While that may be true, you also have to consider that mesh is also a much weaker material. I could easily see it tearing with repeated pressure of balls being pushed from the top. For me, that is the biggest weakness of this cart.

As I said, it also is considerably cheaper depending on what kind of budget you are working from. The cart will definitely do the job, but there is a clear quality difference. You can pick it up from Amazon.com here: SSG Sports Storage Cart

These reviews on volleyball carts should help you find the right one that you are looking for.

Volleyball Bags Reviewed

There are a lot of volleyball bags out there that you could purchase. Maybe you need a bag to hold a lot of volleyballs. Or, maybe you need one as a player to carry your knee pads, volleyball, and other equipment. These reviews will show you the top rated bags for both situations.

Molten MVB Bag

Volleyball BagThis bag from Molten is a great way to carry volleyballs from one place to the next or one tournament to the next.

I really like the rectangle design on this. My coaches growing up had some bags that were long, cylinder shaped bags. When you had the balls in it and it was zipped up, it felt like you were carrying a long torpedo everywhere. It was difficult to walk through doors, and putting them in the trunk of the car was also not as easy.

With the rectangle shape, both of those issues are resolved.

This bag can hold up to 6 volleyballs, and the shoulder strap makes it easy to carry. The outer portion of the bag has wire supports that provide form and stability to the bag.

I also like the material that is used with this particular bag. Many ball bags are made of mesh material to reduce the cost. Mesh tends to tear easily over time and then the bag is useless. This one is much more durable and the price is not that expensive.

This is a pretty good bag to carry volleyballs. You can pick one up here at Amazon.com: Molten MVB Volleyball Bag

Spike SAQ

If you are looking for a personal bag as a volleyball player, I highly recommend this one. It has everything that a player would want. 

Volleyball BagsIt has a ventilated compartment for things that get sweaty like shoes and knee pads. That way, you do not have to worry about putting something in your bag and having it smell like something died in your bag.

There is an insulated drink holder to keep your water cold and ready for use.

There is also a ventilated compartment designed for wet stuff. You could take off your shoes and socks after a match or practice and have a place to put them in your bag without it getting everything else wet.

This bag also has a separate ball compartment to take a ball with you where ever you are headed.

I also like the fact that this bag can be carried over the shoulder, or it can be converted into a backpack if you prefer to carry it that way. Basically, this bag has everything a volleyball player could want. That is why this is the official bag of the the USA Volleyball team.

You can pick up this great bag from Amazon.com: SPIKE SAQ Bag

These are some of the top rated volleyball bags out there. I highly recommend either if you are looking for a great sports bag.

Volleyball Supplies for Coaches and Players

Some volleyball supplies are hard to categorize as they have unique items or features. Obviously, shoes go with shoes, and net with nets and net systems. These supplies are the things you want and need, but in a unique, miscellaneous category.

You have a need for certain supplies to help the team store their gear, perform at optimum levels, and some items just to have fun. That is the whole point of this section of the website.

Top Volleyball SuppliesWe will review different supplies you will need on the volleyball court for both players and coaches.

We had great volleyball bags that we would take to various volleyball tournaments and matches at other locations. It was a simple way to care for them and make the volleyballs easily portable.

During practices, volleyball carts are also another very useful tool. They are great to work on repetitive skills in practice like passing or setting. It is nice to have a cart to hold all of the volleyballs to get in more repetitions without having to spend all your time chasing one or two balls.

As a coach, it is helpful to have a volleyball coaching board to draw up offensive plays and defensive schemes during a match. It makes it easier for your players to visualize and see what you want them to do.

Then to have some fun, there are some items like:

  • Volleyball Pins
  • Volleyball Earrings
  • Volleyball Posters
  • Volleyball DVDs
  • Volleyball Pajama Pants
  • Volleyball Hoodies
  • Flip Flops

Sure, some of these have nothing to do with practice or training equipment, but we all need to show our love and passion for the sport in one way or another!

These volleyball supplies will show you the best of the best and how to ensure that your team is efficient, high-performing, and stylish to boot!

Kettlebell Weights Review

Kettlebell weights are a great exercise option for volleyball athletes. Keep on reading this review to find out more information on how they can improve your workouts and conditioning.

Why are kettlebells a good workout choice for volleyball players? The answer to that question is that you get much more of a total body workout with them than what you would get with traditional dumbells. It all boils down to the movements.

Kettlebell WeightsWhen you are working with the kettlebell, you are getting more muscle groups involved than if you were just doing traditional weight training with a weight machine or free weights. When you are swinging the kettlebell, you are engaging more of your muscles to move the weight.

You also are using different muscle abilities. You get the acceleration muscles to start the swinging motion. These muscles are usually your powerful, explosive muscles. However, you also get your deceleration muscles involved as they work to stop the momentum of the swinging weight. These deceleration muscles are good to prevent injuries, balance, and more.

These are great to strengthen your shoulders to increase hitting power and also to reduce rotator cuff injuries. Your core is also heavily engaged when exercising with kettelbells and your core is used in almost every aspect of volleyball.

One of the major downsides of kettlebells is that there is a learning curve in using them. It takes a little practice to learn how to swing them without hitting something. You have to learn a little control to ensure that the exercise is being done correctly. Other than that, they are a great workout alternative.

I recommend starting with a low weight when learning the movements and then increasing the weight as your muscles have learned the motion.

That is why I really like this particular kettlebell set from Amazon.com. It has four different kettlebell weights in one set for a much lower price than buying each weight separately.

Marcy VKBS50 Kettlebell Weight Set

Here is a kettlebell workout for volleyball players that is a good starting point for a kettlebell workout:

I hope that information helps you decide whether or not you should incorporate kettlebells into your training routine. I think you will find them to be very beneficial.

Bowflex Adjustable Dumbells

How are the Bowflex adjustable dumbells for training purposes? Well, that is the whole point of this review. After using them personally, I wanted to provide my own feedback for volleyball players that are looking for some weight training equipment.

Bowflex SelectTech Dumbells

Bowflex Adjustable DumbellsBowflex revolutionized how dumbells can be used for working out. One of the problems with free weights in the past is that you had to have so many different dumbells around to get the proper weight that it cost a fortune to buy them all, and it required a large space to store them. With the Bowflex Select Tech dumbells, those problems are no more.

The Bowflex adjustable dumbells allow you to select only the weight that is desired and lift those from the base. There is an innovative dial at the end of the dumbell where you select the desired weight.

I love this aspect of using the dumbells as I like to do interval training (going immediately from one exercise to another) as it helps build my stamina and endurance. With a couple of clicks, I have the correct amount of weight for my needs while still maintaining my heart rate. It only takes a couple of seconds and I am able to move on to the next exercise.

Bowflex Adjustable DumbellsThe base model of the adjustable dumbells adjust from 5 to 52.5 pounds per dumbell and then there is a larger version that goes up to 90 pounds. I have the lower level version because I do not do free weight exercises that require more than 50 pounds. After all, I am not trying to become a body builder. I want to be powerful and explosive. 

These free weights also allow me to do a range of motion for shoulder exercises. Shoulder injuries (especially the rotator cuff) are very common injuries for volleyball players. I have found that the free weight exercises reduce the chance of injury by strengthening the shoulder muscles.

I love these dumbells because I only have to have two dumbells to get any weight that I desire and they take up very little space in my home.

Bowflex Adjustable Dumbells StandThe only negative thing I have found about them is that sometimes they may seem a little more bulky than a traditional dumbell. This is mostly due to the size of dumbell. There are very few exercises where the size the of weight seems a little awkward, but it is worth mentioning.

I have loved using my Bowflex adjustable dumbells at home while training. They have been a good part of my workout routine and I highly recommend them.

You can pick up a pair of them here from Amazon.com: Bowflex SelectTech 552 Adjustable Dumbbells (Pair)

I also recommend getting the weight rack that is specifically designed for them (as seen in the picture above) too: Bowflex SelectTech 552 / 1090 Dumbbell Stand

Indoor Volleyball Net System Reviewed

Needing an indoor volleyball net system? I have given a review of this one for you to take a look at.

When it comes to buying a net system for indoor use, the shopping criteria change. Especially when you consider that you are looking for a complete system.

Indoor Volleyball Net SystemFor the indoor game, the net system would include the volleyball net, the poles, antennae, pads for the poles, and the referee stand. You need to be careful what you are buying when looking to make an investment into one of these systems.

When I say investment, that is exactly what I mean. The volleyball net systems are not cheap. The majority of the systems are more than $3000 and those do not include everything that I have listed.

So, when you are shopping, you want to get a system that has all of this included so that you do not have to purchase everything separately which would ultimately cost you more money.

In my research, I found an indoor volleyball net system made by MacGregor that includes all of these items and it is much cheaper than the $3000+ systems that were the norm. Why pay more when you don’t have to? This is almost half of that cost. 

Included in the system is a competition grade net, two plated steel uprights, two pads for the poles, two ground sleeves with floor plates, a winch to tighten the net, two anetnnae, and a referee stand with a pad that can be folded up for when it is not being used.

The reason that I like this particular system is that it is all inclusive while still being very reasonably priced.

If you need to purchase an entire net system for indoor volleyball, this is the one that I would recommend purchasing. Plus, it is being offered by Amazon, a very highly trusted retailer.

You can check it out here: MacGregor Indoor Volleyball System with Referee Stand

The Best Volleyball Bag

If you are looking for a volleyball bag, come see why I like this one the best over all of the others on the market. There are reasons as to why I like this one the most!

You may think that shopping for a volleyball ball bag is a simple task. Sure, there are lots of choices and they all ultimately do the same function. However, there is one that I feel performs better than the others.

In order to understand why this bag for volleyballs is better than the others, you have to understand some of the flaws with other bags out there.

Some volleyball bags that hold six volleyball balls are made to hold the balls side by side. After you stack six volleyballs side by side, you have a long bag that makes it awkward to take anywhere. The long shape makes it difficult to put into a car, you cannot fit it through a door frame without turning it sideways, and there is a also a good chance you are going to bump into someone with it that way. In other words, it is awkward to say the least.

Volleyball BagThe other major issue with most bags is that they are poorly constructed. Many of the volleyball ball bags are made from mesh material. While it does give an open, airy feel to the bag, the mesh frequently rips because it is not a durable material.

For those two reasons, that is why I really prefer this bag from Molten. Because of its design, you are able to place six balls in the bag without the bag looking like a torpedo that you are carrying into the gym.

The design and fabric are also extremely durable. This bag will last a long time and can take a beating unlike the mesh bags that are available. When I purchase something, I like it to last and this bag certainly offers that kind of longevity.

I highly recommend this bag as it meets all of the criteria and will last a long time.

You can pick one up here from Amazon.com: Molten Volleyball Ball Bag

Nike Sunglasses Review

I like the line of Nike Sunglasses that are available for active people. In many cases, these sunglasses are perfect for people who play beach volleyball.

Let me review a few of these sunglasses made by Nike and show you why I think they are great for volleyball players.

Nike Cadence Sunglasses

Nike Sunglasses - CadenceThe first sunglasses I wanted to review were the Nike Cadence sunglasses. I like these sunglasses for a number of reasons.

First of all, they are designed for people that are outside and active. As a result, these glasses will not fall off when you are moving and diving for balls in the sand. I have played with some sunglasses that fall off when playing and it is really annoying.

The lenses are specially crafted to optimize vision from all angles. This is important for when you are using peripheral vision to see the blocker as you are hitting the ball.

The lens has a scratch-resistant finish (which is also great for sand play).

Based on the needs of a beach volleyball player, the Nike Cadence Sunglasses are a great choice that will be durable for your needs. You can pick up a pair here from Amazon.com: Nike Cadence Sunglasses

Nike Supreme Court Sunglasses

Nike Sunglasses - Supreme CourtThe other pair of Nike sunglasses that I wanted to review were the Nike Supreme Court sunglasses.

This pair of sunglasses has many features similar to the Nike Cadence sunglasses. They offer the optimized vision from all angles, scratch resistant lenses, and UVA and UVB protection.

This pair of glasses also are impact resistant. For playing on the beach, this is important to me. There are times when I go up to block and I spread my arms too far and the ball goes through the block onto my face.

I do not recommend getting hit in the face with the ball, but you do not want to have a pair of sunglasses that will break when taking a hit. This pair of Nike sunglasses will take the impact and keep on going.

This pair of volleyball sunglasses is available here: Nike Supreme Court Sunglasses

Kinesio Tex Tape Explained

Have you ever seen athletes wear tape on their bodies and it was placed on them very strangely? That is Kinesio Tex Tape. I want to help you understand how it works and what benefits it provides to athletes.

What can you expect when you use the Kinesio Tex Tape? The tape provides pain relief, support, and improved circulation. What does that do for volleyball players?

Many volleyball players use the Kinesio Tape to provide added circulation and pain reduction in their shoulders. Depending on how the tape is applied, it can stimulate or relax various muscles too.

Kinesio Tex TapeI know I tend to get quite a bit of muscle soreness in my arm and shoulder after playing volleyball from swinging at the ball. As I have gotten older, the pain has gotten greater. Understanding how to use the tape can reduce those pains.

There are many stories out there where people are claiming that they experienced near immediate pain relief after wearing the tape. There are others that state they had chronic pain of some kind and are now able to resume normal physical activity after using it.

The Kinesio Tape also is made of a very stretchable material which does not prohibit movement like many other tapes do. The movement that is allowed actually helps promote the additional circulation and healing.

For such a small price, the Kinesio Tape is a great investment. Anything you can do to remove the pain and enjoy a better lifestyle is worth it.

I highly recommend the tape for anyone that is looking for an alternative way of dealing with pain and without limiting their range of motion.

You can pick up some tape from Amazon.com here: Kinesio Tex Gold Tape

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