What to Wear to a Volleyball Camp?

One thing that I regularly notice in volleyball newbies is the wrong type of clothing they wear at a camp.

Being a seasoned volleyball coach who organizes at least a dozen volleyball camps every year, this is one thing that I see in every single volleyball camp.

In your volleyball camp, wear athletic shorts and shirts that are breathable and moisture-wicking. Do not forget to wear proper socks, volleyball shoes, knee and elbow pads and sweatbands. Also remember not to wear baggy clothes, jeans, jewelry, and casual shoes as it will not let you practice the game at all.

What to Wear to a Volleyball Camp?

Let’s look at what to wear in volleyball camp and what to avoid.

Athletic shorts

Wearing athletic shorts is a must to have things in volleyball camp. Or if you don’t have athletic shorts, gym shorts will also do fine. But having athletic shorts is recommended wearing as it sticks to your skin and isn’t baggy at all.

T-shirts or tank tops

Opt for breathable and moisture-wicking t-shirts or tank tops to keep you cool and comfortable while playing.

Also, must remember that half sleeves are always better. In every volleyball camp, I see players wearing full sleeves; while no camp will stop you from wearing them, full sleeves restrict your arm movement and disallows you to practice the skill perfectly.

Not to mention that they are not encouraged at all in the intense game situations that you may face in the volleyball camp.

Athletic socks

Socks are such an unrated piece of cloth in volleyball. You need to have proper athletic socks, and there is no workaround for this.

Choose athletic socks that offer cushioning and support for your feet, helping to prevent blisters and provide additional comfort.

Volleyball shoes

Just like socks, you must have proper shoes for volleyball camp if you can afford to invest in good volleyball shoes, well and good. If you can’t, any sneaker that fits you well and makes you comfortable will do the job well. 

But remember, investing in quality volleyball shoes will also help you later down the road when you are going to need them anyway in advanced volleyball training.

A good volleyball shoe provides ankle support, has proper cushioning, and leaves no marks on the floor.

Also, remember that slippers and sandals are a straight no.

Knee pads

In most volleyball camps, I roughly see three out of ten players wearing their own knee pads. 

However, other players just ignore it.

Volleyball camps involve frequent dives and slides, making knee pads essential for protecting your knees from impact and friction against the floor.

If you are already aware of what activities you are going to perform in camp, and diving isn’t one of them, ignoring knee pads is fine. But if you don’t know, having knee pads is important, as most camps include diving and digging in their activities.

Elbow Pads

Similar to knee pads, it’s advisable to get elbow pads as well for your volleyball camp. They provide impact resistance while helping you against any skin burn.

Sweatbands

Wearing a headband or headband is recommended for every volleyball camp participant as it will make your life much easier.

They will keep sweat away from your eyes, thus giving you peace of mind.

Wristbands

Once again, this is a commonly neglected thing by most camp participants. Most of them will be filled with sweat, having it pouring down in their eyes, but they won’t wear wristbands.

Wristbands are useful for wiping away sweat from your face and maintaining a good grip on the ball.

Special Instructions for Female Volleyball Players

Volleyball shorts or spandex

Just like male players wear athletic shorts, females have two options: either to wear the same shorts or have spandex.

If you are not comfortable wearing shorts, wearing leggings is also a common practice among many volleyball players. And they hardly hinder your ability to play the game.

Athletic tops/jerseys/Sports bras

Female volleyball players should either wear top tanks or sports bras during the volleyball camp. It will help them maintain proper breathability while practicing the game at the same time.

Hair Bands

Female volleyball players having long hair must wear hair ties or hair bands. They need to tie their hair all the time, or they will hardly be able to practice at all.

What Not to Wear for Volleyball Camp?

Jeans or denim pants

Jeans, denim pants, or any other material that blocks your ability to move and stretch your legs is a big no.

And it seems that most volleyball camp trainees know this anyway. Fortunately, I rarely see anyone wearing jeans in the camps.

Non-athletic shoes (e.g., sandals, flip-flops)

This one goes without saying, but just in case you were planning to wear sandals, flip flops or any casual shoe, leave it right away.

Jewelry (including necklaces, bracelets, and rings)

No volleyball camp trainee should wear any type of jewelry. While you can practice the game this way, it can not only disturb the game but also get damaged.

So, keep your jewelry at home.

Baggy or oversized clothing

Baggy clothes hinder your ability to play volleyball. While they may seem more comfortable at first glance, you will see that these clothes are just not good for volleyball camps.

Also, do not wear oversized clothes to avoid any trouble.

Miscellaneous Things Not To Wear at a Volleyball Camp

Some more things that need to be avoided in volleyball camps include:

• Dresses or skirts (for both male and female players)
• Heavy or restrictive clothing
• Long sleeves or sweatshirts
• Excessive accessories (such as belts or hats that may obstruct movement)
• Perfume or strong fragrances

Final Words

Wearing proper clothing will show your coach that you are a serious contender who really wants to learn the game.

Many volleyball coaches and camp organizers who try to make their camps different really appreciate people who want to learn something. So, you may come to their good books, which will help you down the road.

While clothing is essential for volleyball camp, don’t underestimate what things to take to a volleyball camp except clothing. It will make your life easier.

Having the right type of clothes will give you peace of mind by keeping you tension-free. This is when you will be able to practice freely and may decide if you want to go one step ahead and play club volleyball.

Since there is a specific season for club volleyball, not all camp participants will be able to play it right away. While some participants do join clubs after camps, others wait to polish their skills themselves because club volleyball gets so expensive at times.