Volleyball is a fun team sport and usually pretty safe, but injuries can happen. It's important to know how to keep games as safe as possible. To help prevent injuries while playing, follow these guidelines.

Staying Safe & Preventing Injuries

What Volleyball Safety Gear Do I Need?

Using the right protection and equipment for volleyball can help prevent injuries. These include: 

Knee pads 

This padding protects the knees when sliding, diving, or falling. 

Padded shorts

 These special shorts protect the hips when diving for a ball. 

Other pads and braces 

For more protection, it's good to wear elbow or forearm pads, ankle or wrist braces, or thumb splints.

Volleyball shoes

These shoes provide good traction on gym floors and extra padding for comfort. Choose volleyball shoes that also have good arch and ankle support.

Mouthguard

You need this to protect your teeth, lips, cheeks, and tongue. 

Eye Protection

Prescription goggles are good for players who wear glasses. Shatterproof sunglasses are helpful when playing outside.

Supportive Underwear

An athletic supporter helps protect males. Sports bras for females give support and comfort. 

How Can I Stay Safe During Volleyball Training?

From warming up to following the rules of the game, these habits can help keep you safe.

Getting Ready to Play

Before starting the season and any training program, get a sports physical and make sure you're in good shape before playing volleyball. Most schools won't let athletes play unless they've had a sports physical during the past year. And being in good shape helps you avoid injuries.

To prevent injuries and stay safe, players should:

• Consider taking a volleyball lesson from a trained instructor who can teach you the rules and show you the right techniques to use.
• Always warm up and stretch before practice and matches.
• Use proper technique. If there are concerns about technique, a trained instructor can help.
• Talk to your teammates during the action so they don't collide with you during plays.
• Stop training if you get injured or feel pain. You will need to get checked by an athletic trainer, a coach, a doctor, or a nurse before going back on the court.
• Know the symptoms of a concussion, such as headache, dizziness, or confusion. If you hit your head or don't feel well, tell your trainer or coach right away. Follow return-to-play guidelines.

More Safety Tips

• Staying hydrated is important, sodrink plenty of liquids before, during, and after games and practices.
• If you're playing outside,use sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher and wear a hat. 
• Play different sports throughout the year to prevent overuse injuries. These injuries happen when someone trains too much or makes the same motions over and over.

Checking the Court and Fair Play

• If you're playing inside, always check the court to make sure the court is in good shape before you start playing. A wet court can lead to slips and falls.
• If you’re playing outside, check for rocks or objects that could cause trips and falls or a twisted ankle.
• Make sure to learn safe, fair play rules at practices and games.
• Be a good sport. Always be respectful of the referees and not argue with their calls.
• Stay calm if an opposing player does something you disagree with. You should not take it personally or start a fight — let the referees handle it.

Safety in Other Sports

Safety matters whether you're playing volleyball or doing another athletic activity. To help prevent injuries in other sports, check out these articles:

• Swimming Safety Tips
• Soccer Safety Tips
• Running Safety Tips
• Sledding Safety Tips
• Bike Safety Tips