The knees are precious body parts and a sport like volleyball can destroy them. The combination of diving for balls and a hardwood floor provide ample opportunities for skinned knees, bruises and breaks. Knee pads for volleyball provide padding to prevent injury and also give players confidence that they can slide on the floor for a low ball and not get injured.
Safety
The American Association of Orthopaedic Surgeons and the Momsteam website recommend wearing knee pads as a safety precaution in volleyball. Players fall and dive onto the court often enough that knee padding is popular. A layer of padding between the knee and the hard court is enough to absorb the impact and allow the player to avoid bruises and breaks.
Confidence
A player without knee pads who has experienced injuries in the past will be less likely to dive or squat for a low ball, knowing that another dive could injure the knee again. Volleyball knee pads give players the confidence that they can give their all to make sure the ball does not hit the ground and that they will be protected. A hesitant player will not find success in a game like volleyball, which is predicated on quick movements and quick decisions.
Braces
Diving and dropping to the knees are both part of the game. All the jumping and quick sprint movements can also put strain on the knees, leading to some players choosing knee braces. According to Betterbraces.com, "In order to avoid certain injuries, many volleyball players wear specialized knee braces, which help to protect their knees from impact." A brace stabilizes the knee and is commonly coupled with a knee pad to prevent contact with the floor or other players.
Cost
Knee pads are inexpensive, though when they are included with a brace that can increase the cost. Many online retailers sell pairs of volleyball knee pads from $14 to $20 as of 2010, according to a search engine inquiry. Considering the amount of wear and tear volleyball players put on knee pads, it is likely that players will go through them at a somewhat quick pace. Knee pads that are combined with a brace cost $30 to $35 with many online retailers.
Availability
Sporting goods stores sell volleyball knee pads, as do many do-it-all retailers like Target, K-Mart and Walmart. Many specialty and general sporting goods retailers also offer knee pads online. Knee braces are slightly more difficult to find and are unlikely to be sold at the large national retailers. Many sites online specialize in sports knee braces and feature different types of braces specifically made for volleyball.
