Volleyball Sleeves: Forearm, Elbow, Passing, and Compression
If you’re purchasing a set of volleyball sleeves for the first time, you may wonder which brand or type will work best for you. These elbow sleeves, also “volleyball passing” or “compression sleeves,” can vary in quality, which makes knowing more about them essential to finding the best one for you.
My 11-year-old daughter complained about the pain when she was bumping a ball coming off a hard serve. The uniform in her recreational league didn’t have sleeves like previous uniforms. She may have been able to get away with a long sleeve shirt underneath, but I decided to do a deep dive and research different volleyball-specific sleeves and pads. These can really be important for those playing the libero and defensive specialist positions.
There are a few things to consider when choosing a sleeve, including the land, fabric type, and moisture management properties. In this post, we’ve compiled a list of the volleyball sleeves I researched, and hope it will make your search a bit easier. I will even note the one that we ended up buying for our specific situation.
Best volleyball sleeves:
- Mizuno MZO Padded Sleeves
- NIKE Unisex Nike Pro Elite Sleeve 2.0 Elite Sleeve
- Upward Fitness Volleyball Arm Sleeves for Girls and Boys
- Tandem Sport Passing Sleeves
- Mizuno Arm Sleeves
1. Mizuno MZO Padded Volleyball Elbow Sleeves
You’ve probably heard of the Mizuno sports equipment brand, as they manufacture a wide variety of sportswear and equipment for every sport from football, volleyball, and track to volleyball, cycling, and tennis. And their padded sports sleeves for volleyball made our list.
These 15-inch volleyball elbow sleeves extend from the biceps to the forearm. They’re breathable and form-fitting. You don’t have to worry about restricted movements with these padded sleeves, as they’re made with flexible rubber, Spandex, and polyester.
So if you need a new volleyball sleeve to help improve your defensive play and protect your elbow from injury-causing impact, here is a set to consider.
2. Volleyball Arm Sleeves Nike
The NIKE Unisex Nike Pro Elite Sleeve 2.0 Elite sleeve is a contoured sport sleeve to help support natural arm movement so that you can dominate each game. A contoured design allows you to move naturally and play to your full potential.
This unisex professional set of sleeves gives you everything you need for compression. It’s made of mostly polyester but also contains Spandex and silicone.
The sleeve is comprised of Dri-Fit fabric and ensures maximum arm flexibility and comfort. It also has excellent moisture-wicking properties and flattened seams to prevent discomfort.
Use it for your volleyball games as well as training sessions for protection and support. This sleeve set is available in black and white and comes in unisex sizes.
3. Upward Fitness Volleyball Forearm Sleeves for Girls and Boys
Looking for a volleyball sleeve for youth? This is the set that caught my eye and eventually, we bought them. These volleyball forearm sleeves are for young players looking to protect their arms from injury and impact. They also come with a convenient drawstring bag and an athletic hand band.
I thought they seemed a little loose and baggy when my daughter put them on, but she said they were fine. She thought they helped and used them the rest of the winter season and will continue using them this Spring.
Players can perform pain-free bumps, assists, and digs with these sleeves for better endurance and comfort. These padded sleeves also protect against floor burns and are tough enough to wear during game time, practice, or intense training sessions.
These volleyball forearm sleeves are made of polyamide and spandex, which provide flexibility and breathability. Furthermore, the non-slip silicone lining will prevent them from sliding around during your playing so that players can focus solely on the game.
4. Tandem Sport Volleyball Passing Sleeves
Nylon sleeves by Tandem Sport are effective, affordable, and stylish. What’s not to love? Say goodbye to games and training sessions that leave your forearms and wrists covered in bruises and friction burns. These were
This pair of volleyball passing sleeves are durable, comfortable, and stretchable. The sleeves are made of spandex and nylon and can be washed easily in cold water by hand. They slide on easily and provide fantastic protection against contact discomfort from sets and other techniques.
The cool thing about these volleyball passing sleeves is that they cover both the forearm (with a convenient thumbhole) and wrist while leaving your hands and fingers free for other movements. This is especially beneficial for players who’ve had a recent hand or wrist surgery.
5. Mizuno Volleyball Compression Sleeves
If you are looking for volleyball elbow sleeves to provide protection for those deep dives, the Mizuno arm sleeves are a contender. They’re 15 inches long and reach from the mid-forearm to your mid-bicep area. We just didn’t select them because we wanted the extra padding and the targets for bumping.
These anti-slip sleeves are made with breathable fabrics (polyester, spandex, rubber) and are designed to keep you operating at peak performance. Even with the padding, the sleeves aren’t restrictive and allow you complete freedom of movement.
They cost a bit more than your typical volleyball compression sleeves, but they are definitely worth every penny for any player with sensitive joints or recovering from injury. They’re available in unisex sizes and come in black, white, and navy blue.
Why Wear Volleyball Arm Sleeves?
Here are some of the main benefits that a volleyball player will enjoy when wearing volleyball arm sleeves.
Injury Prevention
The main reason volleyball players and other athletes wear arm sleeves is to reduce potential injuries and skin abrasions. Volleyball can be a very intense sport, and the constant contact with the ball and the potential for floor injury can leave you a bit battered at the end of a game or training session.
A solid pair of arm sleeves can help prevent floor burns and minimize cuts and bruises you may receive from passing, setting, and serving the ball. Some sleeves cover your wrist and forearm, while others can reach up to your mid-bicep to offer maximum protection.
And if you do a lot of digging in volleyball, you’ll also want to consider a volleyball sleeve with elbow padding.
Faster Recovery
One ancillary benefit of wearing volleyball compression sleeves is the ability to recover quicker and faster. When you wear compression sleeves, the sleeves place pressure on your veins, allowing your muscles to receive more blood flow as you move around. This translates into reduced recovery time and way less DOMS (Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness).
Body Temperature Maintenance
Though volleyball is typically played indoors, it doesn’t mean that stadiums and gymnasiums don’t get chilly. Another great benefit of wearing sleeves is their ability to keep your arms warm while you play and practice.
It’s easy for muscles to get stiff when you’re training or taking long breaks. A good pair of sleeves can help to maintain core body temperature and keep you warm and ready during any session.
How to Measure For Volleyball Sleeves
Most of the brands we researched rely on you to measure in order to get the right size. Before we ordered we used this video to measure my daughter’s elbow circumference in order to choose the right size.
Final Thoughts
At some point, most volleyball players, whether they’re professional, school-based, or leisure players, will be in the market for volleyball sleeves. It can be a key piece of volleyball equipment. Remember a good sleeve should be form-fitting and allow for complete flexibility. We also have an article on basketball hoop volleyball spike trainers that you may enjoy.
Gina Wayland
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