Draft:Volleyball uniform

The Serbia women's national volleyball team in matching uniforms at the 2015 European Championship

A volleyball uniform is a type of uniform worn by volleyball players. It usually consists of a jersey with the player's number on the front and back, shorts or pants, socks, and court shoes. Within a team, all players wear the same colors and design, except for the libero, who wears a contrasting jersey.

Uniform rules are set by the Fédération Internationale de Volleyball (FIVB) for international play, and by bodies such as USA Volleyball and the NCAA in the United States. Indoor volleyball and beach volleyball have separate uniform rules.

History

Early uniforms

A game of volleyball in a gymnasium, around 1910

Volleyball was invented in 1895 by William G. Morgan in Holyoke, Massachusetts. In its early years the sport had no special uniforms, and players wore their everyday clothes or general athletic wear.

After the FIVB was founded in 1947, international rules for the sport, including equipment and uniform rules, became standardized.

Women's uniforms

Women playing volleyball at a YWCA recreation program in Buffalo, New York, 1943

Sata Isobe of Japan in the women's volleyball final at the 1964 Summer Olympics

Spandex became popular in women's volleyball beginning in the 1970s, as the material stretched, released moisture and gave players more freedom of movement.

In 2020, the NCAA changed its rules to give college players more choice of bottoms. Under the rule, revised in 2024, bottoms may differ in style as long as they are the same color, and may include spandex, gym-style shorts, pants, or culottes of any length. Before the change, spandex shorts were the only option.

Shoes and accessories

A high school player wearing knee pads and court shoes

Under FIVB rules, shoes must be light and pliable, with rubber or composite soles and no heels. Players also commonly wear knee pads to protect their knees when diving for the ball. Under USA Volleyball rules, socks, shoes, knee pads, and compression pads are not considered part of the uniform.

Beach volleyball uniforms

Women's beach volleyball match between Brazil and Australia at the 2012 Summer Olympics

Men's beach volleyball at the 2012 Summer Olympics

Bikinis have been part of women's beach volleyball since the sport became an Olympic medal event at the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta. Before 2012, female players could wear either a one-piece swimsuit or a bikini with a maximum side width of 7 cm (2.8 in).

In March 2012, the FIVB added more uniform options, allowing shorts ending no more than 3 cm (1.2 in) above the knee, along with sleeved or sleeveless tops. An FIVB spokesman said the change was made because many countries trying to qualify for the Olympics had religious and cultural requirements. At the 2016 Summer Olympics, Doaa Elghobashy and Nada Meawad of Egypt played in long-sleeved shirts and full-length leggings, with Elghobashy wearing a hijab.

For the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, the FIVB issued 22 pages of uniform guidelines covering fabric, color, names and numbers, and the size of manufacturers' logos. Men wear tank tops and board shorts, which may be worn over long-sleeved shirts and tights in cold weather.

Modern uniforms

Men's volleyball players in numbered jerseys, shorts and knee pads at the 2008 Summer Olympics

Modern indoor uniforms are usually made of lightweight synthetic fabrics such as polyester and spandex that move sweat away from the skin. Women's players commonly wear fitted jerseys with short spandex shorts, while men often wear sleeveless or short-sleeved jerseys with athletic shorts that end just above the knee.

Many teams use dye-sublimation printing, in which colors, names and numbers are transferred into the fabric with heat rather than printed on top of it, so the design does not crack or peel.

Libero jersey

A player in a black jersey stands out from teammates in white, as a libero's jersey must contrast with the rest of the team

The libero is a defensive specialist who must wear a jersey that contrasts with those of the other players, so that officials can easily identify them. Under USA Volleyball rules, the libero's jersey may use a different color and number size from the rest of the team, as long as it meets the minimum size requirements.

Uniform regulations by league

FIVB

Source:

• A player's equipment consists of a jersey, shorts, socks and sport shoes.
• The color and design of jerseys, shorts and socks must be the same for the whole team, except for the libero. Uniforms must be clean.
• Jerseys must be numbered from 1 to 20. In FIVB world and official senior competitions with larger squads, the range may be extended.
• Numbers must be placed at the center of the front and back of the jersey, and their color must contrast with the jersey.
• Numbers must be at least 15 cm (5.9 in) tall on the chest and 20 cm (7.9 in) tall on the back.
• The stripe forming the numbers must be at least 2 cm (0.79 in) wide.

USA Volleyball

Source:

• A uniform consists of a jersey and shorts or athletic pants.
• Undergarments that are visible, such as T-shirts, tights or bike shorts, are treated as part of the uniform and must be the same color for all players who wear them, except the libero.
• Jerseys must be numbered from 1 to 99, with no duplicate numbers on a team.
• Dark jerseys must have light numbers, and light jerseys must have dark numbers.
• Numbers must be at least 10 cm (3.9 in) tall on the chest and 15 cm (5.9 in) tall on the back.
• The team captain should have a stripe of 8 cm × 2 cm (3.15 in × 0.79 in) under the chest number.

NCAA

Source:

• Uniform bottoms may differ in style, provided all bottoms are the same color.
• Permitted bottoms include spandex, gym-style shorts, pants and culottes of any length.

Manufacturers

Only uniforms approved by the FIVB may be worn in FIVB world and official competitions. For the 2009–2012 period, the approved uniform suppliers included Adidas, ASICS, Champion, Descente, Erima, Erreà, Mikasa, Mizuno and Olympikus, and the manufacturer's logo had to be clearly visible on the uniform.

Mizuno has supplied uniforms and apparel to USA Volleyball since 2001. In 2022, the two signed a new partnership lasting through the 2028 Summer Olympics, under which Mizuno is the exclusive uniform and apparel provider for all U.S. national teams. Mizuno also provides official uniforms for referees, officials and event staff at the Volleyball Nations League and the FIVB Volleyball World Championships, under a partnership with Volleyball World that began in 2022 and was extended in May 2025.

At the school and club level, many teams buy uniforms from custom team apparel companies that design and sublimate uniforms to order.

See also

• Basketball uniform
• Jersey (sport)
• Libero (volleyball)
• Beach volleyball
• Dye-sublimation printing
• Sportswear

References

Category:Volleyball Category:Sportswear Category:Sports uniforms