Hot sand could be intimidating, that’s why many beginners are wondering whether they can wear shoes while playing beach volleyball …
In this article, I breakdown this by explaining the rules and by providing some interesting ideas and alternatives that you should know about.
Are shoes allowed in beach volleyball?
Nobody in the FIVB is saying that it is strictly forbidden to play volleyball in shoes, but on the other hand, it is an unwritten rule that players have to play barefoot. Playing barefoot helps players be more effective.
Imagine yourself playing on hot sand under the sun, with your sports shoes on. Add a pair of socks to the mix and you will get the most unpleasant game you ever had…
Sand will crawl through every small gap it can find. It will firstly end up in your shoes, and then it will slowly start finding a way into your socks, making it extremely unpleasant to play.
The sand that is used in high ranking games is usually carefully picked so that it does not stick to the player’s feet, and that it does not get messy.
Playing barefoot has also the advantage of mobility. Your feet tend to stretch and stick to the surface more naturally.
What about socks, are they allowed?
Socks are allowed, but not the traditional ones. Indeed, there are special socks that are designed for the sand (Check this example right here).
Those special socks are called sand socks, and they are the best alternative to eventual burns that may be a product of the sand.
Sand tends to heat during hot summer days. It has an average higher temperature than the air of about 16 to 22 degrees, meaning that the sand tends to heat up exponentially.
The hot sand can cause first, second and even third degree burns (those are rare). The sand socks are a great protection when it comes to the hot sand.
The reason why you cannot play in regular socks is simple, they are usually made out of wool, or the wool makes about 70-80% of the material, while the other 30-20% being other materials, such as polyester, polyethylene etc. Wool has the property of warming the surfaces it is applied on, that too goes for socks.
Playing beach volleyball in regular socks can be a little bit painful since the wool will easily warm up and make your feet feel even hotter than normal sand would in this case.
Socks recommendation for beach volleyball …
One of the best sand socks that you can hear being recommended now days are these sand socks (Check them Here at Amazon). They are made for beach volleyball, snorkeling beach soccer and also for everyday use on the beach.
They have the ability to protect your feet from the hot sand, mud, dirt and sharp objects, such as sharp rocks, shells and other things, but not glass.
They have a great grip and can prevent slipping during your activities, mainly the watery ones, beach volleyball, that is, the sand is a different story.
They are made from neoprene and spandex and are intended to provide your feet with enough breathability thanks to the type of spandex that is used for them. The synthetic materials are there to give the socks their flexibility when protecting your feet.
You can also learn about these safety measures in beach volleyball to minimize risks while practicing …
Other ways to protect feet from sand burning?
The most basic form of playing in beach volleyball is with your bare feet. In this case, you need to keep your feet cooled between the breaks and on every occasion.
You can do that by simply applying water to your feet every once in a while, the water will make the sand stick to your feet, adding another extra layer between your feet and the hot sand, but that is probably going to make things harder for you.
The next Tip is to try bandage your feet with the white sports bandage that comes in a roll. The bandage is used in a variety of sports for many different things, including burns and for the prevention of surface tension. Bandaging your toes and sensitive parts of your feet can help.
The Last Tip is to pick some sand socks and start getting used to them. The sand socks have the role of helping the players perform better and it makes playing more comfortable. There are many different types of sand socks, but all have the same goal.
I highly encourage you to learn about these other tips to protect your feet in sand volleyball …
What should you wear for beach volleyball in general?
Besides sand socks players can wear other gear to help them out …
For example, sunglasses help players battle the sun’s rays. The light coming from the sun can get really annoying and it can interfere with your gameplay very often.
Wearing sunglasses can help you see better and clearer while playing in the sun.
Another piece of equipment that players often use are the caps. Women volleyball players often use the open caps which make it possible for their hair/horse tails to stick out and interfere in the game less. Men usually wear fully closed caps/regular caps.
The caps can help you a lot when against the sun. It can protect you from an eventual heat wave, and they usually absorb sweat really easy.
Finally, there are arm sleeves (Like these) that some players also like to use. They can be useful for the prevention of muscle contraction during the game and also for sweat absorption.
Final Thoughts …
If you are a beginner and worried about having your feet burned through the sand, then, again, the best way I know to ensure maximum protection is using sand socks …
Otherwise, even if shoes can protect your feet, they will definitely limit your movements. So, it is better to avoid them.
Finally, I highly encourage you to check this list of beach volleyball gear. I think you will find it very interesting …