29 Best Volleyball Gifts for Men Who Live at the Net

This is the ball used at the NCAA men's championships, so for a guy who played in college or follows the men's game it carries real meaning. It also plays beautifully: the flight stability tech makes float serves move predictably and the microfiber cover feels soft on platform passes. If you buy him one volleyball, make it this.

The ball used in Olympic and international indoor play. The dimpled cover stays grippy when a long rally leaves everyone sweating, and the flight is noticeably steadier than a gym-closet ball. A great gift for a serious indoor player who watches the pro game.

For the man who lives on the sand all summer. This is AVP tour construction in a yellow-and-black colorway that is far easier to pick up against a bright sky, which matters when he is looking up to receive a jump serve. It handles wind and wet sand better than any recreational ball.

The backup beach ball every player should keep in the trunk. It is official size and weight, holds up to being kicked around the sand, and costs little enough that he will not mind lending it out at the park.

For the guy returning to volleyball after years away, or the dad who plays with his kids. The extra foam layer takes the sting out of forearm passes so he can play all afternoon without bruised wrists, and it works indoors and out.

The net system tournament directors trust, and the one big-ticket gift he will use every weekend all summer. The aircraft-aluminum poles stay rigid in sand, the height adjusts for men's, coed and women's play, and it packs into a bag for the car. It turns him into the guy who brings the court.

If a pro net is more than you want to spend, this set brings backyard volleyball home for a fraction of the price. Four heights let him play seriously with friends or lower it for the kids, and the 32-foot version includes boundary lines.

Nothing settles arguments about whether a ball was in like real lines. This regulation doubles kit stakes into sand or grass and survives a summer of sun, and it pairs perfectly with any net on this list.

Spikeball uses the same bump, set and spike instincts as volleyball but needs only four people and a few feet of grass. Volleyball guys tend to get hooked quickly, and it keeps his touch sharp in the off-season or at a barbecue.

Hitters rarely get enough reps in a game to fix an approach or arm swing. This stand holds the ball anywhere from 6 to 11 feet so he can groove a full approach alone in the driveway, as many times as he wants. Ideal for the outside hitter who wants to hit harder.

A training partner that never gets bored. He can pass, set and dig against it in the garage or yard, which is the fastest way to tighten ball control without needing a second player.

Two simple targets that make passing, setting and serving drills measurable. For setters and the guys who coach youth teams, they add accuracy work to any practice and pack into a bag.

Every volleyball player wants a few more inches at the net. These resistance bands load his jumps and squats to build explosive power, and they fit in a gym bag for warm-ups before league games.

Fifty-four drills in a pocket-sized deck, covering warm-ups to game sense. They give a solo session or an informal practice a real structure, and they are great for a man who has just started coaching his kid's team.

For the man who runs a club, coaches a team or organizes the weekly league. The foot pedal opens the cart hands-free, it holds 24 balls, and it folds flat in a closet. It is the gift that makes him look like a real program.

Ball pressure changes how a volleyball plays, and most guys just squeeze and guess. This electric pump stops at the exact PSI he sets, so every ball in his bag is game ready in seconds.

Knee pads wear out and stretch, and most men keep playing in a sad, flattened pair. The Mizuno T10 is the pad you see in gyms across the country, with dense foam that cushions every dig and a sleeve that stays put. At under $20 it is the easiest useful gift on the list.

A lower-profile option for the player who hates bulky pads. Dri-Fit fabric keeps them from getting soggy in long matches, and sizing by thigh measurement means they stay up when he dives for a ball.

Mizuno's flagship indoor shoe for men who jump all night. The Enerzy foam softens hard landings off blocks and the gum sole grips on quick lateral moves. Check his shoe size first; it is a gift he will feel in his knees by the end of the season.

Plenty of rec league guys still play in running shoes, which slip and roll on court floors. This affordable ASICS court shoe has a gum rubber sole built for gym floors, and it runs a bit small, so go half a size up.

Landing on a teammate's foot at the net is the most common way men roll an ankle in volleyball. This lace-up brace with figure-eight straps fits inside court shoes and gives real support, which is a thoughtful gift for anyone who has sprained an ankle before.

Blockers and setters jam fingers constantly, and buddy taping is how they keep playing. Eight rolls of half-inch tape will see him through a season, and it is the stocking stuffer every volleyball player actually needs.

Long afternoons on the sand leave forearms sunburned and bruised from passing. These UPF 50 sleeves keep his arms cool and protected and take a little sting off hard-driven balls.

By midday in July, beach sand can be too hot to stand on. Sand socks protect his feet from heat, shells and grit while still letting him feel the ground for quick moves, which is why so many beach players keep a pair in their bag.

Tracking a high ball against the sun is the hardest part of beach volleyball. These 24-gram polarized sunglasses cut glare without bouncing off when he dives, and they are cheap enough to risk in the sand.

Tournament days on the beach mean hours in the sun between matches. This half-gallon insulated bottle keeps water cold until the final, with a straw lid for quick sips during timeouts.

Every volleyball player has watched a ball drop between two teammates who both assumed the other had it. This tee is a lighthearted nod to that moment and a fun gift for the guy who is always yelling 'mine!'.

For the team captain or volunteer coach, a dry erase clipboard printed with a volleyball court makes rotations and lineups easy to explain during a timeout. It costs less than ten dollars and gets used every match.

A ready-to-hang painted canvas of a volleyball by the net, done in a vintage style that looks good in a den, game room or home gym. A nice way to show off his favorite sport off the court.