When volleyball was invented by William Morgan in 1895, it was for the purpose of having fun and giving people something new to do with a ball. Now when people think of volleyball the first thing that comes to mind is the revealing and tight uniforms...right? In beach volleyball the girls play in a bikini...so why not just play in your panties and a bra? And in indoor volleyball the girls wear tight, short spandex, and we wonder why guys favorite female sport to watch is volleyball. Honestly it is not the sport they enjoy watching; it's the girls butts!
But the debate going on over the unofroms can go both ways; the unoforms are built for comfort and allow the player to move and jump without worry of their uniform getting in the way. So what do you think: are the uniforms built for comfort and optimum playing or for publicity?
Let's take a look at the evolution of the uniforms.
Let's take a look at the evolution of the uniforms.
In 1964, Volleyball was Included in the Olympics For the First Time
Both men's and woman's volleyball were added ro the Olympics roster at the Toyko Olympics in 1964. The woman's, as shown to the left, competed in pleated knee-length skirts. Pleated knee-length skirts may seem a little too much for volleyball, especially since the players jump and dive for the ball. These uniforms were not thought out enough.
Both men's and woman's volleyball were added ro the Olympics roster at the Toyko Olympics in 1964. The woman's, as shown to the left, competed in pleated knee-length skirts. Pleated knee-length skirts may seem a little too much for volleyball, especially since the players jump and dive for the ball. These uniforms were not thought out enough.
In 1999, The Federation Internationale de Volleyball (FIVB) Declares
In 1999, the FIVB ruled that the swimsuit would be the official volleyball uniform for both men and female professional volleyball teams. While there was no rule against playing in one-piece bathing suits most female competitors in the Olympics opted to play in their bikinis for many reasons. But was it for comfort or publicity?
the Bathing Suit The Official Uniform of Womens and Mens Volleyball In 1999, the FIVB ruled that the swimsuit would be the official volleyball uniform for both men and female professional volleyball teams. While there was no rule against playing in one-piece bathing suits most female competitors in the Olympics opted to play in their bikinis for many reasons. But was it for comfort or publicity?
What I do not understand is both male and female players do the exact same movements, they both jump for the ball and dive for the ball; so why is there such a big difference in the uniforms? If it is more comfortable to play in bikinis then why don't men play in spandex bottoms? Another reason why women say they prefer to play in spandex or bikini bottoms instead of loose fitting shorts is because of the net violation; they do not wasn't their shorts to get caught in the net when they jump. If this was true they why do men play in knee-length loose fitting shorts? In a blog post written by a questioning and concerned father we learn why.
In 2012 The Olympic Committee Allows Female Volleyball Contestants to Trade their Bikinis in for Shorts and Shirts.
In early 2012, the International Volleyball Federation decided it would allow women to wear shorts and shirts at the 2012 London Olympics, though the shorts could not be longer that 1.2 inches above the knee. This decision was made to accommodate those competitors hailing from more conservative countries, where the "swimwear-as-uniforms" might be considered inappropriate and indecent. According to a March 2012 post on the Huffington Post, Richard Baker, the federation spokesperson explained that "many of these countries have religious and cultural requirements so the uniform needed to be more flexible."
Then there is the debate in whether or not the girls wear bikinis and spandex for better play and comfort. The material of spandex is very breathable stretchy fabric that allows for increased movement while jumping and diving. This article on the LIVESTRONG website explains why volleyball players wear spandex.
Im pretty sure that everyone who watches or plays volleyball has thought about this debate or at least had a few questions about the uniforms. So now that you have heard both sides of the debate, what do you think? Should volleyball players be required to wear less revealing and skimpy uniforms, or should the current uniforms stay? Leave a comment below and let me know what you think.
In 2012 The Olympic Committee Allows Female Volleyball Contestants to Trade their Bikinis in for Shorts and Shirts.
In early 2012, the International Volleyball Federation decided it would allow women to wear shorts and shirts at the 2012 London Olympics, though the shorts could not be longer that 1.2 inches above the knee. This decision was made to accommodate those competitors hailing from more conservative countries, where the "swimwear-as-uniforms" might be considered inappropriate and indecent. According to a March 2012 post on the Huffington Post, Richard Baker, the federation spokesperson explained that "many of these countries have religious and cultural requirements so the uniform needed to be more flexible."
Then there is the debate in whether or not the girls wear bikinis and spandex for better play and comfort. The material of spandex is very breathable stretchy fabric that allows for increased movement while jumping and diving. This article on the LIVESTRONG website explains why volleyball players wear spandex.
Im pretty sure that everyone who watches or plays volleyball has thought about this debate or at least had a few questions about the uniforms. So now that you have heard both sides of the debate, what do you think? Should volleyball players be required to wear less revealing and skimpy uniforms, or should the current uniforms stay? Leave a comment below and let me know what you think.