It’s the hottest thing on the court. Most manufactures are making them and some of the hottest teams are wearing them; giving indoor volleyball not only a new look but a whole new personality.  So let’s find out what sublimation really is.

Sublimation is a simple process of three things; water based ink, heat and pressure. Unlike other volleyball jerseys that use heat transfers or screen-printing, this process actually dyes the ink into the fabric leaving you with a smooth surface that will not crack or wash out.  Before your volleyball jersey is made it starts our as a digital image that is printed on paper using a sublimation machine. Then the paper is removed and sent through a heat-press machine along with the fabric that is mostly comprised of polyester. This process is a slow process that takes place under intense 400-degree heat. During this time the dye sub inks, water based inks, are lifted from the sheet and dyed into the fabric. After this process is finished the fabrics are sewed together to create your unique customized volleyball jersey.

Sublimated volleyball jerseys are the new way to make your own unique statement on the court. This new process gives you the chance to choose any color or image to personalize your team’s volleyball jerseys. With less cons and more pros, its leaves you with not only the best looking uniform on the court, but the smartest. Sublimation is giving your game and volleyball jersey no Limits! Tell us at 1^st Place Volleyball your thoughts on sublimated volleyball jerseys.

PROS: Never washes out, never cracks, any color or image, long lasting, no limits

CONS: May cause envy amongst opponents, random people may want pictures with you and you might catch yourself dancing in the mirror in your jersey

We carry Rox, Mizuno and Nike sublimated volleyball jerseys. Shop online or call us at 1.877.878.8327 for more information.

Off the Court:

1. She is the volleyball guru; knowing anything and everything from indoor and outdoor. Chances are you have seen her at a tournament or two.

2. Mel has a fun spirit and is most often in the best mood. This opens a lot of doors for the office staff. Mel has been known to endure a few pranks and in return isn’t shy of mastering a few of her own.

3. She has worked for 1st Place Volleyball in Sales for 3 years. Putting together a team package with custom volleyball jerseys, shoes, spandex, you name it-she can do it, all while finding you the best price.

On the Court:

1. Her passion lives on the sand and she can be seen on weekends playing in beach volleyball tournaments around Florida. She’s known for quickness, a nasty jump serve and court awareness that picks off her opponents offense.

2. She may be scary to block or hit against and will most likely not appear friendly but her spirit carries on while she’s playing. She’s as friendly and goofy as a new kid in school. Give her a high five and try throwing some chinese her way; she’s been pursuing learning a new language.

Sales Executive, Melissa Moore, at the 2012 AVCA Final Four Convention

Ankle braces are a wonderful way to protect yourself from this horrible injury. If you talk to your coach, doctor or athletic trainer, they will recommend ankle braces when practicing and playing on the court. Active Ankle and Mizuno Ankle Braces are the top-rated and most commonly used braces around. You can find great deals on both here. However, there are several simple exercises that you can do additionally to strengthen and prevent. Thanks to Active.com, we have listed a few. Perform these after your warm-up and stretching routine to gain the most benefit.

Balance Training:

Standing on one leg: Hold for 30 seconds, working up to one minute per leg.

Balance and catch: Standing on one leg, catch and throw a ball with a partner. Make certain to throw the ball right, left, high, low. Perform three sets of 30.

One leg mini squats: On one leg do a half squat with the opposite leg out front for 10 reps, out to the side for 10 reps and behind for 10 reps. Repeat three times.

Strengthening: The ankle can be strengthened in several ways. The first exercise uses thera-band for resisted range of motion. Thera-band can be purchased at a medical supply store. When performing the following exercises, place the band around the top of the foot and curl the toes at the end of the movement to work the internal muscles of the foot. Perform three sets of 20 in each direction.

Calf Raises: Calf raises should be done both seated and standing to strengthen both calf muscles and the Achilles tendon. Perform 3 sets of 20.

Scissor hops: Begin in a lunge position. Jump and switch feet in mid-air landing with the opposite foot forward.

Standing squat jumps: Begin in a quarter squat position. Jump from that position and land softly.

Bounding: On the toes, take large bounding steps in at about 50 percent of running maximum speed. One repetition should be about 50 feet.

THE BOTTOM LINE: This shoe is for players who want to standout on the court-with the game to back it up! The Asics Gel Flashpoint offers a unique look that will for sure get you noticed.

• Rearfoot and Forefoot  Gel Cushioning Systems
• Solyte Midsole Material
• NC Rubber Outsole
• Lightweight, weighing at 8.6 ounces

Be the first on the court with the Asics Gel Flashpoint volleyball shoe. It also comes in a Orange Flame/Neon Blue/Hot Pink.

Asics Gel Flashpoint Volleyball Shoe in Black/Neon Yellow/ Hot Pink

The Tandem Volleyball Pal is a useful volleyball equipment device that allows for hours of practice without the need of another person.

The bottom line:

The Tandem Volleyball Pal is a useful device that allows for hours of practice without the need of another person. It consists of a Velcro strap that secures around the waist, a neoprene pouch that holds the Volleyball, and an elastic cord connecting the waist strap to the ball pouch. The smooth action of the elastic cord guides the ball back to the player every time. Use the Volleyball Pal to practice serving tosses or arm swing technique without ever having to chase a ball! 1st Place Volleyball suggests this product for anyone who loves to practice for hours without needing another person and without having the inconventence of chancing shanked balls!

Reviews: 4.0 out of 5

1 Review | 100% of respondents would recommend this to a friend.

Tandem Volleyball Pal Review by 1st Place Volleyball

Pre-game is an exciting time for athletes and coaches alike. It’s the time when we finalize mental preparations, team build and prepare our bodies for the physical demands to come. Before your team hits the court it’s important to warm up our muscles. We spoke with sports performance specialist, Barry Lovelace with Athlete Training Academy, and asked his take on this subject. This is what he had to say:

Warming up is very important. Often coaches and players alike don’t like to take the time to warm up and I can’t stress enough how much I disagree with that. Entering a volleyball game with warm, flexible muscles is not only important for injury prevention but it’s also a  way of alerting our bodies that there is work ahead.

The following is a simple and highly effective way to warm up your team that is also very time efficient. Go from one exercise to the next with no break in between.

1) Jog – Start out with a nice, easy jog. Keep with this for about 2 minutes.

2) High Knee Skip- Skip forward and as you do, drive your knee upward toward your chest with each skip. Use a full-range, exaggerated arm action; the opposite arm comes forward and up with each skip. Keep with this for a minute or two.

3) Butt Kick – Run forward and attempt to touch your butt with your heels. Thighs should be perpendicular to the floor. Lean your upper body slightly forward.

4) Lateral Shuffle – Move laterally (sideways) to the right by stepping out to the side with your right foot and then bringing your left foot to meet your right foot without crossing your feet. Keep your body square and do not twist. Upper body should lean slightly forward. Move to the right for ten shuffles and then to the left for 10 shuffles. Repeat 4-5 times.

5) Lateral Lunge – Take a big step out to the right side, lowering your hips and bending your right knee until the thigh is near parallel to the floor. Keep the left leg as straight as possible. Step your left leg in to meet your right leg. That is 1 lateral lunge. Do 10 to the right and 10 to the left.

6) Shoulders Front Raise – Stand with feet hip distance apart holding volleyball in both hands, arms straight down, ball against thighs. Use your shoulders to raise the ball to just above forehead height keeping the arms straight the entire time. Lower back down to starting position. Do 20 repetitions.

7) Raise and Slam – Perform shoulder raise as above. Begin to move arms back down and when arms are just past hip height release ball to the ground. Do 12 at half speed (simply releasing the ball down to the ground) and 12 at full speed (slamming the ball to the ground).

There you have it. A complete and total body warm-up that will prepare your volleyball player for the game ahead.

For more information on Barry Lovelace and Sport Specific Training, email him directly at Barry@Training4YourSport.com