Tryouts!!
That one word carries so much weight, doesn’t it?
The pressure. The anticipation. The fear of not being good enough.
You step onto the court, the smell of fresh rubber lingering in the air. Your heart pounds, adrenaline surging through your veins. This is it. The moment you’ve been waiting for – volleyball tryouts.
But wait— what to wear for volleyball tryouts?
Relax. I’ve got you covered.
The key? Comfort. Freedom. Movement. Breathability.

You need threads that move with you, not against you. Clothes that wick away sweat, keeping you cool and focused. Attires that won’t hold you back, no matter how intense the rally gets. So, without further ado, let’s dive right into it.
Volleyball Tryouts: The Basics

Before knowing what to wear for volleyball tryouts, you should know what to expect there. So, for those of you who are clueless as to what to expect in a volleyball tryout— here is the deal.
During a tryout, the coaches will check and assess the physical abilities, skills, and potential contributions of a player to the team. The following are the things that are involved in a typical tryout:
Assessing Skills

This is when you have to demonstrate your basic volleyball skills such as passing, serving, hitting, and setting. The coaches will carefully evaluate your accuracy, consistency and technique.
With skill assessment, the coaches usually differentiate the contenders from the pretenders. If you haven’t mastered these skills already, then it’s time you start honing them before the tryout.
Testing Fitness

If you’re not fit, then you’re not making the team. The quicker you drill this into your mind the better. Coaches never settle for unfit players. Therefore, most of the time, they test the physical prowess and fitness of contenders through agility drills, vertical jump measurements, sprints, and etc.
A fitness assessment lets the coaches know the physical potential of a player like how fast they can move, how far they can jump and much more.
Real-time Assessment

Practicing passing and actually doing it in a game is the polar opposite. You might think it’s the same, and if you can ace it in the training sessions, why can’t you do the same in the game? But trust me, when pressure hits you, even the smallest challenges appear impossible.
Anyways, coaches often prefer to put players/contenders in game-like situations. They expect to evaluate the players’ skill execution under pressure, court awareness, decision-making, and communication in real-time scenarios.
Attitude and Coachability
More often than not, coaches prefer positive players with a want-to-learn attitude. You’ll be surprised to know how often coaches give the spots to players with good behavior instead of players with superior skills.
So, bringing a positive mental attitude in the tryouts can help your cause significantly. Making a lot of noise, cheering and encouraging your team members can put you in the good books of the coach.
Additionally, coaches prefer players who listen to their advice and bring a want-to-learn and need-to-exceed mentality. Remember, nobody wants a disrespectful player in their team, so always be respectful towards the coaches.
Positional Assessment

Not everyone can play the same role. Some are better as hitters, some are as setters, whereas some play better as liberos.
During tryouts, coaches might evaluate your skills as a setter, libero, or hitter and make a decision according to it. So, you won’t have to master all the positions to get selected in a team but a position that you best know and best capable of playing.
Physical Evaluation

This happens very rarely but sometimes coaches check or measure physical attributes of players such as height, wingspan, etc. It is usually to determine if the player is capable of the sport and what position would they be better for.
Nobody gets a second chance at first impressions. So, if you’re not at your best in a tryout, then you lose your chance to get selected. Giving your all doesn’t necessarily depend on your skills and physical prowess. Sometimes, it depends on how well you are dressed for the occasion.
Remember, the better you choose your attire, the better you’ll perform on the court and, obviously, the more professional you’ll look.
What to Wear for Volleyball Tryouts Men

Dress your best—this is what I always recommend to players who go for a tryout. Here, ‘best’ doesn’t imply shiny or fashionable but what makes you comfy and lets you dish out your peak performance.
So, here is what I suggest male players wear in volleyball tryouts.
The Top
You should wear a T-shirt with or without short sleeves. Make sure it is close or form-fitting and not baggy. The shirt you’re wearing shouldn’t stretch down to your lower thighs or knees. Make sure it fits properly and snugly. Also, see if you can move comfortably with the shirt.
I know most people prefer to wear cotton, but it’s not the ideal material for volleyball. So, look for tops that are breathable and come with moisture-wicking capabilities. Synthetic fiber is a good option for volleyball tryouts.
Tip: Wear a bright color t-shirt to stand out on the court and make yourself more visible in front of the coaches.
The Bottom
Choose a close-fitting short which is breathable but not baggy at the same time. Male players don’t wear spandex like female players, and it’s because of how their thighs are built.
Anyways, select shorts that are snug and comfortable to move around. Ensure it’s not too baggy, like gym shorts. Also, make sure it doesn’t slide up or down during practice sessions.
Shoes
Any pair of running or workout shoes with good arch support will do the job. However, if you’re serious about the sport and want to make it on the team, then things are different, and my advice would be to look into the best volleyball shoes on the market.
If you have a position in mind, then make sure to get a shoe for that specific position. There are individual volleyball shoes for hitters, liberos, and setters.
Socks
Aim for comfortable socks. The height really doesn’t matter here, so I’ll leave it up to your preference. Make sure to avoid cotton socks as it will take time to dry; instead, look for socks made up of synthetic fibre or acrylic.
Additional Accessories and Gears
I believe you might have seen players without knee pads in a volleyball match, but most of the players who don’t wear or need them know how to adjust their dives and falls.
If you’re concerned about your knees and don’t want to risk injury, then I would suggest you take a pair of knee pads. As it’s a tryout, it’s better to be safe than sorry. Even if you don’t wear them, bring it along to the tryout for safe measures.
You might also want to bring a pair of ankle braces, especially if you have sprained your leg before or are prone to spraining. The best ankle braces won’t hinder your movement in the game and protect you from injuring yourself severely.
What to Wear for Volleyball Tryouts Female

Did you know that, in the US, 78.1% of all the volleyball players are women and only 21.9% are men. The stat proves that women are more into the game. Hence, the competition is also fiercer for female players than men.
All of these facts conclude only one thing—it’s even more important for female players to dress and prepare themselves perfectly for a tryout as the competition is sure to be intense. So, this is my attire suggestion to women looking to ace their volleyball tryouts.
The Top
Before choosing a top, you have to choose a brassiere. Avoid a regular brassiere with an underwire. It will not be able to give you the support required for the movements and dives necessary in a volleyball game.
So, your only option is to stick to sports bras. These brassieres come in different styles, such as front-fastening and racerback, to control the compression level. Choose the one that best suits your needs; just make sure to give it a trial run before wearing it to the tryout.
As for the top, wear a brightly colored form-fitting shirt instead of a baggy one. A baggy t-shirt will restrict and limit your movement in the court. So, select a close-fitting shirt, but ensure it’s lengthy enough to cover your stomach. Also, it shouldn’t be so long that it hangs down over your thighs.
Some women wear tank tops for the game, but the choice of wearing a tank top, half-sleeved, full-sleeved or sleeveless shirts depends on your preference and the rules of the institution. Avoid cotton clothes as they take time to dry. Go for shirts made up of spandex or nylon.
The Bottom
Spandex is the best choice when it comes to volleyball shorts for women. It gives you the snug fit and comfort you need to pounce around the field. Make sure to vet your spandex short with the squat test. It means to squat as deep as possible and then jump to a standing position.
Check if the shorts are riding up or down and if you feel comfortable moving around with them.
If you don’t have spandex, then you can attend tryouts with regular gym shorts as long as they are comfortable and don’t limit your movement. Once again, if you have religious restrictions, you can wear long form-fitting pants.
Shoes
Any type of running or training shoes should do the trick but if you want to leave a lasting impression and increase your chances of getting selected in the team, then it’s ideal to go with a pair of top-notch volleyball kicks for women.
Depending on the type of your feet, you can also shop for volleyball kicks for wide feet or flat feet.
Socks
Some say socks don’t matter much in a volleyball game but don’t believe them. Make sure to wear the socks you feel most comfortable in. The sock height isn’t an issue till it’s above the ankle. I won’t recommend ankle socks as it can slip down and distract you in the middle of the game.
Look for features like moisture-wicking, built-in arch support, and blister control when getting a pair of socks.
Additional Accessories and Gears
My advice to the female players is the same. If you don’t want to risk injuries, then grab a pair of knee pads. The best knee pads are sure to keep you safe from harm’s way and at the same time let you move on the court freely.
Tip: Tie your hair back using a band. If you have short hair, then use a band, clips, or spray to keep it coming in front of your face during the game.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are the answers to some of the most asked questions about what to wear for volleyball tryouts.
Can I Wear Jewellery During Volleyball Tryouts?
No, you shouldn’t wear any jewelry during the tryouts, as it can hurt you or someone else on the court.
What Should I Pack in My Bag for Volleyball Tryouts?
Pack the clothes you’re going to wear and the shoes, socks, knee pads, and ankle braces. You might want to take a water bottle and a pain relief spray, just in case.
How can I stand out to coaches during volleyball tryouts?
Wear bright colour tops and make a lot of noise by cheering and encouraging your team members. Be open to advice, attentive, confident, and respectful towards the coaches.
Time to Bring Your A-Game to the Field
Knowing what to wear for volleyball tryouts can significantly increase your chances of making a team.
See, it’s simple logic—the better you dress and prepare yourself, the better you can perform in the field. The better you perform, the greater the chances of coaches taking note of your potential.
Anyway, stick to the attire options I’ve suggested. Remember, the keyword here is ‘comfort,’ so don’t wear anything that makes you comfortable on the court.
With that said, it’s time to use everything you learned here on the field. Good Luck!