Reader L.A. asks, What’s the deal with the Goghers’ sleeveless jerseys? I thought volleyball players always wore long sleeves. And what’s the history behind that?
JOHN: I don’t know what inspired the new look. I assume that Coach McCutcheon allows the players to make team-decisions about uniforms. Volleyball players often wear long sleeves for additional ball control; I insisted on it when I was coaching teenage girls.
Maximum “control” is achieved with open hands, as in an overhand set. A few world-class ball-handlers can do this at their waist, but for most of us, handling a ball below our shoulders with open hands is going to draw a whistle for “catching” the ball. So for most of us, playing a ball below our shoulders without drawing a whistle requires a body part other than open hands.
As a Geezer with minimal body control, I often use a fist or the back of a hand, but the preferred method (that you see watching the Gophs) is to use two upturned forearms forming sort of a cradle – which creates a softer “bump,” and more easily controlled, pass, than what I get with my fist. (If you fail to get your elbows in, the ball will hit bone and likely fly out of bounds.) And long sleeves provide just a slightly softer cradle.
Middles Pittman and Rubright, and left-side hitter Landfair, play only front-row, never back (except that Pittman serves), so they rarely bump. And Shaffmaster is our setter – she’s the last person we want handling the first touch. So these four have little need for long sleeves – and maybe they like to show off their biceps.
The other four, libero McGraw, D.S. Kilkelly, and 6-rotation players Samedy and Rollins, take about 99% of the serve-recieves, and most of the spike-digs as well, bumping hundreds of balls per match. And if you noticed, they all wore long “sleeves” with their “sleeveless” jerseys.
Exactly why? I couldn’t say. A fashion statement? Anyone?