The Complete Guide to Volleyball
The honest, no-nonsense guide to volleyball for complete beginners—what it really costs, what you really need, and how to actually start playing this week
by Alumigogo Books
non-fiction
Thinking about volleyball but don't know where to start? Get the real costs, gear, and first steps from a friendly veteran—no jargon, no sales pitch.
About this book
You've seen volleyball on TV or at a park and thought, that looks fun. But then come the questions: Do I need to be tall? What gear do I actually need, and how much will it set me back? Am I too out of shape? Where on earth do I even go to play as an adult beginner? This guide was written for you—the curious person standing at the edge of the court, not the seasoned pro.
The Complete Guide to Volleyball is a plain-English, highly practical handbook. You'll learn the three core types of play (indoor, beach, and grass), what a typical casual session actually feels like from warm-up to 'last point wins, we're soaked', and exactly what to buy at three budget tiers—from nothing but a water bottle all the way to good-quality indoor shoes that protect your knees. We walk you through a detailed first-month checklist, a blow-by-blow narrative of a typical session, and honest signs that this hobby might not fit your life right now (and that's okay).
Written by someone who spent a decade navigating rec leagues, shin-splints, and the joy of a perfectly executed set, this is the book I wish I'd had before my first pickup game. It will not tell you to 'follow your passion' or 'just dive in'. It will tell you what to wear, who to talk to, and how to fake confidence your first time on the court. After reading, you'll be able to make a clear, informed decision—whether that's buying your first ball or smartly deciding to wait a season. Either way, you'll know exactly what you're getting into.
Reader Reviews
Charles Brown
★★★★★I'm a 42-year-old guy who hasn't touched a ball since gym class in the 90s. This guide is exactly the realistic kick in the pants I needed. The cost tables are spot-honest (I ended up spending about $70 on the starter kit), and the 'typical session' chapter made me realize I'd be more tired than I expected. I appreciate that one of the chapters flat-out lists reasons NOT to start yet. It's a little too wordy in the first chapter for my taste, but the practical checklists are worth the price alone. Not a poetry book, but a damn useful manual.
Linda Rivera
★★★★★As a total beginner with zero friends who play, I was lost. The chapters on where to actually find a game and what to do in the first week were invaluable—the tip about just emailing your local rec center wasn't in any YouTube video I watched. I knocked a star off because it occasionally feels like a physical book-length lesson from an over-excited uncle, and I wanted a bit more info on beach volleyball specifically. But honestly, the cost breakdown in Chapter 4 saved me from over-buying gear I don't need. I'm three weeks in now, and this guide got me there.
Jason Torres
★★★★★I bought this because I was curious but terrified of being the useless fat guy on the court. It did give me a realistic picture of the fitness level needed, which is a lot less than I feared, and the self-assessment checklist made me realize I had the patience for the learning curve. It's not a high-intensity athletic manual, and the chapter on becoming 'serious' felt a bit optimistic for a hobby, but that's not why I bought it. The first-session narrative is painfully accurate and gave me the confidence to just show up at a park game. Definitely a solid buy for the genuinely ambivalent.