It’s the sport Goldilocks might have chosen to play—not too rough, not too niche, plays just about anywhere. Here’s why volleyball’s popularity and participation are sky-high (and still rising).
Low gear, huge reach.
One ball plus a makeshift net, and you’re in business—indoors, beach, grass, school gyms. The FIVB now counts 222 national federations and cites 800M+ fans worldwide. Big doorway, easy entry. (FIVB)
Formats for everybody.
Indoor, beach, grass—and sitting volleyball for para-athletes, played by 10,000–15,000 athletes across 75–80+ countries. Accessibility plus inclusivity equals participation. (World ParaVolley)
A school-to-lifelong pipeline.
In the US, high-school numbers keep popping (girls’ volleyball is a powerhouse sport by participation). Big school ecosystems fuel adult rec leagues later on. In the Philippines? Let’s just say street ball might not refer to hoops exclusively anymore. (nfhs.org)
There’s always a season somewhere.
Between indoor national-team windows and the Beach Pro Tour (a record 98 world-level tournaments in 2024!), the calendar keeps people playing. And also keeps fans heading to venues. (FIVB)
It’s a non-contact sport.
Did you know that Nebraska’s “Volleyball Day” drew 92,003 fans—a world record for a women’s sporting event—and made half the state want to try a pepper drill? You may ask: So? And we’ll tell you: We don’t know either. Anyway, volleyball is not contact and parents are not as apprehensive as they would be if their kid got into basketball. Or boxing. Or, sometimes, both. (AP News, PMC)
Follow Inquirer Sports’ coverage of the FIVB Volleyball Men’s World Championship on our website and social media accounts (X, Facebook and Instagram).
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