A recent post that convinced me to do a discussion on volleyball popularity worldwide Come share your thoughts

Question

Ok, this is NOT meant to knock any sports. I love many sports, but I need to make a point.

Many people think that soccer is the most popular sport worldwide. Many people here in the U.S. think that volleyball is not a popular sport. Here is something to consider though:

There are 208 national federations affiliated with FIFA.

There are 219 national federations affiliated with FIVB.

Those are the two international federations for their sports. As you can see, volleyball actually has more affiliated countries.

I am not saying volleyball is the most popular sport in the world (although it may be). I am saying that it is one of the most popular sports.

People in the U.S. often think that the most popular sports are the sports that are popular here, but that is false. Table-tennis (or ping-pong) is also one of the most popular.

Ok here are my questions:

1. Do you agree with me on this or not? Why?

2. What should be done to raise the popularity of volleyball in the States?

Answer 1

I think it would be amazing to have a national vball league like the NFL or the MLB not just the AVP beach volleyball but a NVL and show game on tv think they do for other professional sports!

Answer 2

I'm a huge American football fan and baseball is also something I grew up on. Basketball, not so much, but if I did not have the experience I have with Volleyball, I would say that all three of these sports are great to watch.

Volleyball just isn't a sport that most American's like to watch. Our country also has the idea that volleyball is reserved for family, company, and church picnics and should only be played in jeans and after 4 drinks.

I've often been asked to play at picnics and they say something like, "Let's get (my name) to play, he coaches volleyball. He'll want to play!"

I usually decline and when they ask why, I usually tell them that I simply don't want to get hurt and I simply can't play volleyball for what they consider "fun" while ignoring the rules and basic etiquette of the game. They usually give me a funny look and walk away, but then I see that I made a good decision and someone usually gets hurt and I see about 10 people touch the net and "spike" with both hands and taking 1 to 2 hits per side. Being quiet and playing anyway used to p**s me off, now I just decline and help BBQ.

People that don't know volleyball call me elitist. But I tell them that volleyball is a team sport and you can't have fun if you know what you are doing, playing with people that have no idea what they are doing. It's not easy to play, like basketball. (This usually gets a few guys to challenge me to a basketball game. :) )

They simply do not take the game seriously in the States. They truly feel that anyone can play it "out of the box" and it requires zero skill.

With all that said. This is getting better. many people are growing up with kids who play the sport at the high school level or they have grown to play  on their own and they know exactly what I'm talking about. I actually know more people that play volleyball now than not. That may be because I chose to surround myself with volleyball players, fans, and coaches, or it could really be getting better. Time will tell.

The way to change it is to simply teach the young. If you get young people in elementary school introduced to the sport, especially boys, they will be less inclined to call it a sissy sport. In recent years, volleyball is only available to girls in elementary school and middle school. By the time boys get to high school, they have already been conditioned that volleyball is for girls. Can you blame them?

Answer 3

1. I agree 100% percent with you...I am from Canada but this still applies the same to us as the U.S...most people in Canada think that hockey is  a very popular sport, but in reality no South American countries play, very very few asian teams play so that takes so many countries out of the count. So i agree with you about what you said.

2. Volleyball is popular in Canada, more so then the U.S.. This is especially in effect with mens volleyball...in Canada there are so many highschool teams the provincial (or state for the U.S.) championships are televised as is university volleyball. While in the States there is very little mens volleyball until you get into California or other areas, but it is not widely popular for mens, and i know this because i play university volleyball and we can't find any mens university teams to play in the northern States. I think with such major publisized sports like mens football, basketball, and baseball in the States young men are not raised to play volleyball they are raised to play these sports, it would take a radical social change would have to take place for volleyball (specifically mens volleyball) to become as popular as other countries...but i don't see that happening any time soon which is really too bad because it is a very entertaining sport to play and watch!!!

Very good question post

Answer 4

Thank you so much.. i think i am familiar with the recent post you're referring to. It was very insulting, and i'm glad to see this question come up.

1. Yes, i definately agree with you! I imagine soccer is a very popular sport.. in fact, i know it is. But that doesn't mean that volleyball isn't either! Volleyball is an active sport in most high schools, YMCA's, Colleges/Universities, and i'm sure many more! Now i am certainly not saying that soccer isn't in any of these places, because i know they are! But i am saying that so is volleyball!

2. I'm sure volleyball is also popular in the United States (i'm from Canada). But to increase it, i think it needs to become more media centered. Just like hockey, soccer, baseball, football, basketball, and other sports, i think it should be televised. Not just random beach volleyball tournaments, but collegiate levels, as well! I think if people learned about the sport and got to see it, it would be more popular!

Answer 5

1. Totally. More people will be able to play vball for the rest of their lives, whereas soccer you can only play for a few years w/o killing one of your muscles/bones ;)

2. Get more beach/sand vball leagues. That's my fave way to play vball, b/c of only having to deal w/ one other person, and I'm sure tons of guys would be attracted to playing it b/c of the whole playing in swimsuits deal

Answer 6

I think that the Usa should make an league for both men and women. a while ago I asked why there wasn't a league for proffesional womens vb, and most people said because theres not a mens league to back it up. If there was a league for men, and a league for women, it would increase popularity of the sport in the u.s, and make it less uncommon to find a all boys vb team.

Answer 7

I live in New Zealand (down south in the South Island, bottom of that too...), in Dunedin, and decades ago when I started, it was pretty popular as a social sport and in recent years it has declined a lot in numbers here (before when beach volleyball was not heard of, and it lacked more of a profile than now, somehow it was very popular...).

I do think that social volleyball is a great fun sport - for anyone - because it does not involved running along all the time, as in a lot of sports - you do not have to be all that fit to play at first, and it has a lot going for it.. as far as the fun factor goes.  If it can be emphasized that the volleyball ought to be "soft" and not hard (due to too much air pressure being used) - I think it would be even more popular.  I am dead tired of the rock-hard volleyballs, that teams think are the 'norm' to use... which injure fingers, wrecking them...  There is something truly unique to volleyball, due to many signature moves you can invent yourself, during play...

I also play and enjoy Table Tennis - this is much more dynamic than most people realise?  Players these days can play far from the Table - not only defensively from a 'smash' but also be attacking as well.  It should be very popular too because you don't have to be 'fit' to start in this enjoyable game.  But volleyball is overall - more fun than Table Tennis...

I do think people should participate in sport - instead of just "watching" it.  It is way more fun and better for your health, etc etc.  I am not a regular sports watcher at all, and only when the Olympics is on, that I may watch quite a bit then...

Answer 8

I'm Italian...and here in Italy I've seen American players as Lindsay Berg, Ogonna Nnamani, Scott, stacy sykora, logan tom....here in italy they've been absolutely famous and stronge!!

sensation from here was that in USA volleyball was popular and famous cause the team which represents you is one of the Best in the world...(for the moment is italy..ahaha) and i couldn't think that it has not the right consideration!!

but from your words i think that usa live the same situation of italy...it will be always a "second" sport..never the first...

can i tell you the reason in my opinion??...

money...cause volleyball it's a wonderful, clear world..but not so rich...so television, media in general have the attitude to favourish the sport which can give  them the best opportunity of profit!!

hope that in the next Olympic game USA will have a good performance...cause if it was not so...celebrity of this sport will remain the same

Answer 9

I live in Canada and my perspective is that it is popular as far as being a participation sport. However, the lack of a professional league hinders exposure and therefore interest. Developing a North American pro league would definately help. One thing that has helped in my city is the fact that our national team trains here. This allows the people that are here to be exposed to high level volleyball. The national team will also travel around to other cities, but I know it's biggest effect is here.