What Clothes to Actually Buy for Your Middle School Volleyball Player: A Parent’s Practical Guide
Last Saturday, I stood in the back of Target’s athletic wear aisle, my 7th grader Lila propped against a display of neon water bottles, scrolling TikTok while she complained. She’d made the school volleyball team two days before, and the email from coach had a very clear list of required clothing: navy athletic shorts, plain white tee, knee pads, closed-toe shoes. None of that was cutting it for Lila.
“All the other 8th graders wear high-waisted spandex,” she said, zooming in on a video of a team warming up. “These baggy navy ones you’re holding look like dad’s old gym shorts. Coach won’t care, but I’ll be the only one who looks weird.”
I sighed, checking the price tag on the spandex she was pointing at. Fifty dollars for a single pair of shorts? That felt crazy for something she’d outgrow by next spring. I’d already bought her school supplies and new sneakers, and I was this close to telling her to just deal with the shorts on the list. That’s what I would have done a year ago, told her clothes don’t matter, that she’s there to play volleyball not model. But I’d been through enough middle school awkwardness with my older kid to know better than to brush that comment off.
We ended up leaving Target that day with a pair of mid-range spandex from the store brand, a new moisture-wicking tee, and a trip to Dick’s to try on knee pads. After one full season of running to practices and ordering last-minute replacements, I’ve learned that the list coach sends home is a starting point, not a rulebook, and there are small, low-fuss choices that make a huge difference for a kid who’s just starting out on the team.
The first mistake I made was with Lila’s first practice shirt. I grabbed a 100% cotton plain white tee from our closet, free, no extra cost, and sent her on her way. She came home two hours later, wringing out the bottom of the shirt, complaining it was so heavy it was pulling her down. Gyms are humid, even with the AC on, and cotton absorbs every drop of sweat. It stays wet, it sticks, and it’s miserable for two hours of running drills. You don’t need a $30 name brand tee, even the $8 moisture-wicking ones from Target or a 3-pack from Amazon work just fine. If your kid gets cold easily (most middle school gyms are kept freezing for some reason), add a slim-fit long-sleeve moisture-wicking undershirt. Just skip the hoodies—most coaches don’t allow them anyway, because the drawstrings can get caught on the net or another player’s arm.
For shorts, this is where most parents get stuck between the school’s generic list and what your kid actually wants to wear. Middle schoolers are at that age where self-consciousness is at an all-time high, and feeling out of place can make a kid want to quit the team before they even give it a chance. The rule of thumb I landed on: as long as it fits the dress code (no inappropriate logos, length is within what the school allows), let them pick the cut that feels comfortable. If they hate spandex, there are lightweight volleyball-specific board shorts that aren’t baggy enough to drag or get in the way when you dive. If they want high-waisted spandex like all their teammates, that’s fine too—they actually stay up better than low-rise anyway, so it’s a practical pick, not just a trend. You don’t need name brand here; I’ve had just as much luck with $15 Old Navy pairs as I did with the $40 Nike ones my niece handed down. They wash well, and you won’t cry when they get grass stains on them at an away game.
Knee pads are another place where the school’s default isn’t always the best. Most schools sell bulk knee pads at the start of the season for cheap, but they’re bulky, slide down, and bunch when you kneel. Instead, take 10 minutes to go to a local sporting goods store and have your kid try a few pairs on. Have them kneel and bend over to check if they stay put. Slim-fit medium-density knee pads work perfectly for middle school play—they’re not too bulky to move in, and they protect knees well enough for the level of play most kids are at. They cost about $20 to $30, which is worth it to not have your kid yanking their knee pads up every five minutes during practice.
The tiny thing no one tells you about is socks. I sent Lila to her first practice with regular cotton ankle socks, and she came home with two big blisters on her heels. The cotton slips inside your shoe when you’re running back and forth, and the friction causes blisters before halftime. A $10 3-pack of no-show moisture-wicking socks with a rubber grip on the heel fixes this entirely. They don’t slip, they don’t bunch, and they’re thin enough to fit well in volleyball shoes. For shoes, you don’t need to drop $100 on specialty volleyball shoes if that’s not in your budget. Non-marking soled running shoes work fine for the first half of the season, and if your kid sticks with it, you can upgrade later.
I used to think caring this much about volleyball clothes was just silly teen vanity. But middle school is all about figuring out how to belong in a new, bigger world. If your kid is spending all practice worrying that their shorts are too baggy or their shirt is sticking to them, they’re not paying attention to coach’s instructions or having fun learning the game. It doesn’t take a huge budget to get it right, and it doesn’t mean giving in to every expensive trend. It just means checking the rules, letting your kid weigh in, and picking practical pieces that work for their needs.
This weekend, we’re going shopping again. Lila grew two inches over the last three months, and her first pair of spandex is already too short. She wants a new pair with a tiny butterfly logo on the hip this time, and as long as it fits the dress code, I’m not going to argue. It’s just a pair of shorts, but for her, it’s one small thing that makes showing up to practice feel a little easier.
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