Calories Burned
A traditional game of volleyball will burn nearly 300 calories per hour for a 160-pound person, according to MayoClinic.com. However, the type of volleyball match you play determines the amount of calories you burn in this sport. For example, a typical high school volleyball game, with six players on the court per team, requires you to run less and hit the ball less than a doubles game of beach volleyball. Only two per team play at a time in beach volleyball, causing each player to work harder to cover his area behind the net. Typically, the fewer players participating in a game will help you to burn more calories.
Muscle Development
Playing volleyball develops multiple muscle groups within your body. Running and squatting to bump the ball with your forearms, commonly called a forearm pass, develops muscles in your lower body. Setting and spiking the ball builds muscle in your upper body. For example, an overhand serve works the muscles of your shoulders, upper arms and abdomen.
Endurance
A good volleyball player continuously covers his area by running, squatting, diving, blocking and hitting. Consistently practicing this sport builds physical endurance so you can go an entire match without fatiguing easily. The more often you play and the longer you play, the more your endurance increases to help you carry out all aerobic activities.
Reflexes and Hand-Eye Coordination
During a fast-paced volleyball match, players consistently predict where the opposition will hit the ball next. As soon as you see an opponent set up to strike the ball, your mind races through your possible responses to effectively return a shot. This sequence improves your instinctive reflexes, as well as your hand-eye coordination, helping you incorporate body movements more quickly.
