beach volleyball

[power puff girl]

i was flipping through the channels and came across a game of televised beach volleyball.

what i found really offensive was that they forced the women to wear those skimpy 2 pieces to increase the interest of horny men. that seemed to be more important than celebrating the grace and athleticism of these women. the things they were wearing were obviously very annoying and uncomfortable. one of the players kept tugging on the bottom piece. its like asking women to play in high heels.

[moJo]

Originally Posted by power puff girl

what i found really offensive was that they forced the women to wear those skimpy 2 pieces to increase the interest of horny men. that seemed to be more important than celebrating the grace and athleticism of these women. the things they were wearing were obviously very annoying and uncomfortable. one of the players kept tugging on the bottom piece. its like asking women to play in high heels.

who is forcing them to wear the skimpy two-piece swimsuits?

i play volleyball, and it gets hot, especially when you're playing outdoors (and especially on hot sand with blazing hot sun). it's simply easier to move around in less clothing. i've played in a sports bra (which is pretty much the same as a swimsuit top) because it's less constricting and because of the heat. i've also played beach vball in a swimsuit before because i'm at the beach and uhm...that's what you wear at the beach. swimsuit bottoms are better than wearing underwear + shorts because of the above reasons i've already mentioned and sand gets stuck so you might as well deal with tugging at only one piece of clothing.

besides, aside from gabrielle reece who i think has since retired, none of the female players right now exactly ooze sex appeal, and none of them are particularly attractive. they don't look like the characters in the beach volleyball videogames, hehe.

[yoMAMA]

beach volleyball is gross.

and I'm a guy.

:p

[Faithless]

That's an interesting perspective.

I'll admit to flipping through the channels, only to stop at station showing women's beach volleyball. Yeah the outfits probably add to the appeal.

But they really do play well. And I watch it for a few minutes more for the athleticism. But then I continue flipping because I realize that the 2004 Texas Hold 'em championship is on again for the umpteenth time.

What I don't get is all that exposure to the sun. I hear Mojo's argument about getting all hot, but the sun must be doing some damage over the course of a year or more.

[hooligan]

Actually, I heard that the regulation uniform is a two piece back from the one piece swim suits. I don't know if that's true, but that's from my understanding and talking with people.

[moJo]

http://www.usoc.org/11624_36418.htm
Misty May and Kerri Walsh, the best women's double team

WWD: Do you think the bikini comments are dying down?

May: People have realized that the players are really athletic and it's not just about the bikinis. My simple answer is that this is what is comfortable to play in.

Walsh: I think more people know what beach volleyball is about and there aren't as many comments. It's really a functional thing. You can't wear one-pieces in this sport. They just get in the way.

http://www.avp.com/newsroom/newsroom...il.jsp?id=2121

DI and JS,

I certainly don't doubt your intent here. Our "uniforms" are always a topic of debate. I can't really speak for the men and what they deem comfortable. (I don't think many of them are out there in tank tops, though).

As far as a dress code, the AVP requires that each team wear matching bathing suits. They don't have to be exact, but the colors should be close. The AVP management prefers to have us in bathing suits, but they are super lenient when it comes to bad weather.

Once you get used to it, bikinis are very comfortable to play in. It does take some research (trial and error) to find the best style and fit. I have witnessed and experienced a wardrobe malfunction with the top of a bikini. One time is all it takes to make sure it never happens again.

Thanks,
Nancy

Imagine trying to dig sand out of your chest area by way of your crotch when wearing a one-piece.

[hooligan]

Just wondering, but is it a choice?

[nola]

It seems more functional to wear the skimpy two pieces. Imagine the ability to move around with less obstruction.

[hooligan]

Originally Posted by nola

It seems more functional to wear the skimpy two pieces. Imagine the ability to move around with less obstruction.

I agree, I'm just wondering if anyone knows if it's regulated that it needs to be a two-piece suit, who changed it from a one-piece and what the rules were before it was changed?

[moJo]

i have no idea, but from the avp link states that they're required to wear matching swimsuits (but more if neccesary due to weather). it wasn't specified one or two-piece. *shrug* i'll ask around.

[TB4000]

Originally Posted by nola

It seems more functional to wear the skimpy two pieces. Imagine the ability to move around with less obstruction.

Actually, that's the same argument comic and video game creators use when asked why their women are decked out in next to nothing. Though those beach volleyball bottoms do ride up their asses quite a bit.

[Faithless]

Originally Posted by moJo

i have no idea, but from the avp link states that they're required to wear matching swimsuits (but more if neccesary due to weather). it wasn't specified one or two-piece. *shrug* i'll ask around.

But the outfits could be matching shorts and tanktop, perhaps, too?

[moJo]

Originally Posted by ChottoMatte

But the outfits could be matching shorts and tanktop, perhaps, too?

sure, you could, right? but it makes more sense to wear a swimsuit. if you wear shorts, you gotta wear underwear too. if you wear a tank top, you gotta wear a swimsuit top or a sports bra. getting sand trapped under two layers of clothing is really annoying. plus, with the heat from the sun and the sand, why wear extra layers?

besides, since the sport is beach volleyball, wouldn't wearing a swimsuit make sense?

(am i missing the point of your question?)

[Faithless]

Originally Posted by moJo

sure, you could, right? but it makes more sense to wear a swimsuit. if you wear shorts, you gotta wear underwear too. if you wear a tank top, you gotta wear a swimsuit top or a sports bra. getting sand trapped under two layers of clothing is really annoying. plus, with the heat from the sun and the sand, why wear extra layers?

besides, since the sport is beach volleyball, wouldn't wearing a swimsuit make sense?

(am i missing the point of your question?)

Nope. You make perfect sense.

Maybe the problem with the issue in the first post is that people should just get used to the swimsuit outfits and not drool-over or get all "old bitty like" over the look.

Afterall, if the sport was really just to showoff girls jiggling around it would be very obvious and would be a joke.

But after you watch it and realize that these women can slam that damn ball like monsters, as well as, set and spike serve, and all that other stuff, then you're paying attention to the sport the right way.

[A.R.A.M.]

Originally Posted by ChottoMatte

That's an interesting perspective.

I'll admit to flipping through the channels, only to stop at station showing women's beach volleyball. Yeah the outfits probably add to the appeal.

But they really do play well. And I watch it for a few minutes more for the athleticism. But then I continue flipping because I realize that the 2004 Texas Hold 'em championship is on again for the umpteenth time.

What I don't get is all that exposure to the sun. I hear Mojo's argument about getting all hot, but the sun must be doing some damage over the course of a year or more.

Since you only stumbled upon the volleyball tournament during the middle of the competition, you missed the players applying sun screen at the beginning. The application of sun screen is a pre-game ritual in which the female players from both teams get together and rub each other down, making sure to reach all the nooks and crannies.

However, by forcing the players into a girl on girl on girl on girl rubdown, I fear that the positive message of the importance of sun protection is overshadowed by the activity's lewdness and blatant exploitation of women. In fact, I find this pre-game ritual more offensive than the bikinis the women are forced to wear.