Does Volleyball Make You Taller?

Every September, like clockwork, I start getting the same question from students—and sometimes even their parents: “Does playing volleyball make you taller?” It’s a fair question. You’ve got teens, especially in middle and high school, chasing height like it’s the Holy Grail. I’ve been there—I coached JV volleyball for a few seasons and trust me, I’ve heard every version of “Will this help me grow?” you can imagine.

Now, volleyball looks like the perfect candidate. You’ve got jumping, stretching, reaching—plus it’s one of the most physically demanding sports in U.S. schools. College teams? Even more intense. But does all that movement actually affect your height? Or is this just one of those myths that gets recycled in locker rooms and Reddit threads?

Here’s what I think: the truth sits somewhere between biology and behavior. You see, height isn’t just about activity—it’s about genetics, growth plates, hormones, and timing. Still, some sports can support growth indirectly (and posture plays a bigger role than most realize).

So, let’s break it down: what volleyball does for your growth—and what it definitely doesn’t.

Why the “Volleyball Makes You Taller” Myth Stuck Around

I’ve heard it since high school gym class—“play volleyball, it’ll help you grow taller.” And honestly? It’s not hard to see why this myth stuck. Just flip on the Olympics and look at Team USA’s roster: most volleyball players are tall, like 6’3” and up tall. So naturally, the assumption gets made—they must’ve gotten that way from the sport, right?

But here’s the thing: **volleyball didn’t make them tall—**being tall helped them succeed in volleyball. It’s selection bias, plain and simple. Coaches scout height early on, especially in competitive U.S. school and college teams. If you’re 5’11” in 8th grade, guess what? You’re likely getting pushed toward volleyball or basketball, maybe even both.

Now, culturally, we’ve built this image of the “ideal” volleyball player: lean, tall, athletic. That image becomes aspirational, especially for teens sorting through body image, growth expectations, and role models. And in sports branding? Tall = elite. It’s everywhere—on posters, in highlight reels, across social media

Can Volleyball Influence Posture?

Absolutely—volleyball can make you look taller, even if it doesn’t technically make you grow. And the reason comes down to posture. You see, the sport naturally builds the kind of muscular awareness and spinal alignment that a lot of people spend years trying to correct with posture apps and ergonomic chairs.

In my experience, players who stick with volleyball for even just one season start standing differently. It’s subtle at first—but over time, the shoulders pull back, the chest opens up, and the spine starts stacking the way it should. And yeah, that can create a legit “height illusion.”

Here’s why volleyball helps:

• Core stability: Every serve, jump, and dig activates your deep core. It’s not just abs—it’s the whole system keeping your spine upright.
• Shoulder and upper back strength: Good posture needs more than reminders—it needs muscle. Volleyball builds that naturally through blocking and hitting.
• Stretching under pressure: Moves like overhead passes and vertical jumps stretch out the body, encouraging length and flexibility.
• Athletic stance awareness: You’re constantly adjusting for balance and alignment, which builds great body mechanics over time.

Nutrition, Training, and Growth in Young Athletes

You can train all day, stretch like a yogi, even hang from a pull-up bar till your grip gives out—but if your nutrition’s off? You’re capping your growth, plain and simple. I’ve worked with dozens of young athletes over the years, and honestly, the ones who hit their growth potential weren’t just the hardest workers—they were the best eaters.

What I’ve found is, it’s not about eating more, it’s about eating smart. Here’s what I always recommend during those crucial teen years:

• Lean protein daily – Chicken breast, eggs, Greek yogurt, or even tofu. Protein feeds muscle and supports bone development.
• Calcium-rich foods – Think milk (yes, still relevant), cheese, and dark leafy greens like kale or spinach. Bones can’t grow without it.
• Vitamin D – You need it to absorb calcium. So, either get some sunlight (15–20 min/day helps) or take a D3 supplement if you’re indoors a lot.
• Hydration – Water fuels cellular function. Dehydration actually stalls recovery and growth.
• Consistent sleep – Not food, I know—but growth hormone peaks during deep sleep. No fuel or rest = no height gains.

Why Are Volleyball Players So Tall in the U.S.?

If you’ve ever watched a college or pro volleyball game in the U.S., you’ve probably noticed—everyone looks like they were built in a lab for height. And it’s not your imagination. Most NCAA Division I female players stand over 6 feet tall. On the men’s side? Even taller. So why does it seem like all the best volleyball players are towering?

Well, it’s not that volleyball makes you tall—it’s that tall athletes get funneled into volleyball early on. What I’ve seen again and again is this sort of quiet height bias baked into the recruitment system.

Here’s what drives it:

• Scouting and scholarships: NCAA and club coaches actively scout tall teens because height gives an immediate edge—especially at the net.
• Genetic advantage: Many players were already tall before volleyball. They weren’t shaped by the sport—they were selected by it.
• Early specialization: Taller kids often get placed in front-row positions by middle school. That fast-tracks them into elite programs.
• Perceived athletic ceiling: Coaches assume a 6’2” freshman has more potential, even if a 5’8” kid is scrappier. (Unfair? Yeah. But it’s common.)

Related post at Druchen: Top 5 Tallest Volleyball Players in the World

The Real Benefits of Volleyball (That Have Nothing to Do with Height)

Let’s be real—most kids don’t pick up volleyball just to boost their growth plates. And that’s a good thing, because the real value of the sport goes way beyond height. What I’ve found, after years around youth leagues and high school courts, is that volleyball quietly builds a ton of skills and habits that stick for life—physically and mentally.

Here’s what really stands out:

• Cardio without the treadmill – Fast rallies keep your heart rate up. It’s a sneaky-good form of aerobic training without feeling like a chore.
• Explosive coordination – Jumping, diving, blocking… all of it builds body control and fast-twitch muscle response. Especially valuable for teens still learning how to “use” their growing limbs.
• Confidence and communication – You can’t hide in volleyball. You’ve got to call the ball. That pressure? It builds assertiveness in a way classroom settings often don’t.
• Social connection – Team chemistry matters. I’ve seen shy players come out of their shell just because they had a good dig and their teammates went wild.
• Emotional resilience – Losing a tight match in the fifth set? That’ll teach you about bouncing back better than any motivational quote.

What U.S. Sports Medicine Experts Say About Volleyball and Height

Now, I’ve had this conversation with more than one sports doc and a handful of youth coaches—does volleyball actually help kids grow taller? The short answer, according to U.S. sports medicine professionals? No, but it supports the systems that make healthy growth possible.

Doctors with the American Academy of Pediatrics have been pretty clear: height is primarily genetic, but lifestyle—sleep, nutrition, physical activity—can influence how close someone gets to their genetic potential. Volleyball, as it turns out, checks a lot of the right boxes.

Here’s what I’ve heard directly from coaches and athletic trainers who work with teens:

• “Volleyball improves posture and core strength, which makes kids look taller—especially during growth spurts.”
• “We use volleyball in youth clinics because it builds full-body coordination without high impact on growth plates.”
• “Hydration, stretching, and proper sleep matter more than the sport itself. But volleyball players often develop better habits in all three.”

Final Thoughts: Can Volleyball Really Make You Taller?

Alright—so let’s wrap this up honestly. Can volleyball make you taller? No. Not biologically. It won’t stretch your bones or trigger a late growth spurt (despite what some TikToks might claim). But here’s what it does do—and this is where I think the myth actually found some legs.

Volleyball supports the kind of lifestyle that helps teens grow into the best version of their natural height. We’re talking stronger posture, better sleep, cleaner eating habits, and daily movement that trains the body to move upright—not slouched over a screen.

What I’ve found, after watching dozens of American youth athletes move through club, school, and college programs, is this: the sport shapes confidence, not height. And that shift in body awareness? It makes players appear taller, walk taller, carry themselves differently.

So, is volleyball a growth hack? No. But is it a smart, healthy, and honestly pretty fun way to support growth during those critical teen years?

Druchen