Volobyuev started to play football back in 1964. His first coach was Mykola Haribov. His playing career began in 1969 when he was training with the main city team (Kommunarets). It was until the next year when he was actively involved in the team playing for it in Class B (Soviet Second League) competitions. In 1971 when Class B was phasing away, Volobuyev moved to
Shakhtar Kadiyivka. His military obligation, he served by playing in
SKA Kiev in 1973–1975. In 1976 Volobuyev joined the newly formed football team Kolos Mezhyrich (near Pavlohrad) which represented the local collective farm named after the
22nd Party Congress. After few seasons he moved to the
Georgian SSR where he played for teams from western Georgia. In 1983 at age of 30, Volobuyev was forced to retire due to his injury of
meniscus. ==Coaching career==