History of Volleyball
Originally called mintonette, the origin of volleyball can be traced back to 1895
in Massachusetts, USA. It was created by American William G. Morgan. For a sport
that has been around for over a century, the origin of volleyball traces its roots to a
rather humble beginning. History has it that William G. Morgan, who invented the
game of volleyball in 1895, came up with the idea so that people who found
basketball’s ‘bumping’ or ‘jolting’ too strenuous could have an alternative physical
activity to fall back on.
William George. Morgan, who served as the physical director at the Young Men’s
Christian Association (YMCA) Holyoke, Massachusetts, looked at the sports around and
picked the aspects that he thought suited his brief the best.
The ball came from baske`tball, the net from tennis and the use of hands from
handball. While this made up a game of volleyball, it was lent some competitive tone
with the introduction of innings – later to be called sets – that was borrowed from
baseball.
Morgan introduced the sport – called mintonette, the original name of volleyball
– at the YMCA Physical Director’s Conference a year later at Springfield College,
Massachusetts. A new specially designed ball, which was lighter and smaller, was
introduced in 1900. Though it was incomplete with no fixed rules and a format to
follow, the sport did enough to win over the delegation and soon became a part of
YMCA’s wide network throughout the USA with a new name – volley ball (initially it
was termed as two words). Volleyball was officially selected to spell as a single word
in 1952. A sport that traced its origin to basketball, baseball, tennis and handball –
and now estimated to be played by over 800 million globally – had thus been
established.
WHY VOLLEYBALL IS INVENTED
It was because of his role that Morgan had the opportunity to direct numerous
programmes, exercises and sports classes for male adults. His leadership was widely
accepted and appreciated and his classes grew in large numbers. This is when he
came to realize that a different kind of competitive recreational game is needed in
order for his programme to stand out. Morgan took characteristics of basketball, tennis
and handball. He believed that this game was less rough than basketball for the older
members of the YMCA, while it shill involved some athletic activity.
The first rules were:
1. The net had to be 6 feet 6 inches (1.98 meters) high. This was because the
average American was shorter in the 19th century.
2. A 25x50 foot (7.6x15.2 meter) court was required.
3. A team could have as many players as a team wanted.
4. A match would be nine innings with three serves for each team in each inning.
5. There would be no limit to the number of ball contacts for each team before
sending the ball to the other side of the court.
6. In case of a missed serve, a second try was allowed.
7. Hitting the ball into the net was a fault, with loss of a point, or side-out, except
in case of a first serve.
Six Basic Skills: Passing, Setting, Spiking, Blocking, Digging, and Serving
TIMELINE OF CHANGES THEN AND NOW
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1895: THE CREATION OF VOLLEYBALL – William G. Morgana YMCA
physical education director created a new game originally known as
Mintonette.The game took some of characteristics from tennis and handball.It
was designed for middle age men of the YMCA, while still requiring a bit of
athletic effort.During a demonstration game, someone remarked to Morgan
that the players seemed to be volleying the ball back and forth over the net,
and perhaps “volleyball” would be a more descriptive name for the sport.
1895: THE FIRST RULE CREATED – The First Rules written down by William
G Morgan, called for a net 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) high, a 25×50 ft (7.6×15.2 m)
court, and any number of players.A match was composed of nine innings with
three serves for each team.Hitting the ball into the net was considered a foul
(with loss of the point or a side-out)
1896: THE FIRST GAME – The First Game of “volleyball” was played, at the
International YMCA Training School (now called Springfield College),
1900: SPECIFIC BALL DESIGNED – A New Ball Was Crafted For Specific
Use Spaulding Company invented the first official volleyball, out of rubber
bladder made from the same material as a bicycle tire tube, cheesecloth-like
material that was placed over the bladder, and a material layer that is composed
of various sections sewn together.
1907: THE FIRST CREDIT OF VOLLEYBALL – Volleyball was presented at
the Playground of America convention as one of the most popular sports. This
was the first credit the sport received, and helped to further the sport
recognition.
1910: VOLLEYBALL INTRODUCE IN THE PHILIPPINES BY ELWOD
STANLEY BROWN
1913: THE FIRST COMPETITION – World First Championship Tournament
During the World War I, United States troops introduced volleyball in
Europe.The first Volleyball tournament was held in the Far Eastern Games. This
was the first official world championship volleyball competition.
1916: NEW TECHNIQUE TO THE GAME – New Techniques the set and spike
was first executed in the Philippines, the ball was set in a high trajectory and
then spiked by a teammate.
1916: VOLLEYBALL ADDED TO THE SCHOOL – Volleyball was added to
schools physical education and intramural programs.It became a competitive
fall sport for both men and women.
1917: FORMATION – volleyball Formations 4–2,6–2, and 5–1 are three
standard formations, which refers to the number of hitters and setters
respectively. The game was changed from 21 points to 15 points.
1919: AMERICAN EXPEDITIONARY FORCES – The American
Expeditionary Forces distributed 16,000 volleyballs to it’s troops and allies. This
provided a stimulus for the growth of volleyball in foreign lands.
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1920: THE FIRST BEACH GAME – Santa Monica, California, is where the
first Volleyball courts were put up on the beach and Families played 6 vs. 6.
And in 1930 the first two-man beach volleyball game was played. Three hits
per side and back row attack rules were instituted.
1920: PLAYER SPECIALIZATION – Positions Filled On Every Volleyball Team
Setters,Liberos,Middle blockers or Middle hitters, Outside hitters or Left side
hitters, and Opposite hitters or Right-side hitters. Are 5 positions filled on every
volleyball team, each of these positions plays a specific, key role in winning a
volleyball match.
1928: CREATION OF USVBA – United States Volleyball Association created
rules were needed in tournaments and the United States Volleyball Association
(USVBA, now USA Volleyball) was created. The USA Volleyball is to be
acknowledged as the world leader in volleyball.
1930: The first two man beach was played
1931: RULES DIFFERENCES BETWEEN BEACH AND INDOOR
VOLLEYBALL – Beach Volleyball is fundamentally similar to indoor volleyball:
a team scores points by grounding the ball on the opponents’ court, or when
the opposing team commits a fault consecutive contacts must be made by
different players. But they are major differences between beach and indoor
volleyball.
1934: The Recognition of Volleyball Referees
1937: at the AAU convention in Boston, action was taken to recognize
the U.S. Volleyball Association as the official national governing body
in the U.S.
1947: FEDERATION INTERNATIONALE DE VOLLEYBALL – The
Federation Internationale De Volley-Ball (FIVB)was founded in Paris. Is the
international governing body for the sport of indoor, beach and grass volleyball
1948: the first two-man beach tournament was held
1949: VOLLEYBALL IN COLLEGE – USVBA added a collegiate division, for
competitive college teams. For the first ten years collegiate competition was
sparse. Teams formed only through the efforts of interested students and
instructors. Many teams dissolved when the interested individuals left the
college. Competitive teams were scattered, with no collegiate governing bodies
providing leadership in the sport.
1949: THE FIRST MEN WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP – The first FIVB Men’s
World Championship, held outdoors in Prague, Czechoslovakia. It was for
practical purposes a European Championship, with all 10 teams from Europe,
and started one of the great competitions and traditions in international sport.
1952: THE FIRST WOMEN WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP IN MOSCOW
1960: VOLLEYBALL TECHNIQUE ADDED- new volleyball techniques were
developed. Off-speed hits, open hand tips, forearm passing, blocking at the net,
and defensive plays such as diving and sprawling become a big part of the
game.
1964: VOLLEYBALL INTRODUCED IN THE OLYMPICS GAMES – The First
Volleyball Olympic Game was play in Tokyo, Japan. Women’s volleyball event;
Japan took gold, the USSR took silver and Poland took the bronze medal. In
the men’s volleyball event; the USSR took gold, Czechoslovakia took silver and
Japan took the bronze medal.
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1965: CALIFORNIA BEACH VOLLEYBALL ASSOCIATION (CBVA) – The
California Beach Volleyball Association (CBVA) was formed.The CBVA has long
been recognized as the authority on beach volleyball rules, to develop a single
set of rules for outdoor volleyball.
1974: the World Championships in Mexico were telecast in Japan
1975: THE US NATIONAL WOMENS TEAM – US National Women’s Team
began a year-round training regime in Pasadena, Texas (moved to Colorado
Springs in 1979, Coto de Caza and Fountain Valley, CA in 1980, and San Diego,
CA in 1985).
1977: THE US NATIONAL MENS TEAM – The US National Men’s begins a
year-round training regime in Dayton, Ohio (moved to San Diego, CA in 1981).
Volleyball Publications (A precursor of Volleyball OneR) is established by Val
Keller in Huntington Beach, CA.
1980: VOLLEYBALL SKILLS – six basic skills Serve,Pass,Set,Attack,Block,
and Dig are skills comprises a number of specific techniques that have been
introduced over the years and are now considered standard practice in highlevel volleyball.
1983: ASSOCIATION OF VOLLEYBALL PROFESSIONAL (AVP) – The
Association of Volleyball Professionals (AVP) was formed as an official players
association to negotiate with private tournament promoters. Is a beach
volleyball tour which takes place throughout the United States.
1984: the U.S. won their first medals at the Olympics in Los Angeles. The men
won the gold, and the women the silwetiver.
1986:the Women’s Professional Volleyball Association (WPVA) was formed.
1988: the U.S. men repeated the gold in the Olympics in Korea
1990: the World League was created.
1995: The sports Volleyball was 100 years
1996: BEACH VOLLEYBALL OLYMPIC – 2-person beach volleyball was
added to the Olympics, When the FIVB began organizing worldwide
professional tournaments, and laid the groundwork for the sport’s Olympic
debut. Two-person beach volleyball became an Olympic sport.
1998: LIBERO – The Libero Player was introduced internationally as a player
specialized in defensive skills.
2000: VOLLEYBALL EQUIPMENT - The necessary equipment used now and
days includes a volleyball, net and a suitable court surface. Players may wear
knee, elbow and other padding, and non-slip shoes for indoor surfaces, while
beach volleyball is often played in nothing more than a pair of shorts and Tshirt. Different leagues may have different regulations pertaining to court size,
net height and ball specifications
2000: RECENT RULE CHANGES – Rule Changes allowing serves in which
the ball touches the net, also the service area was expanded, and changes were
made to lighten up calls on faults for carries and double-touches.
References
Peter, N. (2023, February 5). History of volleyball: From humble beginnings to
a global sport. Timeoast timelines. Retrieved from
https://olympics.com/en/news/what-history-volleyball-game-origin-minton
ette-ymca-fivb-olympics
Volleyball.com Team. (2016, May 10). History of the volleyball.
Volleyball.Com. Retrieved from https://www.volleyball.com/volleyball101/history-of-volleyball/