The game of volleyball, originally called “mintonette,” was invented in 1895 by
William G. Morgan after the invention of basketball only four years before.
Morgan, a graduate of the Springfield College of the YMCA, designed the game to
be a combination of basketball, baseball, tennis, and handball.
The first volleyball net, borrowed from tennis, was only 6’6″ high (though you
need to remember that the average American was shorter in the nineteenth
century).
The offensive style of setting and spiking was first demonstrated in the Philippines
in 1916. Over the years that followed, it became clear that standard rules were
needed for tournament play, and thus the USVBA (United States Volleyball
Association) was formed in 1928.
In 1900, a special ball was designed for the sport.
In 1916, in the Philippines, an offensive style of passing the ball in a high
trajectory to be struck by another player (the set and spike) were introduced.
In 1917, the game was changed from 21 to 15 points.
In 1920, three hits per side and back row attack rules were instituted.
In 1922, the first YMCA national championships were held in Brooklyn, NY.
Twenty-seven teams from 11 states were represented.
In 1928, it became clear that tournaments and rules were needed, so the United
States Volleyball Association (USVBA, now USA Volleyball) was formed. The
first U.S. Open was staged, as the field was open to non-YMCA squads.
In 1930, the first two-man beach game was played.
In 1934, national volleyball referees were approved and recognized.
In 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.
In 1947, the Federation Internationale De Volley-Ball (FIVB) was founded.
In 1948, the first two-man beach tournament was held.
In 1949, the initial World Championships were held in Prague, Czechoslovakia.
In 1964, volleyball was introduced to the Olympic Games in Tokyo.
In 1965, the California Beach Volleyball Association (CBVA) was formed.
In 1974, the World Championships in Mexico were telecast in Japan.
In 1975, the U.S. 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).
In 1977, the U.S. National Men’s Team began a year-round training regime in
Dayton, Ohio (moved to San Diego, CA, in 1981).
In 1983, the Association of Volleyball Professionals (AVP) was formed.
In 1984, the U.S. won their first medals at the Olympics in Los Angeles. The men
won the gold, and the women the silver.
In 1986, the Women’s Professional Volleyball Association (WPVA) was formed.
In 1988, the U.S. men repeated the gold in the Olympics in Korea.
In 1990, the World League was created.
In 1995, the sport of volleyball was 100 years old!
In 1996, two-person beach volleyball became an Olympic sport.
Nature of the Game
Volleyball is one of the most successful and popular competitive and
recreational sports in the world. It is the universal game easily adapted to the
needs and abilities of all participants.
The game volleyball is played by two teams each having 2-6 players on an
18 x 9-meter court, the two courts separated by a net.
The primary objective of each team is to try to hit the ball to the opponent’s
side in such a manner as to prevent the opponent from returning the ball.
Among the six players on the side, 3 are called forwards and the other 3
called backs.
