History of Volleyball
Posted on: January 3rd, 2011
William Morgan - Inventor of Volleyball
Brief History of Volleyball
Unlike the world’s most popular sport of soccer, the history of volleyball is clear. We know the person who invented it and where it took place. The game of volleyball owes its life to William Morgan, a YMCA instructor from Holyoke, Massachusetts.
Following in the footsteps of basketball, William Morgan created the game of volleyball just four years later in 1895. He borrowed elements from basketball, baseball, tennis, and handball to create a new game he called mintonette. Originally, he was looking for something fresh and that had less contact than basketball for his afternoon businessmen. Morgan borrowed the net from tennis, and raised it 6 feet 6 inches above the floor, just above the average man’s head.
Mntionette quickly gave way to “volleyball” when someone observed that the players seemed to be volleying the ball over the net. Immediately, they suggested that volleyball would be a better, more descriptive name for the game. On July 7, 1896 at Springfield College the first official game of “volleyball” was played.
Even though volleyball was born in the United States, the game is more popular worldwide and ranks second behind soccer in participation. Over the course of the last twenty-five years, volleyball is now just achieving the type of popularity in America.
Volleyball Facts
- There are more than 46 million Americans who play volleyball.
- Worldwide, there are 800 million players who play once a week.
- The Set and Spike was invented in the Philippines.
- Up until 1917, the game was played to 21 points. It is played to 15 in the modern game.
- The International Volleyball Federation was founded in Paris in 1947
- Volleyball was added to the Olympics in 1964
Famous Volleyball Players
Over a hundred years of play, volleyball in America has a rich history with some tremendous players. Here is our list of the best volleyball players of all time:
- Misty May
- Karch Kiraly
- Logan Tom
- Kerri Walsh
- Steve Timmons
- Paula Weishoff
For tips on how to play volleyball and more about the history of volleyball, visit the American Volleyball Coaches Association.
