The Origin of Volleyball

Volleyball was created in 1895 by William G. Morgan, a physical education director for the YMCA in Holyoke, Massachusetts. Morgan was looking to create a game that was less physical than basketball.

  1. Name

    • The game of volleyball didn't get its name until 1896. Volleyball was originally titled Mintonette because it was based on aspects of badminton.

    Players

    • Both teams were allowed to have as many players as they could fit into a 50-by-25-foot court.

    The Ball

    • The first balls used were made from the rubber bladder inside a basketball. By 1900, Spalding had made the first official volleyball.

    The Net

    • Originally, the net was set at 6 feet 6 inches high. Today, the nets are 7 feet 11-5/8 inches for men and 7 feet 4-1/8 inches for women.

    Game Play

    • Each team was allowed to hit the ball an unlimited amount of times, as long as it didn't touch the ground, before sending it back over the net.