Volleyball was born
Volleyball, being one of the biggest sports that was ever made in the history of athletics, being second to Naismith’s basketball. Maybe we all enjoy watching two teams battling it out inside the court with the net in the middle that separates the opposing teams. With all its ace serves, hard spikes and tremendous spikes, volleyball is none other intense sport that you could ever imagine.
But if we are to look back at the past, we are to ask these questions, who invented this sport? Where and when was this sport invented? Why was this sport invented and how was this sport invented?
William G. Morgan, invented volleyball in the year 1895 during his tenure as the director of Physical Education at YMCA in Holyoke, Massachusettes. It was first named, “Mintonette”, a pastime sport to be played by any number of players. Some of its characteristics was taken from the sports, handball and tennis.
Mintonette was designed to be indoors, for the older members of YMCA, while they still a require a bit of athletic effort.
Morgan called for a 6 ft 6 inches high and a 25×50 ft court and there are no limited number of players.
The first match was composed of nine innings. Each team will be given three serves in each innings, and there is no limit to the number of ball contacts for each team before sending the ball to the opponents’ side of the court. In case an error in serving occur, a second try would be given to the team. Hitting the ball into the net was considered a foul which leads to a loss of the point or a side-out, the only exception would be in the case of the first-try serve.
These were the first rules that was given by William G. Morgan.
Mintonette to Volleyball
In 1896, it debuted its first exhibition game. It was held at International YMCA Training School which is now the currently Springfield College, after an observer by the name of Alfred Halstead, observed the volleying nature of the game, it quickly became known as volleyball.
Volleyball rules were slightly modified by the YMCA International Training School and the game spread around the country to various YMCA’s.
The first official ball used in volleyball is disputed. Some sources say that Spalding created the first official ball in 1896, while others claim it was created in 1900. The rules evolved over time: in the Philippines by 1916, the skill and power of the set and spike had been introduced, and four years later a “three hits” rule and a rule against hitting from the back row were established. In 1917, the game was changed from 21 to 15 points. In 1919, about 16,000 volleyballs were distributed by the American Expeditionary Forces to their troops and allies, which sparked the growth of volleyball in new countries.
What it has become…
Volleyball has become an official sport in different universities and colleges, local and international, from around the globe having different leagues and competitions and of course, volleyball being one of the most anticipated game in the Olympics.
Heroes were made in this sport and I believe that it will continue to grow and be played for the next generations to come.
La Salle Sports Room 