Origins

WHO, WHAT, WHEN, AND WHERE?

In 1895, volleyball was invented by William G. Morgan in Massachusetts. Originally in 1895, the game of volleyball was called “mintonette.” This sport is a combination of basketball, baseball, tennis, and handball. 

In the beginning, it was only an American sport, but a few years later the sport was spread all around the world in different regions.

History of the Equipment and Original Goal

William G. Morgan, the inventor of volleyball, liked how nets were used in tennis, but in his sport, he felt they were too low. To fix this problem, he brought the net up 6 and 1/2 feet over the ground.

Morgan then thought about what kind of ball he would be using in his sport. He wanted a ball which was larger than a tennis ball, but a ball which is lighter than a basketball. His solution was a light, leather-covered ball which could be kept floating in the air.

oldvbpic

The goal of this sport was initially to keep the ball over the net.

Changes In Rules and Equipment Over Time

Throughout the 1900s, the game of volleyball had been adjusted to the game of volleyball we see today. Some of the changes include…

  • The number of players on the court was 6
    • A rotation must occur before every serve
  • The scoring system was changed
    • From 21 to 15 points per set. The winner would be concluded once one of the two teams win 2 of 3 sets.
  • Fouls
    • A player holding the ball in his hands in the game is a foul.
    • Players can’t consecutively touch the ball
      • Stopped ball-hogging and pushes players to work together
    • Feet can be used
  • Volleyball court’s height, width, length.
    • Volleyball courts are 9meters wide and 18 meters long
    • The net is 1 meter wide and 2.43 meters high
    • a line is drawn 3 meters from the net called the “attack line” and “front row.” The rest of the space is the “back row.”