Lesson 1: Origin and Development of Volleyball

Learning objectives:

At the end of the lesson, the students should be able to:

A. acquire knowledge on the history of volleyball;

B. trace the history of volleyball; and
C. identify the evolution of volleyball.

Reading 1

What is Volleyball?

Volleyball is a team sport. Each team consists of six players and the teams are divided on the
court by a net. Three players stand near the net and three near the backline. The objective of the
game is to send the ball regularly over the net to the opposing team in an effort to ground the ball
on their side of the court.

History of Volleyball

In 1895, William G. Morgan, an instructor at the Young Men’s Christian

Association (YMCA) in Holyoke, Massachusettes decided to blend elements of
basketball, baseball, tennis, and handball to create a game for his classes of
businessmen which would demand less physical contact than basketball. He
created the game of Volleyball (at that time called, Mintonette). Morgan
borrowed the net from tennis, and raised it 6 feet 6 inches above the floor, just
above the average man’s head. During a demonstration game, Alfred Halsted
remarked to Morgan that the players seemed to be volleying the ball back and
forth over the net, and perhaps “volleyball” would be a more descriptive name
for the sport. Volleyball was first played indoors, but it was brought out to the
beach sometime in the 1920's. There is some debate about where the first beach
volleyball game was played, but the two most likely theories are Santa Monica,
CA and The Outrigger Canoe Club in Hawaii. Organized beach tournaments
were played as early as 1948, but the Association of Volleyball Professionals
did not emerge until 1983.

Originally, a team could have as few as one player on a side to an unlimited number of players.
The players volleyed the ball back and forth across the net until one team missed and a point
scored. The first team to score 21 was declared winner.
Evolution of Volleyball
1895: Creation of the game.
1896: The first exhibition match of volleyball is played at Springfield College
1900: A special ball was designed for the sport.
1910: It was introduce in the Philippines.
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.
1917: The game was changed from 21 to 15 points.
1920: Three hits per side and back row attack rules were instituted.
1922: The first YMCA national championships were held in Brooklyn, NY. 27 teams from 11
states were represented.
1934: The approval and recognition of national volleyball referees.
1937: At the AAU convention in Boston, action was taken to recognize the U.S. Volleyball
Association as the official National Governing Body (NGB) in the U.S.
1947: The Federation Internationale De Volley-Ball (FIVB) was founded.
1964: Volleyball was introduced to the Olympic Games in Tokyo.
1989: The FIVB Sports Aid Program was created.
1990: The World League was created.
 Enrichment Activity 1

Directions: Identify and answer correctly the corresponding questions.

1. What sports did Morgan got the idea inorder to create the game volleyball?
_______________________________________________
2. How was the game called volleyball? Why?
________________________________________________
3. What is the objective of the game?
________________________________________________
4. Where and when was the creation of the game volleyball?
________________________________________________
5. One reason why volleyball was created?
________________________________________________
6. How was the game played after the invention/creation?
________________________________________________
7. What is AVP stands for?
_________________________________________________

Activity 2
Match column A with column B and put the correct answer/letter before each number.

A B
______1. The Federation Internationale De Volley-Ball (FIVB)a. 1989
was
founded.

________2. Back row attack rules were instituted. b. 1964

________3. Introducing volleyball in Tokyo, Japan Olympic Games c. 1934

________4. Recognition of U.S.V.A. as National Governing Body of U.S. d. 1922

________5. First volleyball game played in Springfield College. e. 1916

________6. Offensive style was introduced in the Philippines. f. 1896
________7. Recognition of National Volleyball Referees. g. 1920
________8. National championships held in Brooklyn, NY. wherein 27
teams from 11 states were represented. h. 1937
________9. Creation of Sports Aid Program. i. 1910

________10. Introducing of volleyball in the Philippines. j. 1947

References: Volleyball for Fun by Darcy Lockman , Copyright 2006 by Compass Point Books