History & origins
The story of Volleyball
Volleyball was invented four years after basketball and a few miles away, explicitly as a gentler alternative for older members of the YMCA. It travelled the world along the same missionary and military networks, and became a major sport in Eastern Europe, Brazil and East Asia long before it did in its country of origin.
Milestones
10 moments that shaped the modern game.
- 1895
Mintonette is invented
William Morgan, a YMCA instructor in Holyoke, Massachusetts, wanted a game less strenuous than basketball for businessmen. He borrowed a tennis net, raised it, and used the bladder from a basketball.
- 1896
The name changes
A spectator at a demonstration match observed that the players were volleying the ball, and the sport was renamed on the spot.
- 1916
The set and spike appear
Players in the Philippines developed a high pass to a teammate who struck it downwards — the bomba, and the origin of the modern three-touch attack.
- 1920
The three-touch rule
Limiting each side to three contacts was formalised, along with the back-row attack line, giving the sport its permanent structure.
- 1947
The FIVB is founded
Fourteen national federations met in Paris to form an international governing body, and held the first World Championship two years later.
- 1964
Olympic debut
Volleyball entered the Tokyo Games for both men and women. Japan's women's team, nicknamed the Oriental Witches, won gold in front of a domestic television audience of over 80%.
- 1980s
Brazil and the beach
Beach volleyball turned professional in Brazil and California, growing from an informal Santa Monica pastime into a serious international circuit.
- 1996
Beach volleyball becomes Olympic
The two-a-side sand game was added at Atlanta, and quickly became one of the most-watched events of the Games.
- 1998
The libero and rally scoring
Two rule changes transformed the sport: a defensive specialist in a different shirt, and points on every rally rather than only on serve. Matches became shorter and defence became a visible skill.
- 2000s
Brazil's dominance
Brazil's men and women won repeated Olympic and World titles, and the country's domestic Superliga became the strongest domestic competition in the sport.