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Volleyball is one of the few sports created in the United States. It started in Massachusetts back in 1895 and has grown into one of the most popular sports both in the United States and around the world for both women and men. Volleyball is played in teams of two players (beach volleyball) or six (indoor volleyball) per side.
Volleyball has grown in its over 100-year history on the court and the beach. The sport is popular throughout the world and has been involved in several Olympic Games. The development of the volleyball began as a combination of other sports and throughout the years has developed specific rules that are still followed today.
The game of volleyball has grown from a recreational activity more than 100 years ago to a highly competitive sport that features some of the world's best athletes. Once played only inside a gymnasium and only among businessmen, it is now an Olympic event that is played indoors and out by both men and women.
Volleyball was created in 1895 by William G. Morgan in Holyoke, Massachusetts. The sport was originally known as "mintonette," taking characteristics from both tennis and handball. Just four years earlier, the game of basketball was invented in nearby Springfield, Massachusetts. Basketball, along with tennis and baseball, was a major influence in the creation of volleyball.
Invented in 1895 in Holyoke, Mass., by William G. Morgan, volleyball was first created to help keep middle-aged men in shape. The sport is now one of the most popular sports among girls and women, as athletes participate in state tournaments, NCAA Division I national championship tournaments and even the Summer Olympics. According to athleticscholarships.net, more than 46 million people play volleyball in the U.S.
William Morgan, a YMCA instructor, invented volleyball in 1895 in Holyoke, Mass. The game has since spread to more than 200 countries. Over more than a century, the once simple rules have grown more complex, while the court has become larger and the teams smaller. Source materials vary on the specifics of the changes, but here is a broad look at how the sport has evolved.
Volleyball's history begins with its invention in 1895 by William Morgan, and the United States Volleyball Association was created in 1928. Find out how volleyball has evolved since its birth with helpful playing tips from a volleyball coach in this free video on the game of volleyball.
Since being created at a YMCA in Massachusetts in 1892, volleyball has enjoyed global popularity and is played on every continent in the world. Surprisingly, the Olympic history of the sport is still relatively young. However, in that short span, Olympic volleyball has created rivalries, spawned dominant squads and even introduced a spin-off of its own to the Games.
