history of volleyball assignment

• History & Society
• Science & Tech
• Biographies
• Animals & Nature
• Geography & Travel
• Arts & Culture
• Games & Quizzes
• On This Day
• One Good Fact
• New Articles
• Lifestyles & Social Issues
• Philosophy & Religion
• Politics, Law & Government
• World History
• Health & Medicine
• Browse Biographies
• Birds, Reptiles & Other Vertebrates
• Bugs, Mollusks & Other Invertebrates
• Environment
• Fossils & Geologic Time
• Entertainment & Pop Culture
• Sports & Recreation
• Visual Arts
• Demystified
• Image Galleries
• Infographics
• Top Questions
• Britannica Kids
• Saving Earth
• Space Next 50
• Student Center
• Introduction
• Court, net, and ball dimensions
• Gameplay, scoring, and rules

• What is the origin of the Olympic Games?
• Are the Olympic Games an overall benefit for their host countries and cities?

Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article.

• International Volleyball Hall of Fame - History of Volleyball
• Michigan State University - Recreational Sports and Fitness Services - Volleyball Rules
• Sport Legacy - History of Volleyball - Origins and Evolution of the Game of Volleyball
• Olympics.com - How to play volleyball
• International Olympic Committee - History of volleyball: From humble beginnings to a global sport
• volleyball - Children's Encyclopedia (Ages 8-11)
• volleyball - Student Encyclopedia (Ages 11 and up)
• Table Of Contents

Recent News

volleyball , game played by two teams, usually of six players on a side, in which the players use their hands to bat a ball back and forth over a high net , trying to make the ball touch the court within the opponents’ playing area before it can be returned. To prevent this a player on the opposing team bats the ball up and toward a teammate before it touches the court surface—that teammate may then volley it back across the net or bat it to a third teammate who volleys it across the net. A team is allowed only three touches of the ball before it must be returned over the net.

Volleyball was invented in 1895 by William G. Morgan , physical director of the Young Men’s Christian Association (YMCA) in Holyoke , Massachusetts. It was designed as an indoor sport for businessmen who found the new game of basketball too vigorous . Morgan called the sport “mintonette,” until a professor from Springfield College in Massachusetts noted the volleying nature of play and proposed the name of “volleyball.” The original rules were written by Morgan and printed in the first edition of the Official Handbook of the Athletic League of the Young Men’s Christian Associations of North America (1897). The game soon proved to have wide appeal for both sexes in schools, playgrounds, the armed forces, and other organizations in the United States , and it was subsequently introduced to other countries.

In 1916 rules were issued jointly by the YMCA and the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). The first nationwide tournament in the United States was conducted by the National YMCA Physical Education Committee in New York City in 1922. The United States Volleyball Association (USVBA) was formed in 1928 and recognized as the rules-making, governing body in the United States. From 1928 the USVBA—now known as USA Volleyball (USAV)—has conducted annual national men’s and senior men’s (age 35 and older) volleyball championships, except during 1944 and 1945. Its women’s division was started in 1949, and a senior women’s division (age 30 and older) was added in 1977. Other national events in the United States are conducted by member groups of the USAV such as the YMCA and the NCAA.

Volleyball was introduced into Europe by American troops during World War I , when national organizations were formed. The Fédération Internationale de Volley Ball (FIVB) was organized in Paris in 1947 and moved to Lausanne , Switzerland , in 1984. The USVBA was one of the 13 charter members of the FIVB, whose membership grew to more than 210 member countries by the late 20th century.

International volleyball competition began in 1913 with the first Far East Games, in Manila . During the early 1900s and continuing until after World War II , volleyball in Asia was played on a larger court, with a lower net, and nine players on a team.

The FIVB-sponsored world volleyball championships (for men only in 1949; for both men and women in 1952 and succeeding years) led to acceptance of standardized playing rules and officiating. Volleyball became an Olympic sport for both men and women at the 1964 Olympic Games in Tokyo.

European championships were long dominated by Czechoslovakian, Hungarian, Polish, Bulgarian, Romanian, and Soviet (later, Russian) teams. At the world and Olympic level, Soviet teams have won more titles, both men’s and women’s, than those of any other nation. Their success was attributed to widespread grassroots interest and well-organized play and instruction at all levels of skill. A highly publicized Japanese women’s team, Olympic champions in 1964, reflected the interest of private industry in sport. Young women working for the sponsoring company devoted their free time to conditioning, team practice, and competition under expert and demanding coaching. Encouraged by the Japanese Volleyball Association, this women’s team made its mark in international competition, winning the World Championship in 1962, 1966, and 1967, in addition to the 1964 Olympics. At the end of the 20th century, however, the Cuban women’s team dominated both the World Championships and the Olympics.

The Pan American Games (involving South, Central, and North America) added volleyball in 1955, and Brazil , Mexico , Canada , Cuba , and the United States are frequent contenders for top honors. In Asia , China , Japan , and Korea dominate competition. Volleyball, especially beach volleyball, is played in Australia , New Zealand , and throughout the South Pacific.

A four-year cycle of international volleyball events, recommended by the FIVB, began in 1969 with World Cup championships, to be held in the year following the Olympic Games; the second year is the World Championships; in the third the regional events are held (e.g., European championships, Asian Games , African Games , Pan American Games); and in the fourth year the Olympic Games.

Beach volleyball —usually played, as its name implies, on a sand court with two players per team—was introduced in California in 1930. The first official beach volleyball tournament was held in 1948 at Will Rogers State Beach, in Santa Monica , California, and the first FIVB-sanctioned world championship was held in 1986 at Rio de Janeiro. Beach volleyball was added to the roster of the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta, Georgia. American athletes have been especially successful in Olympic beach volleyball competition. Notable U.S. players include Karch Kiraly , Misty May-Traenor , and Kerri Walsh Jennings .

Volleyball History: Timeline & How it started

Kelly Wiese

March 12, 2024

We are reader-supported. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.  Learn more.

Dive into the fascinating world of Volleyball History, exploring the origins, growth, and captivating events that shaped this exhilarating sport.

Discover the key moments and people that define Volleyball’s legacy and impact worldwide.

Let’s serve it up!

Table of Contents

Volleyball History Summary

Who invented volleyball, how did volleyball become so popular, where did volleyball originate.

• ⏳ Origins and Evolution: Volleyball, invented by William G. Morgan in 1895, was initially called “Mintonette” and emerged as a less intense alternative to basketball. The game evolved through rule changes, including the introduction of the three-hit rule and the shift to modern scoring methods.
• 🚀   Rise to Prominence: From its humble beginnings in a Massachusetts YMCA gym, volleyball quickly gained popularity in schools, colleges, and clubs across the United States. The sport’s international expansion began in the early 20th century, reaching Asia, Europe, and Latin America, and eventually becoming an Olympic event in 1964.
• 🥇   Noteworthy Growth and Adaptation: Volleyball has adapted to various formats and styles, including beach volleyball, which made its Olympic debut in 1996. Technological advancements and rule changes have shaped the game’s development, while its global popularity continues to thrive through professional leagues, international competitions, and grassroots initiatives.

Volleyball History Timeline

William G. Morgan, a physical education director at the YMCA in Holyoke, Massachusetts, invented the sport known as “Mintonette,” which would later become modern volleyball. Morgan designed the game to be a combination of basketball, baseball, tennis, and handball, offering a less intense and more accessible alternative to basketball.

Mintonette was first played in a local YMCA gymnasium on February 9, 1895, with a net height of 6 feet 6 inches, a court size of 25 x 50 feet, and teams of nine players each. The rules and gameplay have evolved significantly since then.

In 1916, the “three hits” rule was introduced, allowing each team to touch the ball a maximum of three times on their side before sending it over the net. This significant rule change transformed the game into a more dynamic and strategic sport. During this period, the Philippines developed the “bomba” or “spike,” a powerful offensive technique that added another layer of excitement to the game.

Also in 1916, the sport was introduced to the American Expeditionary Forces stationed in Europe during World War I, further contributing to its global expansion.

By the 1940s, volleyball had become a popular sport globally, and the Fédération Internationale de Volleyball ( FIVB ) was founded in 1947. This governing body aims to develop and promote volleyball worldwide, sanctioning international competitions, and setting standard rules and regulations for the sport.

The first FIVB-organized World Championships were held in 1949 for men and in 1952 for women. These events marked the beginning of organized international volleyball competitions and showcased the sport’s talented players at a global level.

Volleyball made its Olympic debut during the 1964 Tokyo Summer Games, with both men’s and women’s events. Since then, it has remained a staple of the Olympic program, growing in popularity and attracting athletes and fans from around the world.

The Soviet Union won the first men’s Olympic gold medal, while Japan clinched gold in the women’s event. These victories highlighted the progress and development of volleyball in these nations and ignited interest in the sport around the globe.

The 1980s were marked by significant rule changes, including the introduction of the 5-set game and Rally Point System, which allowed teams to score points on both their own serve and the opponent’s serve. This new scoring system sped up matches and intensified the competition.

During this era, legendary players such as Karch Kiraly emerged, setting new standards for excellence in the sport and inspiring a new generation of volleyball enthusiasts.

Beach volleyball, a popular variation of the sport played on sand with teams of two, made its Olympic debut at the 1996 Atlanta Summer Games. This addition brought an exciting new dimension to the Olympic volleyball program and attracted an even broader audience to the sport.

The first beach volleyball Olympic gold medals went to Karch Kiraly and Kent Steffes of the United States for men, and Sandra Pires and Jackie Silva of Brazil for women, showcasing the dominance of these nations in this thrilling adaptation of the sport.

In the 2000s, the popularity of volleyball continued to grow, both internationally and at the grassroots level. New professional leagues emerged, providing opportunities for athletes and further raising the sport’s profile.

Technological advancements in equipment, training, and analytics transformed how the game was analyzed and played, allowing for deeper insights into tactics, performance, and player development.

After delving into the sport’s past, learn about its physical demands and why many consider volleyball the hardest sport .

Volleyball was invented by William G. Morgan, a YMCA physical education director, in the United States in 1895.

Volleyball gained popularity due to its accessibility as a sport requiring minimal equipment, captivating rallies, and the global reach of tournaments such as the Olympics.

Volleyball originated in the United States, specifically at the Holyoke, Massachusetts YMCA, where it was first called “mintonette”.

Kelly is a travel lover, and an adventure and sports enthusiast, and lover of all things wine. Kelly’s passion lies in exploring Canada and other parts of the world and sharing her experiences with others. As a senior traveller, Kelly aims to inspire others to live their best life and not be afraid to venture out into the world on their own. She encourages solo travel and offers tips and advice on how to do it safely and confidently. In sports, she was one of the MVP provincial champs in volleyball, have 4 years recreational experience in beach volleyball and was an MMA black belt and former instructor.

Related Posts

Top 10 Best Brands for Volleyball in the World

Want to smash the competition and serve up some style? Hit the court with gear from brands that are acing…

30 Must-Know Volleyball Terms, Phrases and Slang

Spike your interest in volleyball with the ultimate serve of terms and slang! Whether you’re a newbie or owning the…

Who Invented Volleyball?

Volleyball was invented by William G. Morgan in 1895. He is commonly known as the “inventor of volleyball.” Morgan aimed…

• Newsletter (free downloads)
• YouTube (420k+ views)
• Pinterest (111k+ monthly views)
• Instagram (5 Reels a Week)
• TikTok (5 Videos a Week)
• ❄️ Winter & Ice Sports
• ⚽ Ball Sports
• 🥊 Combat & Strength Sports
• 🪂 Extreme & Adventure Sports
• 🎯 Precision Sports
• 🏸 Racquet Sports
• 🌊 Watersports
• 🏃‍♀️ Athletics & Endurance Sports
• Press Releases
• SportColorCodes.com

© Sun Media Brands,

Terms of Use Earnings Disclaimer Privacy Policy

We are reader-supported. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Learn more.

• Advertise on Volleyball.Com
• Contact Volleyball.Com
• Join Volleyball.Com’s Team
• Returns on Prior Orders

History of Volleyball

• Volleyball Terms
• Volleyball Rules
• Build a Sand Volleyball Court
• Outside Hitters
• Middle Hitting Drills
• Defensive Volleyball Drills
• Serve Receive
• Transition Drills
• Conditioning
• Camps, Leagues, Colleges
• Rotator Cuff Injury
• Thumb Sprain
• Finger Sprain
• Jumpers Knee
• Sprained or Twisted Ankle
• Shin Splints
• Groin Strain
• Hamstring Strain
• Calf Strain
• Plantar Fasciitis (Heel Spur)

The sport originated in the United States, and is now just achieving the type of popularity in the U.S. that it has received on a global basis, where it ranks behind only soccer among participation sports.

Today there are more than 46 million Americans who play volleyball. There are 800 million players worldwide who play volleyball at least once a week.

In 1895, William G. Morgan, an instructor at the Young Men’s Christian Association (YMCA) in Holyoke, Mass., 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, someone 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. On July 7, 1896 at Springfield College the first game of “volleyball” was played.

• 1895: William G. Morgan (1870-1942) created the game of volleyball but called the game Mintonette .
• 1896: The first exhibition match of volleyball is played at Springfield College (called International YMCA Training school in 1896).
• 1900: A special ball was designed for the sport.
• 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.
• 1920s: There are unconfirmed whispers of men’s teams playing on the beach in Hawaii, but most accounts place the sport’s origin in Santa Monica, California where the first Volleyball courts are put up on the beach at the Playground. Families play 6 vs. 6.
• 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.
• 1928: It became clear that tournaments and rules were needed, the United States Volleyball Association (USVBA, now USA Volleyball) was formed. The first U.S. Open was staged, as the field was open to non-YMCA squads.
• 1930s: The first two-man beach volleyball game is played in Santa Monica, California.
• 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.
• 1948: The first two-man beach tournament was held.
• 1949: The initial World Championships were held in Prague, Czechoslovakia.
• 1964: Volleyball was introduced to the Olympic Games in Tokyo.
• 1965: The California Beach Volleyball Association (CBVA) was formed.
• 1974: The World Championships in Mexico were telecast in Japan.
• 1975: The U.S. National Women’s team began a year-round training regime in Pasadena, Texas (moved to Colorado Springs in 1979, Coto de Caza and Fountain Valley, CA in 1980, and San Diego, CA in 1985).
• 1976: First professional beach volleyball tournament was called the Olympia World Championship of Beach Volleyball. It took place at Will Rogers State Beach during late summer in 1976.
• 1977: The U.S. National Men’s team began a year-round training regime in Dayton, Ohio (moved to San Diego, CA in 1981).
• 1983: The Association of Volleyball Professionals (AVP) was formed.
• 1984: The U.S. won their first medals at the Olympics in Los Angeles. The Men won the Gold, and the Women the Silver.
• 1986: The Women’s Professional Volleyball Association (WPVA) was formed.
• 1988: The U.S. Men repeated the Gold in the Olympics in Korea.
• 1989: The FIVB Sports Aid Program was created.
• 1990: The World League was created.
• 1992: The U.S. Women’s Volleyball team wins Bronze at the 1992 Olympic Games in Barcelona, Spain.
• 1995: The sport of Volleyball was 100 years old! This Web site – Volleyball.Com goes live!
• 1996: 2-person Beach Volleyball debuted as an Olympic sport.
• 1997: Dain Blanton (with Canyon Ceman) becomes the first African-American professional beach volleyball player to win a tournament on the Miller Lite/AVP Tour.
• 1998: For the first time in the FIVB World Tour, men and women players are rewarded at the same level with $170,000 in total prize money per Open event.
• 1999: For the first time beach volleyball was included in the Pan American Games which were held in Canada.
• 2000: Olympic Beach Volleyball Men’s Gold medallists: Eric Fomoimoana & Dain Blanton (USA). The women’s Beach Volleyball America (BVA) announces their inaugural season of play.
• 2001: Christopher “Sinjin” Smith plays the final match of his impressive career, a 21-19 and 24-22 loss with George Roumain to Dax Holdren and Todd Rogers in the 4th round of the contender’s bracket at the AVP Manhattan Beach Open. Sinjin retires as the leader in tournaments played with 416, 2nd in all-time victories with 139, and 4th in all-time winnings with over US$1.6 million earned.
• 2002: Beach volleyball court dimensions reduced to 8m x 8m per side.
• 2003: Karch Kiraly becomes the first player to earn US$3M in prize money and oldest player to win an AVP tournament at age 42 years, 9 months and 14 days. (You’re never too old for volleyball!)
• 2004: U.S. Women’s team Kerri Walsh and Misty May Win the Gold medal in the Women’s Olympic Beach Volleyball Title in Athens, Greece.
• 2005: Olympic gold medalists Kerri Walsh and Misty May-Treanor win their second Association of Volleyball Professionals (AVP) Open women’s title and the 2005 overall women’s championship.
• 2006: Elaine Youngs’ second place finish (with Rachel Wacholder) in Seaside Heights pushes her career earnings past $1 million. She becomes the third American woman to achieve that mark.
• 2006: In Seaside Heights, both Casey Jennings (with Matt Fuerbringer) and Kerri Walsh (with Misty May-Treanor) won titles, becoming just the second husband-wife duo to win pro beach events on the same weekend. They join Mike and Patty Dodd, who accomplished the feat four times in 1989, but each time in different locations.
• 2006: Kerri Walsh and Misty May-Treanor win in Chicago as Walsh joins the millionaire club. She is the 18th person worldwide to win over $1 million in her career, and did so in fewer events (90th tournament) as well as being one of just four to reach the mark before turning 28 years old.
• 2007: Misty May-Treanor passes Brazilians Adriana Behar and Shelda Bede as the most winning player since the women’s competition on the international beach volleyball circuit began in 1992.
• 2007: Misty May-Treanor becomes the women’s all-time wins leader by capturing her 73rd victory, surpassing Holly McPeak’s record by winning with Kerri Walsh in Hermosa Beach. She reached this total in just 123 tournaments — winning 57.5% of her events.
• 2007: In a championship match that lasted 1:41, Nicole Branagh and Elaine Youngs defeat Jennifer Boss and April Ross 21-19, 18-21, 16-14 in Seaside Heights. The marathon set the record for the longest match in rally scoring, men or women, in domestic or international play.
• 2007: Karch Kiraly retires to close an impressive career on the beach, leaving as the all-time wins leader and money earner. His longevity was marked by the fact he won a tournament in 24 different years, and he advanced to the semifinals in over 75% of all the events he ever played and was named as the AVP’s MVP a record-most six times.
• 2008: Hot Winter Nights, a series of 19 events in January and February, kicks off in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma marking the first ever indoor beach volleyball tour. Mark Williams and Nancy Mason are the first winners in the “King of the Beach format” events.
• 2008: The U.S. Women’s Volleyball team wins Silver at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, China.
• 2008: U.S. Women’s Beach Volleyball team Misty May-Treanor and Kerri Walsh take the Gold medal in Volleyball at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, China. China placed in both Silver and Bronze categories. U.S. Beach Volleyball’s Men’s team Phil Dalhausser and Todd Rodgers also took the Gold in the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, China. Brazil men’s teams placed in both Bronze and Silver categories.
• 2012: The U.S. Women’s Volleyball team wins Silver at the 2012 Olympic Games in London.
• 2012: U.S. Women’s team Misty May-Treanor and Kerri Walsh-Jennings return to the Summer games in London to successfully defend their Gold medal wins of 2008 and 2004 and become the only Women’s team in the sport’s history to ever win three consecutive Olympic Gold medals. Jennifer Kessey and April Ross of the United States win the Silver medal the same year.
• 2016: The U.S. Women’s Volleyball Team qualifies to play at the Summer Olympics in Rio.
• 2016: Today, people all over the world play volleyball. Research shows volleyball is one of the top 3 most popular sports for women to play in high school. However, people of all ages find enjoyment in recreational volleyball, as its’ popularity continues to grow.
• Volleyball 101
• Volleyball Drills
• Volleyball Forum
• Sports Injuries

Recent Posts

• Major in Sand Volleyball!?!
• Greece to change famous volleyball court into a court of a different kind.
• Where O’ Where is the 2016 Club World Championship going to be????
• 2016 AVP Schedule

Recent Tweets

When did volleyball become an Olympic sport?

In the late 1800s, William G. Morgan was attending Springfield College in Massachusetts when he invented a sport called "mintonette." This birth of what became volleyball occurred just a few years after James Naismith -- also at Springfield -- invented basketball. Volleyball's international governing body (Federation Internationale de Volleyball) was founded in Paris in 1947, and less than two decades later, the sport was added to the Olympic program for the 1964 Tokyo Games.

What country has the most gold medals in Olympic volleyball history?

The former Soviet Union's seven gold medals are the most of any nation in the history of Olympic volleyball. The Soviet Union leads the gold medal count for women (four). In men's volleyball, Brazil, the U.S. and the Soviet Union are tied for the most golds with three apiece. China and Cuba are tied for second in the women's gold-medal count with three apiece. 

How many Olympic gold medals has Team USA won in volleyball?

Team USA has won four gold medals at the Olympics. The U.S. men's team holds three gold medals, with wins in 1984, 1988 and 2008. In 2020, the U.S. women's team joined their male counterparts as Olympic gold medalists for the first time in history when they defeated Brazil in the final.

Olympic volleyball results by year

Before 2020, the French men's team's best Olympic result was an eighth-place finish in 1988. But that changed in 2020 when the French men's team not only advanced to the tournament's knockout round but also secured a spot in the final. France fought a determined China squad in the gold medal-match. After five-fierce sets featuring outstanding performances by outside hitter Earvin N'Gapeth , Jean Patry and Trevor Clevenot , France came out on top and defeated China 3-2.  The U.S. women's team was the second-seeded team at the 2020 Olympics. After dropping only one game on its way to the quarterfinals, Team USA defeated the Dominican Republic in the quarterfinals and then Serbia in the semifinals. In the final, the U.S. faced a tough opponent in Brazil. The United States' top scorers, Andrea Drews and Michelle Bartsch-Hackley , combined for 29 in the final, helping the team secure victory and Team USA's first-ever gold medal. 

Rio 2016 Host country Brazil won its third Olympic men's volleyball title after losing in the gold medal match at the previous two GamesIts victory against runner-up Italy was the first 3-0 final win since the 2000 Sydney Olympics. Brazilian libero and 2004 Athens gold medalist Sergio Santos was awarded MVP honors and his fellow countryman, Wallace de Souza , led all scorers with 147 points – 19 more than the second best player. The United States took bronze thanks to a win over Russia.

China won the women's tournament for its third Games title as well, and first since the 2004 Athens Games, beating Serbia 3-1 in the gold-medal match. Volleyball legend Zhu Ting absolutely dominated throughout the entire tournament for China, scoring 22 more points than any other player for a total of 179 and also leading in spike efficiency at 42.27%, rightfully earning MVP honors for her efforts. The United States also took bronze on the women's side with a win over the Netherlands.

London 2012 The London Games ended in upset for the U.S. women who entered as the top-seeded team. Under the leadership of former U.S. men's coach Hugh McCutcheon , the team dominated through the preliminary matches, quarterfinals, and semifinals, only dropping two sets. Team USA met their Brazilian rivals in the gold medal match. In a disappointing repeat of the 2008 Beijing Games final, the U.S. women lost to Brazil 3-1.

The mens' gold-medal match did not disappoint as top-seeded Brazil and second-seeded Russia went head to head. Brazil won the first two sets 25-19 and 25-20. With fate holding the third set, Russia returned to win 29-27. The Russian men held the Brazilian's off, winning the final sets 25-22 and 15-9. Oddly enough, both teams finished the match with points totaling an even 108. 

Beijing 2008 Beijing in general, and the U.S. Olympic men's volleyball team in specific, were struck with tragedy on the first full day of the Games. U.S. coach Hugh McCutcheon 's in-laws were stabbed by a knife-wielding man while visiting a tourist site; Todd Bachman died on the scene, while his wife Barbara suffered severe injuries, but survived. McCutcheon immediately left the team to be with his wife, Elisabeth , and family, missing the Americans' first three matches. But the players, stirred by the tragedy, won each time out in their coach's absence, and kept winning with him back on the sideline. They cruised into the gold-medal match against defending champion Brazil, and on the final day of the Olympics, the U.S. captured gold with a four-set victory. Overcome with emotion, McCutcheon hugged his assistants after the final ball dropped, then retreated to a hallway to gather himself. He reemerged to celebrate with his players, collect his gold medal, and leave as the feel-good story of 2008.

One day earlier, the U.S. women faced their own showdown with Brazil in the women's final. Many of the American females were close with McCutcheon's wife, who was a 2004 Olympian, and were impacted by the tragedy just as much as the men. The U.S. women put together an inspired run to reach the gold-medal match. However, the top-ranked Brazilians collected its first women's indoor volleyball gold medal, putting on hold the U.S. women's team's quest for its first Olympic title.

Athens 2004 The much-anticipated men's gold medal-match between Brazil and Italy, the top two teams in the world at the time, did not disappoint. Sparked by the blocking of 6-foot-8 Dante Amaral , Brazil stormed to a 25-15 victory in game one and carried that momentum into the second game. But Italy ratcheted up its defense and blocking to take game two, 26-24, behind Andrea Giani and Andrea Sartoretti . But the Italians could not handle the serve of Brazil's Gustavo Andres and dropped the third game, 25-20. Both teams traded points in game four, but Brazil held on to win, 25-22, earning its second men's volleyball gold medal. As it did in Atlanta in 1996, Italy earned the silver.

China entered the women's gold-medal match against Russia as the Olympic tournament's top team in four of the six major statistical categories -- spiking, serving, setting and receiving. But the Chinese were without injured 6-foot-5 middle blocker Zhao Ruirui and were at a distinct disadvantage at the net against Russia's 6-8 star Yekaterina Gamova . But Zhang Ping tallied 25 points to help determined China overcome 33 points by Gamova for a 28-30, 25-27, 25-20, 25-23, 15-12 victory and China's first volleyball gold medal since 1984.

Sydney 2000 Yugoslavia emerged as a volleyball power in 1996, winning bronze in Atlanta despite the mid-Games departure of captain Dejan Brdovic when his 14-month old son died of a brain tumor. After securing silver at the 1998 World Championships, the Yugoslavs recovered from two round-robin losses to win gold in Sydney by beating Russia in straight sets. The U.S. men went 0-5 for its worst Olympic volleyball showing ever.

With a chance to become the first women's team -- in any sport -- to earn three consectuive Olympic gold medals, Cuba dropped the first two sets of the Sydney final against Russia. "We were very tense ... because of the pressure of winning a third gold medal," said Regla Torres , who is considered Cuba's best player of all time. "Then we relaxed and changed the way we played." With a new attitude and approach, the Cubans stormed back to win in five sets (25-27, 32-34, 25-19, 25-18, 15-7).

Atlanta 1996 Four years after being upset by the Netherlands in the quarterfinals -- the only major event to date it didn't win -- men's volleyball superpower Italy got a shot at revenge in the Atlanta final. But once more, the Dutch prevailed, this time in an epic five-setter that lasted two hours, 57 minutes. Favored again four years later in Sydney, Italy came up with silver.

Barcelona, 1992 After finishing fourth in its pool and thus barely advancing to the men's elimination round, the Netherlands upset favorite Italy in the quarterfinals, then beat Cuba to guarantee its nation a first Olympic medal in volleyball. The color was silver, following a straight-sets loss to undefeated Brazil in the final. The Dutch men were among the tallest volleyball players in Olympic history, averaging 6 feet, 7 inches. Their previous team in Seoul averaged 6 feet, 7 2/3 inches.

Though Cuba boycotted the 1984 and 1988 Games, the excellence of its women's volleyball team was no secret by Barcelona's arrival. What wasn't known was how well the world's most talented team could handle Olympic pressure. The answer was very well. Trailing Team USA, 9-8, in set five of the semifinals, Cuba stormed back to win, 15-11. Against the Unified Team in the final, the Cubans again proved mentally tough, winning in four close sets, 16-14, 12-15, 15-12, 15-13.

Seoul 1988 Led by Karch Kiraly , the U.S. men's team arrived in Seoul out to prove that its 1984 triumph -- at the Soviet-less Los Angeles Olympics -- was not a fluke. Fittingly and predictably, the Americans and Soviets met in the Seoul final, with the U.S. dropping the first set before bouncing back to win in four, joining USSR as the only repeat champions in men's volleyball.

Having gone four decades since it last celebrated an Olympic champion, Peru saw a potential end to that drought in its 1988 women's volleyball team, which was coached by a South Korean and was thus favored by spectators. After defeating former medalists China, the United States and Japan, the Peruvians met the mighty Soviets in the final. Peru opened a shocking two sets to none lead and was in front, 12-6, in game three before the first of several momentum swings. The USSR ultimately prevailed, 17-15 in the deciding fifth set.

Los Angeles 1984 Entering Los Angeles, the U.S. had competed in men's volleyball at the Olympics only twice before, placing seventh in 1968 and ninth in 1964. But a squad led by Karch Kiraly , Steve Timmons , Pat Powers , Aldis Berzins , Craig Buck and Dusty Dvorak struck gold for the nation where volleyball was invented. In the final, buoyed by a boisterous crowd of more than 12,000 at the Long Beach Arena, the Americans routed Brazil in straight sets.

Upon walking into the arena for the 1984 women's volleyball final against Team USA, Chinese star Lang Ping spotted a TV monitor displaying an image of the U.S. coach and some players wearing gold medals. After alerting her team, Ping said, "Let's pluck the medals from their necks." China, in its first Olympic women's volleyball tournament, avenged a preliminary-round loss to the Americans with a commanding, straight-sets victory. The U.S., with silver, also earned its first medal in women's volleyball. Ping later became the U.S. women's head coach for the 2008 Olympics.

Moscow 1980 On home turf, the Soviet men's team, with eight players back from the 1976 team that took silver, dropped just two sets en route to gold. The Soviet Union's women were similarly supreme, losing just three sets in five matches. The USSR became the first nation to sweep volleyball gold medals under the Olympic format.

Montreal 1976 After consecutive runner-up finishes in 1968 and 1972, Japan returned to the fore of women's volleyball with an astonishingly dominant performance in Montreal. The numbers: a 5-0 record, zero sets lost, and 225 points won to 84 points allowed. Only one team -- South Korea -- reached double figures in a set against Japan.

From 1964 through 1980, the Soviet Union and Japan combined to win nine of the 10 gold medals in men's and women's volleyball. The only other champion in that stretch was Poland, whose underdog men rallied from match-point down in a memorable Montreal final to defeat the Soviets in five sets.

Munich 1972 In what remains among the most stirring and memorable volleyball matches of all time, the Soviet Union successfully defended its women's Olympic title with a five-set victory over rival Japan. The match, which lasted more than two-and-a-half hours, was so close that during one stretch in the fourth set, there was a run of 24 service changes without a single point being scored ("rally scoring" was not yet the rule). In the bronze-medal match, North Korea defeated South Korea, 3-0, for its first and only team medal in Olympic history.

After winning bronze in 1964 and silver in 1968, Japan's "eight-year plan for victory" ended with a 1972 gold medal for the men's team. Eight of Japan's 12 players in Munich were on the runner-up 1968 team in Mexico City, and three were on the third-place squad for Tokyo in 1964. Japan used a highly complicated offense designed by mastermind coach Yasutaka Matsudaira , who revolutionized volleyball with his "multiple quick attack." Mexico City, 1968 After an upset loss to Team USA in its opening match and a brief scare from East Germany, the Soviet Union cruised to a successful defense of its Olympic title in men's volleyball. The Americans wound up seventh. The Soviet women dethroned Japan as Olympic champions, winning all seven matches and dropping just three sets along the way.

Tokyo 1964 One of the greatest teams in sports history, a group of women's volleyball players representing a factory north of Osaka, Japan, won 157 consecutive matches, a world title and Olympic gold during a four-year run in the early 1960s. The team's authoritarian coach, Hirofumi Daimatsu , was known for putting his players through long, brutal practices every night, after they'd spent the day working in the company office. "I was growing my nails, because I wanted to retain some of my femininity," recalled captain Kawanishi Kasai . "He thought I was growing my nails to hurt him, which wasn't true ... but I did often wish the ball would hit him in the face." In winning gold in Tokyo, Daimatsu's team won all five matches, outscored the opposition 238-93 (in points) and dropped just one set -- against Poland -- when Daimatsu noticed that the Soviet coach was watching and decided to pull some of his stars.

The men's volleyball competition in Tokyo saw the Soviet Union and Czechoslovakia each go 8-1 to finish tied atop the standings. The Soviets, having defeated the Czechs head-to-head, were awarded Olympic gold because of a better points for/against ratio. The Soviet Union's only loss was to host Japan, which took bronze. The U.S. men, rocked by dissension over coach Harry Wilson' s decision to leave highly regarded Gene Selznick off the team, managed only two victories.

Note: Some components of NBCOlympics.com may not be optimized for users browsing with Internet Explorer 11, 10 or older browsers or systems.

Have an account?

Suggestions for you See more

Radius and Ulna

9th -  12th  , locomotor movements, 1st -  2nd  , qualities of effort, heart health, 1st -  4th  , 2nd -  3rd  , the brain and the immune system, kg -  2nd  , ultimate frisbee.

History of Volleyball

Physical ed.

10 questions

Introducing new   Paper mode

No student devices needed.   Know more

Who invented the sport Volleyball

James Naismith

William Morgan

Julius Erving

Kei Tsukishima

What is the former name of volleyball?

Quintonette

The basic skill spike originated in what country?

Afghanistan

Philippines

United States of America

The following are equipment used in volleyball EXCEPT _____

The point system used in volleyball is called ________

Ball Point System

Net Point System

Rally Point System

Volley Point System

How many players from one team are allowed to play during a volleyball game?

The following are basic skills of volleyball EXCEPT?

Which of the following is NOT a player position in volleyball?

Which of the following is CORRECT about a libero?

A libero can serve.

A libero is a defense - specialist player.

A libero can replace any players in his team.

A libero is situated together with front row players.

The following are descriptions of a setter EXCEPT?

Setter is the point guard in volleyball.

Setter is the control tower of a team in volleyball

Setter sets the ball to anyone that spikes on his team in the court.

Setter sets the ball to anyone that spikes on his team in the court including the libero.

Explore all questions with a free account

Continue with email

Continue with phone

• Home →
• Volleyball History →

The Complete History of Volleyball (From 1985 Until Now)

Volleyball is the second most popular participation sport worldwide, behind only soccer.

Over 800 million people around the globe play volleyball weekly, with Americans only representing about 6% of the international weekly volleyball players.

But this number is sure to increase as volleyball is rapidly becoming immensely popular everywhere around the world.

So where did our amazing sport come from?

Let’s take an in-depth look at the history volleyball from its creation in 1895 through today.

The Birth of Volleyball

William Morgan (no, not Captain William Morgan) was an instructor at a YMCA in Holyoke, Massachusetts in the late 1800s.

In 1895, he decided he needed to create a game more suitable for the less athletic, business focused boys and men at the YMCA.

A game that would still require strength and skill, but be appropriate for people less mobile.

He would call this game “mintonette”.

William had the opportunity to interact with a man by the name of James Naismith during his time at Springfield College, in the early 1890s.

Naismith, of course, was the inventor of what is now internationally known as basketball.

Mr. Morgan was inspired by Naismith’s creativity and set out to create a sport blending the skills of basketball, baseball, handball, and tennis, wanting to borrow some ideas as he had limited time to come up with his invention.

All the while, he was keeping in mind his goal of creating a game for all age levels and strengths.

His creation was finally completed in 1895.

At that point, William had a set of ground rules made up to facilitate the game.

He used a tennis net, lifted to the height of six feet and six inches.

He chose a court roughly 30 feet wide and 60 feet long (probably close to 25 x 50 at first), to ensure the game could be played in gymnasiums all around the country.

Here is a short list of the rules, as originally set forth by William Morgan in 1895.

There are some distinct differences between the game at its inception and the game as it will be even 30 years later, in the early 1920s.

1. The game will last nine “innings”.

2. An inning correlates to the number playing. If one man is on each side – then an inning is one serve series per side. A lost serve is half the inning.

3. A serve must be struck and hit over the net. The server has two tries to get it in (like tennis), however, if a teammate hits the ball after the service to “help” it over it is good.

4. A side only scores when serving – as in side out scoring.

5. The ball is considered dead anytime it hits the net. No “let serves” or playing it out of the net.

6. The line is considered out.

7. Any number of people can play, if teams are equal.

8. If a ball touches a wall or ceiling and bounces back in play, it is still live.

9. No limit to hits per side and no limits to hits in a row by the same player (dribbling).

The Creation of a New Ball

As William worked on his new game, he did have one major hiccup…

He faced quite a challenge selecting an appropriate ball to be struck back and forth.

A basketball was too heavy. Even with the leather stripped off, the bladder was not substantial enough.

So, Mr. Morgan sought the assistance of a familiar name in the world of sports goods – A.G. Spalding & Bros.

Along with Dale Callaghan, a specialized ball was created that was about 26 inches in circumference and weighing in at around 10.5 ounces.

This provided the very rough outline for what would become the modern-day volleyball.

The Death of “Mintonette”

It was time for William Morgan to debut his new game to the world, or at least those in attendance at the new East Gymnasium at the Springfield College.

Mr. Morgan announced his sport as “mintonette” and his presentation would include two teams of five men to demonstrate the game and its rules.

In attendance that day was a significant figure at Springfield College, Professor Alfred T. Halstead. Mr. Halstead suggested that the game was a masterpiece, however, the name was a little lacking…

Halsted stated that it appeared the men were volleying the ball back and forth to each other and the game should be called “volleyball”.

The day Mintonette had its debut, it lost its name to the term Volleyball.

On July 7, 1896, volleyball had its first official game.

From there, William Morgan moved on from the YMCA to pursue other careers. He was said to simply be proud that volleyball was being enjoyed by so many people.

William Morgan would die on December 27, 1942.

His name continues to be honored in the volleyball world, as the top male and female players at the United States collegiate volleyball level are awarded the Morgan Trophy each year.

The Spread of Volleyball

From its introduction in 1896 to the people of the local YMCA and Springfield College, volleyball has traveled all the way around the world.

It has spread relatively organically through a variety of social coincidences and intentional introductions.

The YMCA played a major role in the globalization of volleyball. The sport was spread to areas of YMCA influence in the early 1900s.

Areas like Canada, Asia, and South America saw an influx of people playing volleyball around the turn of the 20 th century.

Volleyball picked up in popularity quickly from there and spread to areas of the Caribbean and fully inundated South America.

In 1907, the Playground of America convention highlighted volleyball as one of the “most popular sports” of the time, and in 1913, volleyball was introduced to competition at the Far Eastern games.

Another significant impact on the global distribution of volleyball was the disbursement of U.S. military members throughout the world in late 1910s.

In 1919, around 16,000 service members were presented with volleyballs, and the game was spread to many nations at this time by those serving abroad.

Fast forward to 1964 and volleyball makes its Olympics debut in Tokyo, Japan. A more modern ball was introduced by Japanese players.

The 1960s were quite innovative for volleyball as the dink, bump, and block were all introduced to the game.

In 1996, beach volleyball finds its way into the Olympics and the indoor game is streamlined.

1996 marks the seismic increase in the global popularity of competitive volleyball.

Volleyball Changes Over Time

Like all sports, volleyball has seen some significant changes since its inception in the late 1800s.

Rules have come and gone, as have strategies.

Let’s look at some key rule changes throughout the 100+ years of volleyball’s existence.

• 1900: Net height raised to 7’6”.

• 1912: Establishment of six players per side and rotation before the serve.

• 1916: Establishment that ball must be touched by another player after each contact.

• 1916: Net height raised to 8’0”.

• 1920: Only three hits per side introduced.

• 1922: Back line touching rules introduced. Win by two precedent set.

• 1925: Introduction of basic substitution rules and limitations.

• 1937: Multiple contacts allowed on hard hit balls.

• 1938: Blocking rules introduced – one or two man block allowed but had to be adjacent.

• 1940: Ball rules clarified – must be 12-piece laced leather ball.

• 1949: Three man block legalized.

• 1951: Back line hits allowed by back row players.

• 1952: Serves from anywhere behind the service line – making way for jump serves.

• 1956: Rotational rules set.

• 1960: Women’s net height lowered to 7’4”.

• 1968: “Spiking line” moved from seven feet to what is now the 10-foot line (3m line).

• 1974: Antennae were officially added to the net set up.

• 1976: Blocks no longer count as first touch. Rescinded the hard hit ball contact rule.

• 1984: Double contact allowed on serve receives. Blocking or attacking serve illegal.

• 1999: Introduction of rally scoring. Games to 25 (deciding games to 15) – win by two.

• 2001: “Let” serve in play (ball can touch net and still be played if in opponent court).

• 2002: Coaches allowed to communicate with players throughout play.

As we can see, a myriad of changes occurred as the popularity of volleyball grew internationally.

Many rules were introduced, rescinded, and reintroduced several times as the rules continued to be ironed out.

Who Makes the Volleyball Rules Now?

As volleyball has settled into its own over the century or so it has been around, many have had input on the rules and laws of the sport.

As early as 1928, an association now known as USA Volleyball (formerly the United States Volleyball Association or USVBA) was formed to address standardization of the rules of the game.

This allowed the game to be played across the nation under the same guidelines, making events like the first volleyball U.S. Open possible.

About 20 years later, the Federation Internationale de Volleyball was introduced in Paris, France, as an international governing body, providing worldwide stability for the growing game.

In turn, international tournaments could be organized utilizing the rules set forth by the new international federation.

Throughout the 1960s and 1970s, the NCAA officially sanctioned volleyball and national teams were organized for Olympic and international tournament play.

From there, into the 1980s, two-man beach volleyball gained notoriety and was given an international stage in 1996 at the summer Olympics in Atlanta, Georgia.

While there are several national and international groups determining their specific rules of the game, volleyball has come into a time of stability and popularity like never before.

Rule changes are minor and hardly prevalent, and competitive play is popular amongst all age groups.

It is truly astounding to see how far volleyball has come in its relatively short lifetime.

From a game created for the “less mobile” to what has become a wildly popular display of athleticism, Mr. William Morgan discovered something he would probably not have imagined could grow so big.

A truly global sport, played by almost a billion people worldwide, volleyball has a rich history and an even brighter future.

Now get out there and join the masses on a volleyball court near you!

Please include the contribution of the Philippines namely the three hits rule i. e. passing, setting, spiking known as Filipino bomb spike and the production of the Libero monitoring sheet now known as R-6.

Leave a reply:

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

Leave a Reply:

Pardon Our Interruption

As you were browsing something about your browser made us think you were a bot. There are a few reasons this might happen:

• You've disabled JavaScript in your web browser.
• You're a power user moving through this website with super-human speed.
• You've disabled cookies in your web browser.
• A third-party browser plugin, such as Ghostery or NoScript, is preventing JavaScript from running. Additional information is available in this support article .

To regain access, please make sure that cookies and JavaScript are enabled before reloading the page.

History of Volleyball

The sport of volleyball originated in the United States, and is now just beginning to achieve the type of popularity in the U.S. that it has received on a global basis, where it ranks behind only soccer among participation sports.

In 1895, William G. Morgan , an instructor at the Young Men’s Christian Association (YMCA) in Holyoke, Mass. , 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).

Per Morgan, the game was fit for the gymnasium or exercise hall but, could also be played outdoor. The play consisted of any number of players keeping a ball in motion from one side to the other over a net raised 6 feet 6 inches above the floor. Play is started by a player on one side serving the ball over the net into the opponents’ field or court. The opponents then, without letting the ball strike the floor, return it, and it is in this way kept going back and forth until one side fails to return the ball or the ball hits the floor. The side serving the ball earns points when the opposite side either fails to return the ball or allows the ball to hit the floor.

During a demonstration game, someone 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.

Rules of the game, established by Morgan:

After reaching Japan and Asia through the YMCA network by 1896, a specially designed ball came to be by 1900, and over the next 20 years, rules were set into place. The Philippines created the “set” and “spike” in 1916 and six-a-side play was the standard two years later. By 1920, the rules mandating three hits per side and back-row attacks were instituted.

Japan, Russia and the United States each started national volleyball associations during the 1920s. And when U.S. soldiers brought the game overseas during World War II, the sport spread through the rest of Europe like wildfire. Shortly after, France recognized the sport nationally as well. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) made the game a non-Olympic sport in 1949 and the first World Championships for men were held in that same year. The women’s first world-level competition came three years later.

The Russians would dominate the sport until the mid-1980s with some challenge from Japan during the stint. The United States finally made their mark as the men’s team won back-to-back gold medals in Los Angeles (1984) and Seoul (1988).

With beach volleyball stealing some of the spotlight away from indoor, certain traditions were dropped for the Sydney Games. Replacing the previous system where only the serving team could earn one, a point will be at stake for every rally. In addition, another agile defender called a “libero,” who is free to substitute in back-row defense at almost every turn was added.

Today there are more than 46 million Americans who play volleyball. Worldwide, there are over 800 million people who play volleyball at least once a week.

In the mid 1960’s, the United States Junior Olympic Volleyball (USJOV) program was established. Initial talks to establish a junior program within the United States Volleyball Association (USVBA) were not productive. The USVBA, then comprised totally of volunteers and lacking paid staff members, was required to concentrate on its Open Club program. In addition, priority efforts beyond that were to develop the national teams and international competition program. The USVBA Executive Committee granted permission to the Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) to pursue the development of a full-scale junior development program within the AAU structure.

Following two years of discussion and negotiations, and the finalization of appropriate legislation, the AAU approved volleyball as a Junior Olympic sport. John Eaton of Virginia Beach, V.A., was appointed to write the first set of rules for Junior Olympic Volleyball. Using the rules of volleyball as approved by the USVBA, Eaton modified the rules so that they would be more compatible to the age group program. These rules still serve as the basic foundation of junior volleyball in the United States today.

Although the National AAU approved volleyball as a “JO” sport, the organization did not include it in the multi-sport Junior Olympic Championship. Volleyball had to strike out on its own for qualifying national tournament sites. The first national championship was conducted in 1974 at the Catonsville Community College in Catonsville, MD.

Although the bulk of the teams were from East of the Mississippi River, the tournament was qualified a success due to the number of teams entered; the enthusiasm it generated; and the interest that was stimulated. In this tournament, 200 athletes (not teams) took part, as age group teams from Chicago and such places as York and Haverford, PA., emerged as national champions.

The 1974 national tournament followed two years of experimentation with a “Prep School-East” and a “Prep School-West” national championship approach. The next logical approach was the implementation of developmental programs in the 57 local AAU associations. Although some developed programs, most notably Chicago, Louisiana and eastern Pennsylvania, other local associations did not. As a result, AAU Junior Olympic Volleyball efforts were, for the most part, limited to the national tournament In some local AAU associations, volleyball was not even a recognized committee, Junior Olympic or otherwise.

Once the USVBA established the national teams/international competition program, efforts were turned toward the programs of junior development. Since the AAU had fulfilled only a portion of its earlier commitments, administrative efforts were directed toward grass roots development. In 1978, an exploratory meeting was held with representatives of various organizations in Kansas City, which included the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA), National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA), Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) and National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA). From this meeting, emerged an action plan to negotiate an agreement with the AAU to coordinate a development plan to complement the national AAU/JOV tournament. This event had realized great success and was now situated in its permanent site of Lisle, Illinois.

The action plan, however, was never realized because of the National Amateur Act and the eventual birth of the USVBA’s National Junior Championship. [The Amateur Sports Act (Public Law 95-606) was adopted in 1978. This law was amended in 1998 to become the Olympic and Amateur Sports Act (OASA). Because of the efforts of Senator Ted Stevens of Alaska to shepherd this law through Congress, the 1998 amendments are often called the “Ted Stevens Amendments.”  The original Amateur Sports Act, as adopted in 1978, required the United States Olympic Committee (USOC) “to encourage and provide assistance to amateur athletic programs and competition for handicapped individuals, including, where feasible, the expansion of meaningful participation by handicapped individuals in programs of athletic competition for able-bodied individuals.”] It was now evident that one tournament of this quality and level was not enough to accommodate the number of junior teams interested. The event was modeled after the actual Olympic games, complete with a parade of states and opening ceremonies. Shortly after a comprehensive concept, as well as a full-fledged grass roots action plan for Junior Olympic Volleyball development, was developed. The plan was to be implemented by the USVBA regions and fed into the USJOV national tournament structure. It was created to serve as a major building block for the scholastic, collegiate, recreation and club play throughout the country and was designed to be the future of volleyball in the United States.

In 1984, the USVBA Board of Directors pledged its priority to the development of this program and reinforced their statement with staff efforts. In 1985, the USVBA hired the nation’s first full-time administrator of Junior Olympic and Youth Volleyball.

USA Volleyball, acting as a National Governing Body for volleyball in the United States, established a Junior Olympic Volleyball Division. It is comprised of special interest representatives, but more importantly, with persons who are highly regarded and respected as leaders in the development of junior volleyball in the USA. They come from the scholastic, collegiate and club ranks and have an in-depth background in volleyball. Junior Olympic Volleyball is now a viable force within the volleyball community. It is fully expected to establish volleyball as a primary recreation sport and an important collegiate and scholastic activity, and equally important, establish United States as a major force in international competition in the future.

Northern California has had a long history of volleyball activity. In the early years, volleyball competition was centered primarily in the YMCA’s. The San Francisco YMCA was the first Northern California team to achieve national prominence by winning the National AAU Championship in 1929. The Embarcadero YMCA hosted the USVBA National Open Championships in 1939, and the following year finished second in the YMCA Championship. In 1974, Tom Cotter was instrumental in developing the first Far Western Championship Tournament. The following year, Tom was appointed as the first commissioner (regional representative) of the newly- formed Region 12 encompassing Northern California, Nevada, and Utah.

During the 1950’s Stockton YMCA became a national power under coach Harold W. Peterson, winning the Open in 1954 and 1955 and finishing second in 1952, ’56, ’57, and ’63. Bob Miller and Hal Durham each had brief stints as Commissioner in the early 1950’s and Len Gibson was appointed in 1954. The exact dates are somewhat hazy in the Region record.

Although there is mention of women’s competition earlier, the first recorded Women’s Region 12 Championship took place in 1965 due largely to the efforts of Women’s Representative Jerry Kaluna and the Women’s Association founder Fran Plunket. The year women first competed in the Far Western was 1968, the year Al Monaco became Region Commissioner.

In 1971 the Region Executive Committee was formed to help Al with the ever-increasing tasks of running a fast-growing region. In 1972, Nevada and Utah joined Idaho to form Region 14, leaving Northern California as a separate region. The same year, Dan Gellerman published the first issue of the Region 12 news, and the first Region 12 volleyball camp was held at St Mary’s College.

In 1973 Al Monaco was hired as Executive Director of the USVBA and Lon Crosson took over as Commissioner. Gary Colberg, the present Commissioner, succeeded Lon in 1975.

The rules of volleyball have changed many times since William Morgan first developed the game in 1895 with an original purpose of providing some form of recreation and relaxation for businessmen at the Holyoke, MA Y.M.C.A.

The first rules, written by Mr. Morgan in long hand, contained the following basic features: The net was 6 feet, 6 inches high. The court was 25 X 50 feet Any number of participants was allowed. The length of the game was nine innings, with three outs allowed per team per inning. Continuous air dribbling of the ball was permissible up to a restraining line 4 feet from the net. No limit on the number of hits on each side of the court. A served ball could be assisted across the net. A second serve (as in tennis) was permitted if the first resulted in a fault. Any ball hitting the net, except on the first service, was a fault and resulted in side out.

From 1970 to the present, Volleyball became big business. Many of the rules from 1970 to the present differed between Federation (High School), National Association of Girls and Women in Sports, which has now been replaced by the NCAA, USA Volleyball and other amateur and professional associations. Each Association rulebook needs to be studied.

[/spb_text_block] [/spb_accordion_tab] [spb_accordion_tab title=”THE VOLLEYBALL TIMELINE” accordion_id=”” icon=””] [spb_text_block pb_margin_bottom=”no” pb_border_bottom=”no” width=”1/1″ el_position=”first last”]

1896 After a demonstration given at the YMCA in Springfield the name “Mintonette” is replaced with “Volleyball”

1900 The rules as modified by W.E. Day are accepted and published by the YMCA.   Match length is set at 21 points.   The height of the net is increased to 7-feet-6.   Canada is the first “foreign” country to adopt Volleyball.   A special ball was designed for the sport .  The Young Men’s Christian Association (YMCA) spread volleyball to Canada, Asia, and the Southern Hemisphere.

1906 Cuba discovers “6 Volleyball” in 1906, thanks to a North American army officer, Agusto York, who takes part in the second military intervention on the Caribbean island.

1907 Volleyball was presented at the Playground of America convention as one of the most popular sports

1908 Volleyball reaches Japan. It is Hyozo Omori, a Springfield College graduate in the United States, who first demonstrates the rules of the new game on the YMCA courts in Tokyo

1909 YMCA spread volleyball to Puerto Rico

1910 Volleyball officially lands in China, thanks to Max Exner and Howard Crokner. Up until 1917, play is between 16-man teams and goes to 21 points

The Philippines, too, got to know the new game. It is imported by Manila YMCA director Elwood Brown. In a very short space of time, there are 5,000 public and private courts   In the USA, decisive impetus is given to the game by Prevost Idell, YMCA director in Germantown

1912 YMCA spread volleyball to Uruguay The court size is changed, becoming 35×60 feet. A uniform size and weight of the ball is established, calling for a circumference of 26 inches and a weight of between 7 and 9 ounces. Two other important innovations: the number of players on each team is set at six and it is decided to rotate players before service

1913 Volleyball competition held in Far Eastern Games Volleyball is put on the programme for the first Far Eastern Games held in Manila. Teams are made up of 16 players. George Fisher, secretary of the YMCA War Office, includes Volleyball in the recreation and education programme for the American armed forces.

1915 The number of players on court again becomes variable, anything from 2 to 6 for each team. Official game time is introduced and it is decided that the team losing a game has the right to begin serving in the next game In Europe, Volleyball arrives on the French beaches of Normandy and Brittany with American soldiers fighting in the First World War. Its popularity grows rapidly, but the game takes root especially in Eastern countries, where the cold climate makes gym sports particularly attractive   The opening days of World War I brings Volleyball to Africa. The first country to learn the rules is Egypt

1916 An offensive style of passing the ball in a high trajectory to be struck by another player, the set and spike, were introduced in the Philippines. The Filipinos developed the “bomba” or kill, and called the hitter a “bomberino”   Many new rules are established. The score for a “game” drops from 21 to 15, and it is determined that to win a match a team has to win two out of three “games.” The ball can now be hit with a player’s feet. Net height rises to 8 feet, while ball weight climbs from 8 to 10 ounces. It is decided that holding on to the ball is a foul and that a player cannot have contact with the ball a second time until after it has been played by another athlete    Volleyball becomes a part of the program of the NCAA, the body that oversees college and university sports in the USA   The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) was invited by the YMCA to aid in editing the rules and in promoting the sport. Volleyball was added to school and college physical education and intramural programs . .

1917 The game was changed from 21 to 15 points   YMCA spread volleyball to Brazil   At the Allied Forces air base in Porto Corsini, where Ravenna’s sports palace is now located, American airmen introduce the virus of Volleyball into Italy

1918 The number of players per team is set at six. In Japan, the first High School Championship is played

1919 American Expeditionary Forces distributed 16,000 volleyballs to it’s troops and allies. This provided a stimulus for the growth of volleyball in foreign lands   During the First World War, Dr. George J. Fisher, as Secretary of the YMCA War Work Office, makes Volleyball a part of the programme in military training camps, both in the USA and abroad, in the athletic handbooks written for those responsible for sport and recreation in the Army and Marines. Thousands of balls and nets are sent overseas to the U.S. troops and also presented to the Allied Army’s sports directors. More than 16,000 volleyballs are distributed in 1919 to the American Expeditionary Corps Forces only. The Inter-Allied Games are organized in Paris (but Volleyball is not included since the game is not yet known sufficiently well known in the 18 participating Allied countries to allow for a balanced competition)   In China, the rules are modified. Play becomes 12 against 12, with matches going to 15 points

1920 Institution of three hits per side and back row attack rules   Court size goes down to 30×60 feet, and the ball is allowed to be played by any part of the body above the waist. A major innovation involves the rule allowing a team to play a ball no more than three times before sending it over the net   The Philippines develop the first kind of spike. It is known as the “Filipino bomb” and it is a pretty lethal weapon   The first spontaneous attempts at blocking make their appearance, although they are not yet codified by the rules   Volleyball makes its first official appearance in Russia in the cities of the Volga, Gorky and Kazan, and at the same time in Khabarovsk and Vladivostok

1922 The first YMCA national championships were held in Brooklyn, NY. 27 teams from 11 states were represented. Players in the back line are not permitted to spike. The “double hit” fault is added to the rules. Scoring rules are also changed, providing that, with the score at 14-14, two consecutive points are needed to win   The maximum number of consecutive ball contacts per team is set at three. The first National Federation is founded in Czechoslovakia, quickly followed by Bulgaria. The first National Championship is played in the USA, in which only YMCA teams compete    Volleyball gains in popularity in Italy too, thanks to Guido Graziani, a Springfield YMCA graduate

1923 A team is to be made up of 6 players on court and 12 official substitutes, and each player has to have a numbered jersey. The team securing the right to serve has to rotate clockwise. The serve is to be made by the player placed on the right on the back line. If a player touches the adversary’s court during play it is a foul. Minimum ceiling height is set at 15 feet   The official birth date of Volleyball in Russia is set at 28 July, 1923, the day a match between men’s team High Art and Theatre Workshop (Vhutemas) and State Cinema Technical School (GTK) is played in Moscow

1924 The Olympic Games programme in Paris includes a demonstration of “American” sports, with Volleyball among them

1925 Two time-outs per game for each team becomes the rule. There is also a change in the scoring rules for the most hotly contested sets: at 14-14 to win it is no longer necessary to score two consecutive points, but rather to have a two-point advantage. Once again the ball weight is modified, from 9 to 10 ounces   Volleyball is played for the first time in the Netherlands. After a stay at the Seminary of Techny in Illinois, U.S., Father S. Buis introduces the sport to the Sint Willibrod mission house in Uden and has a few courts set up there

1926 A team reduced to less than 6 players forfeits the match

1927 The Japanese Federation is born and nine men’s competitions are organised   In Russia, there is a “political” reaction by the Communist Party against the YMCA as a “capitalistic, bourgeois, and religious” organization, and it is obliged to leave the country. But Volleyball is there to stay   China adopts the nine-player-per-team system, the same used in Japan  1928 It became clear that tournaments and rules were needed; the United States Volleyball Association (USVBA, now USA Volleyball) was formed. The first US Open was staged, as the field was open to non-YMCA squads

1929 Cuba organizes the first men’s tournament according to “American” rules at the Caribbean and Central American Games. Between the two World Wars, great efforts are made to give unity to the Volleyball movement by establishing a single set of rules and creating an international federation. These are just initial efforts, with nothing concrete being set  1930s Recreational sports programs became an important part of American life

1930 The first two-man beach game was played

1932 Time-outs are limited to one minute. To make a play, an athlete can step off his own court; but he cannot change position in the starting line-up

1933 The first USSR National Championship is held, where there are already over 400,000 players. For Soviet Volleyball, it is the year of enshrinement. In January, a challenge between Moscow and Dnepropetrovsk is played on no less important a stage than that of the Bolshoi Theatre   A book entitled Volleyball: Man’s Game by Robert E. Laveaga, published by A S Barnes & Co of New York, makes an important impact on teaching methods and scientific training techniques. Volleyball for Women by Katherine M. Montgomery is also very useful for teaching the game

1934 National volleyball referee approval and recognition   The first concrete steps to establish international relations in Volleyball are taken during the International Handball Federation Congress in Stockholm

1935 Crosses are to be marked on the floor to determine player position. Touching the net is to be considered a foul. An important rule involves spikers: it is forbidden to step off the court as long as the ball is in play on the spiker’s side (it had been customary for spikers waiting for a set to take a running start from way off and then leap from one foot). In Tashkent and Moscow, the USSR plays the first official international matches against Afghanistan

1937 Action was taken at the Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) convention in Boston to recognize the USVBA as the official national governing body in the US   Multiple ball contacts were permitted in defence against particularly violent spikes

1938 The Czechs perfect blocking which is officially introduced into the rules under the concept of “a counteraction at the net by one or two adjacent players.” For almost 20 years before, blocking had been a part of the game but was not spelled out in the rules. The Czechs are the first (soon followed by the Russians) to attribute decisive importance to the new skill, which facilitates the ungrateful task of volleying defences

1939 How to push for homogeneous rules throughout the world? The Annual USVBA Reference Guide and the Official Rules of the Game of Volleyball gave useful information on the game and provided a forum where experiences and ideas emanating from different sources could be exchanged. During the War, thousands of these guides were used throughout the world

1940 William G. Morgan, the creator of Volleyball, dies at the age of 68. A man of high moral standards, Morgan suffered no pangs of jealousy and continued to follow with enthusiasm the progress of his game, convinced that real Volleyball, for real athletes, would be a success  1940s Forearm pass introduced to the game as a desperation play. Most balls played with overhand pass

1941 In several countries, including Italy, experiments are made with a system of timed play. Two 20-minute sets are played (with supplementary time in case of a tie). But after various and prolonged trials, the experiments are abandoned, but taken up again in the United States at the close of the Second World War. Another innovation is time-limit Volleyball, whereby a game lasts eight minutes of actual play. To win, a team has to have either a two-point advantage at the end of the eight minutes or be the first to score 15 points. But even there, the idea finds little acceptance

1942 The ball can be played by any part of the body from the knees up   Everywhere from the South Pacific to the Finnish front, Volleyball draws crowds among troops engaged in the Second World War, even aboard aircraft carriers. Volleyball is recommended by Chiefs of Staff for training the troops, believing it keeps them in condition, strengthens their morale, and teaches them how to stay together as a group – something essential at this point of the War

1943 During the summer, Mr. Friermood joins the management of the United States YMCA and quickly becomes Secretary/Treasurer of the USVBA and works closely with Dr. Fisher, its President. Through international YMCA contacts in more than 80 countries and also military personnel around the world, communications are established and begin to produce information on the interpretation and development of Volleyball and those who are managing it. Correspondence with the Polish managers during the War draws attention to the post-war endeavours to establish an international Volleyball organization

1945 First postage stamp on a Volleyball subject is issued in Romania

1946 A study of recreation in the United States showed that volleyball ranked fifth among team sports being promoted and organized   In January, the Spartak Prague team goes to play in Poland, signaling a resumption of contacts after the War years aimed at creating an international Volleyball organization. On the occasion of a friendly match between the Czech and French national teams on August 26, a meeting is held in Prague between representatives of the federations of Czechoslovakia, France, and Poland. The meeting produces the first official document of the future FIVB, with the creation of a commission for the organization of the International Federation, the promotion of a constituent congress, and the decision to launch a European or World Championship at an early date

1947 The Federation Internationale De Volley-Ball (FIVB) was founded in Paris   Only front-line players are allowed to exchange positions for a two-player block and spike. Egypt is the first Arab and African country to organize Volleyball activities and establish a National Federation   From April 18 to 20 in Paris, 14 federations found the FIVB, with the headquarters in Paris. Frenchman Paul Libaud is the first President   American and European rules of the game are harmonized. The court is to measure 9 x 18 metres; and net height is to be 2.43 metres for men and 2.24 for women   Only in Asia, the rules are different: the court has to measure 21.35 x 10.67 metres, and the net has to be 2.28 high for men and 2.13 for women; there is no rotation of players and on court there are nine athletes arranged in three lines

1948 The first two-man beach tournament was held –  The European Championship – in Rome and won by Czechoslovakia. After the War, the rules are rewritten and clarified to make interpretation easier. In particular, a better definition is given to the idea of blocking, and service is limited to the right third of the back court boundary. It is also made clear that each player has to be in his right place during service; points scored by the wrong server are to be nullified; simultaneous contacts by two players are to be considered one; time-outs are to last one minute, while time-out due to injury can last five minutes; and rest time between one game and another is set at three minutes.

1949 The first World Championships were held in Prague, Czechoslovakia The first Men’s World Championship is held in Prague and won by the USSR. This is also the first time a setter can penetrate from the back line, leading to a three-player attack.   USVBA added a collegiate division, for competitive college teams. For the first ten years, collegiate competition was sparse. Teams formed only through the efforts of interested students and instructors. Many teams dissolved when the interested individuals left the college. Competitive teams were scattered, with no collegiate governing bodies providing leadership in the sport

1951 Volleyball now played by over 50 million people in over 60 countries   At its third Congress, the FIVB decides that a player’s hands can “invade” at the net during blocking but only in the final phases of spiking. Furthermore, a back-line player can spike, providing that he remains in his zone and does not move up to the front line   China begins to participate in international tournaments

1952 The first Women’s World Championship was held in Moscow and won by the USSR

1953 At its fourth Congress, the FIVB defines referee action and terminology. The Chinese Federation is born

1954 The Asian Confederation is founded in Manila

1955 Pan American Games included volleyball. At the FIVB Congress in Florence, the Japanese Federation adopts the international rules and commits itself to gradually introducing them in Asia. The 1st Asian Championship is played in Tokyo; both 6- and 9-player tournaments are scheduled. Volleyball is put on the program for the Pan American Games

1956 First issue of the official FIVB bulletin is published. The first truly globe-spanning World Championship is held in Paris, France (with 24 men’s teams from four continents). Czechoslovakia Men and USSR Women win the coveted titles

1957 The International Olympic Committee (IOC) designated volleyball as an Olympic team sport, to be included in the 1964 Olympic Games. Consideration is given to the introduction of a second referee; duration of time-outs is limited to one minute, 30 seconds. During the 53rd IOC session in Sofia, Bulgaria, from September 22 to 26, a demonstration tournament is played for the IOC members who then decide to include Volleyball on the programme for the Games celebrating the XVII Olympiad in Tokyo, 1964

1958 Once again it is the Czechs who introduce a new defensive hit – the bagger – which amazes spectators at the European Championship in Prague

1959 International University Sports Federation (FISU) held the first University Games in Turin, Italy. Volleyball was one of the eight competitions held. At the FIVB Congress in Budapest it is decided to forbid “screening” on the serve and to limit “invasion” at the net onto the opponent’s court to the whole foot.

1960s New techniques added to the game included – the soft spike (dink), forearm pass (bump), blocking across the net, and defensive diving and rolling

The United States Junior Olympic Volleyball (USJOV) program was established

1960 For the first time, a World Championship (Men’s) is played outside of Europe, in Brazil. USSR claims victory, as it also does in the women’s event. Seven mid-western institutions formed the Midwest Intercollegiate Volleyball Association (MIVA)

1961 The idea of Mini Volleyball is born in East Germany

1962 The World Championships are played in Moscow. The USSR Men confirm their status as the best, while it is a first victory for the Japanese Women’s team

1963 The European Confederation is founded on October 21

1964 Southern California Intercollegiate Volleyball Association (SCVIA) was formed in California

New rules on blocking: airborne invasion during blocking is prohibited, while blockers are permitted a second hit. The first Olympic Volleyball tournaments are played in Tokyo during the Olympic Games from October 13 to 23, with 10 men’s teams and 6 women’s teams. The gold medal for the men goes to the USSR, and the women to Japan.   Volleyball was introduced to the Olympic Games in Tokyo. (The Japanese volleyball used in the 1964 Olympics, consisted of a rubber carcass with leather paneling. A similarly constructed ball is used in most modern competition.)

1965 The California Beach Volleyball Association (CBVA) was formed. The first men’s World Cup is played in Poland and won by the USSR

1966 The first scientific symposium is held in Prague on the occasion of the men’s World Championship, won by Czechoslovakia

1967 The first African Continental Championship is played, and the African Zone Commission is founded. The Women’s World Championship, scheduled a year after the men’s, is played in Tokyo and won once again by Japan

1968 National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) made volleyball their fifteenth competitive sport. The use of antennas to limit the court air space and facilitate the referee’s decision on ball crossing outside the side line is recommended to the Congress in Mexico. The USSR take home two Olympic gold medals.

1969 The Executive Committee of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) proposed addition of volleyball to its program. A Coaches Commission is established. The FIVB recognizes its fifth Continental Sport Zone Commission when NORCECA is born in Mexico, July 26, with the merging of USA, Canada and other countries joining to form the North Central American and Caribbean Confederation (NORCECA). The first NORCECA Championships take place in Mexico. In Berlin, East Germany wins the second edition of the men’s World Cup

1970 The World Championships are held in Bulgaria. Victorious are the East German men and the USSR women

1971 The first FIVB coaching courses are held in Japan and Egypt. The FIVB Medical Commission is established. The sub-commission for Mini Volleyball of the FIVB Coaches’ Commission is established

1972 The five Sports Zone Commissions (Africa, Asia, Europe, Norceca, and South America) become Continental Confederations. The Japanese Men’s team win the Munich Olympics with playmakers Nekoda and Matsudaira. Systematic use of its fast game clinches for the first time the gold medal for an Asian Country. The Women’s tournament is won by the USSR. The official rules of Mini Volleyball are established. The first South American Junior Championships are held in Rio

1973 The first Women’s World Cup is played in Uruguay and won by the USSR

1974 The World Championships in Mexico were telecast in Japan. At the FIVB Congress in Mexico City it is decided to make two changes to be put into force after 1976: lateral antennas are to be moved to the courtside boundaries and three ball contacts are to be permitted after blocking. During the World Championship, Polish athlete Wojtowicz amazes everybody by spiking from the back line. In Mexico City, Poland wins the Men’s gold; while, in Guadalajara, Japan holds on to the Women’s title   The first Junior National Championship was conducted at the Catonsville Community College in Catonsville, MD

1975 The US National Women’s team began a year-round training regime in Pasadena, Texas (moved to Colorado Springs in 1979, Coto de Caza and Fountain Valley, CA in 1980, and San Diego, CA in 1985) The first Mini Volleyball Symposium is held in Sweden, with 19 nations participating. The first Asian Championships are held in Australia

1976 At the Montreal Olympic Games, Poland confirms its leadership among the Men’s teams and Japan among the Women’s. After blocking, not two but three ball contacts are permitted; the distance between the antennas is shortened from 9.40 metres to 9 metres

1977 The US National Men’s team began a year-round training regime in Dayton, Ohio (moved to San Diego, CA in 1981) The first Junior World Championships are held in Brazil. The Winners are the USSR Men and South Korea Women. Kuwait organizes the first Arabian Championship. The World Cup is granted to Japan on a permanent basis for both men and women. Triumphing in Tokyo are the Soviet Men and the Japanese Women

1978 The Men’s World Championship is held in Rome, with the USSR winning ahead of Italy. The women play in Leningrad and it is a surprise first world title for Cuba, placing ahead of Japan and USSR

1980 At the Moscow Olympic Games, it was a dual victory for the USSR. 17th FIVB Congress: the rules of the game were adopted in three languages: French, English and Spanish  1981 World Cup in Tokyo: the USSR win for the men and China for the women  1982 Ball pressure is increased from 0.40 to 0.46 kg/cm2. The Women’s World Championship is held in Peru where, for the first time, China takes the title after an outstanding and spectacular performance. The Men’s World Championship (in Argentina) is won by the USSR  1983 The Association of Volleyball Professionals (AVP) was formed On July 19, the Brazil vs. USSR challenge at Rio de Janeiro’s Maracaná stadium attracts nearly 100,000 spectators.  1984 The US won their first medals at the Olympics in Los Angeles. The Men won the Gold, and the Women the Silver . The 19th Congress of the FIVB is held in Long Beach, California; and, after 37 years at the helm, the founding French President Paul Libaud steps down and becomes Honorary President. A Mexican lawyer, Dr. Rubén Acosta H., is elected as the new President. The USA win the Men’s Olympic gold and the Chinese Women’s team also claim gold. At the Los Angeles Olympic Games, the Brazilians (silver medallists) attract attention with their ability to make jumping serves. The idea is not new (Argentina had already tried it at the 1982 World Championship), but no one has ever seen it used so effectively before. After Los Angeles, it is no longer possible to block a serve, and referees became more permissive in evaluating defence. The first International Volleyball Cinema Festival is held in Perugia. December 15: FIVB moves its quarters to a temporary office in Lausanne while preparing its permanent headquarters in this city  1985 May 28: for the first time, a Volleyball representative (FIVB President Dr. Acosta) is named for an IOC Commission – the prestigious Olympic Movement Commission. World Cup in Tokyo: Victory goes to the USA Men, while China confirms its dominance among the women. December 28-31: the first Women’s World Gala is played in China, (two matches in Beijing and Shanghai). A world All-Star line-up challenges the Olympic Champion China, which wins both matches and the Hitachi Cup

1986 The Women’s Professional Volleyball Association (WPVA) was formed. In Paris, USA win the Men’s World Championships. China claim the women’s gold medal in Prague. Beach Volleyball receives official status by the FIVB.

1987 The FIVB added a Beach Volleyball World Championship Series. From February 17-22, the first Beach Volleyball World Championship is played in Ipanema, Brazil.

1988 The US Men repeated the Gold in the Olympics in Korea. On May 6, the FIVB inaugurates its new headquarters in Lausanne. The Olympic Games in Seoul sees the number of teams for the men’s tournament rise from 10 to 12. The USA win the men’s gold medal; the USSR take the women’s after a dramatic final match against Peru. The World Congress approves the turning of the fifth set into a tiebreak rally-point system in which each serve is worth a point. Final scoring per set is limited to 17 points with one point difference. The first edition of the FIVB Super Four is held in Japan, a bi-yearly competition between the three medallists from the Olympic Games (or the World Championships). In the first Super Four, the Soviet Men and Chinese Women re-affirm their superiority.

1989 The FIVB Sports Aid Program was created. The year brings the first edition of the Beach Volleyball World Series (a world circuit) and the second World Gala in Singapore (men’s and women’s All Stars against the Olympic champions). World Cup in Japan: Cuba Men and Women do the double. men, Italy places second in the men’s tournament. From December 6 to 10, the first World Championship for Clubs is played in Parma and won by home team Maxicono.

1990 The first edition of the men’s World League gets underway, a revolutionary idea for a team sport, with US$1 million prize money, professional organization and wide TV broadcasting in a multi-location competition reaching all corners of the world. The playing formula for the World Championship is changed. After the qualification phase, play proceeds by direct elimination matches right up to the finals for first to eighth place. Italy wins the first US$1 million World League in Tokyo, Japan, before a crowd of 10,000 spectators. Italy upset Brazil in Rio de Janeiro and becomes the first Western European country to win the Men’s Volleyball World Championship. USSR win the women’s world title against China in Beijing

1991 The first edition of the Women’s World Championship for Clubs is played in Brazil. Winner is Sadia Sao Paulo. Italy wins the second consecutive World League with US$2 million prize money for the teams. The final is in Milan in front of 12,000 spectators against Cuba

1992 The Four Person Pro Beach League was started in the United States. Barcelona applauds the first Olympic victory by the Brazil Men and Cuba Women. After Barcelona, the tiebreak is modified. At 16-16, play continues until one team has a two-point advantage. The World League increases Prize Money to US$3 million and for the third time Italy win, in front of 9,000 spectators in Genoa against the Netherlands. Brazil triumphs in the men’s Super Four and Cuba in the women’s

1993 The first edition of the World Grand Prix with US$1 million in Prize Money, the women’s version of the World League, is played entirely in Asia and the Final is won by Cuba against China. The World League final is held in São Paulo and Brazil win the title. During the 101st IOC session in Monte Carlo on September 18, Beach Volleyball is admitted as a gold medal discipline to the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta. Debut of another major event: the Grand Champions Cup is to be played every four years in Japan, alternating on odd years with the World Cup; participants will be the continental champions. First gold medal winners are Italy Men and Cuba Women

1994 The fifth edition of the World League offers record Prize Money of $6 million. Italy win for the fourth time, beating Cuba in the Final. The World Congress in Athens approves new rules to go into force officially on January 1, 1995: The possibility of contacting the ball with any part of the body, including the feet; the service zone extended to the whole 9-meter back line; elimination of the “double hit” fault on the first touch of a ball coming from the opponent’s court; and the permission to touch the net accidentally when the player in question is not trying to play the ball. The Italians win the Men’s World Championship for the second time in a row, equalling a previous USSR award. At the Women’s World Championship in Brazil, 26,000 spectators in Belo Horizonte attend the matches, setting a new record for women’s event. Later on in São Paulo, 12,000 spectators watch Cuba win its second world title, this time in a Final against Brazil

1995 The sport of Volleyball turns 100 years old! . The anniversary is observed throughout the world with awards ceremonies, tournaments, and special stamp issues and postmarks. The FIVB celebrates the event by bringing together “100 years of Volleyball in 100 days” in a special calendar of events and publishes a magnificent book, “100 Years of Global Link”. The World League is again won by the Italians. In the World Grand Prix, a surprise victory goes to the United States. Italy win the Men’s World Cup for the first time and Cuba the women’s event for the third time in a row. In the World Gala, the Italian Men beat the All Stars and receive the Centennial Cup from IOC President Juan Antonio Samaranch.

1996 The Atlanta Olympic Games makes Beach Volleyball the latest Olympic Medal Sport. A newly built 8,000-seat stadium in the historic area of Clayton County struggles to accommodate the enthusiastic crowds. Volleyball competitions have two ad hoc facilities; the Atlanta convention centre and the Georgia University Hall in Athens. Netherlands and Italy show Volleyball at its best and, after five strenuous sets, the team led by the Van de Goor brothers gives Netherlands their first gold medal in Volleyball history

1998 The Men and Women’s World Championships for the first time go to Japan, and the best Championships in Volleyball history take place. After matches in 14 cities watched by over 500,000 spectators, and the highest TV ratings in Japan since the 1964 Japanese Olympics gold for women, the Italians, led by Giani and Gardini, make history with their third consecutive crown, defeating Yugoslavia. Cuba Women, led by Regla Torres, set the same record of three crowns for women, defeating Russia. The Congress makes a historic change in the rules, adopting the “Rally Point System” of 25 points for each of the first four sets and a 15-point fifth tiebreak set for a two-year testing period. Other changes immediately adopted are the colour ball, Libero player and allowance of interactive coaches

2000 Olympics held in Sydney, Australia. Points were now at stake for every rally and a “libero” player was added. The “libero” is free to substitute in back row defense at almost every turn. The Italians win their eighth World League pennant in 12 editions defeating Russia. Cuba Women defeat Russia once more, 3-2, and win their third consecutive Olympic gold, setting an all-time record. Following the phenomenal success of Beach Volleyball during the Sydney Olympics, the IOC Executive Committee declares Beach Volleyball an official part of the Olympic programme. Karch Kiraly of the USA and Regla Torres of Cuba are crowned as the 20th Century Best Volleyball Players. Italy Men (1990-98) and Japan Women (1960-1965) are declared the 20th Century Best Volleyball Teams. The 20th Century Best Volleyball Coaches titles are awarded to Yasutaka Matsudaira, Japan Men (1964-1974), and Eugenio George, Cuba Women (1990-2000)

2001 Beach Volleyball is confirmed as a full Olympic program sport

2002 The FIVB World Congress in Buenos Aires adopts a Code of Conduct and rules against conflicts of interest and introduces height limit competitions (185 cm for men, 175 cm for women). Italy win the FIVB Women’s World Championship for the first time in Berlin

2003 Brazil Men win all 11 games in Japan to claim the FIVB World Cup for the first time. China Women do likewise to win their first World Cup title

2004 Olympics will be held in Athens, Greece China’s Women win the Olympic Volleyball title in Athens for the second time following their victory 20 years earlier in Los Angeles. Brazil’s Men also win for the second time, their first Olympic title being claimed in 1992.. China’s Women win the Olympic Volleyball title in Athens for the second time following their victory 20 years earlier in Los Angeles. Brazil’s Men also win for the second time, their first Olympic title being claimed in 1992

2006 Dr. Rubén Acosta is unanimously reelected as President of the FIVB by delegates representing 196 of the FIVB’s 219 National Federations at the 30th FIVB World Congress in Tokyo, Japan. The Brazilian Men defend their World Championship crown by beating Poland in the final in Tokyo. Russia’s Women win their sixth World Championship and their first since 1990. s

2007 Brazil’s Men defend their FIVB World Cup title in Japan, while the Italian Women win their first World Cup title. Brazil claim the World League for the fifth straight year and sixth time overall. They pick up a winner’s cheque for US$1 million. Brazil claims the World League for the fifth straight year and sixth time overall. They pick up a winner’s cheque for US$1 million. The Netherlands win the World Grand Prix in Ningbo, China, their first trophy in major FIVB competition. The Europeans become the sixth team to win the renowned annual women’s title and snap Brazil’s run of three straight triumph. The Netherlands win the World Grand Prix in Ningbo, China, their first trophy in major FIVB competition. The Europeans become the sixth team to win the renowned annual women’s title and snap Brazil’s run of three straight triumphs

2008 The FIVB opens it new premises of “Château Les Tourelles” in May, a gorgeous building by Lake Geneva in Lausanne, Switzerland. The 31st FIVB World Congress takes place in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, in June. USA Men win the World League before crowning a magnificent year with Olympic gold in Beijing. The Brazilian Women do the double as well: Olympic gold following first place in the World Grand Prix. Dr. Rubén Acosta makes official his announced retirement from the Presidency of the FIVB at the end of the World Congress. It is agreed that Mr. Jizhong Wei of China, FIVB First Executive Vice President, is to take over the leadership of the organization as President, unanimously elected until the next elections in 2012, according to the Congress decision to follow again in four years’ time the Olympiad cycle

Home — Essay Samples — Life — Volleyball — Volleyball, Its History, Rules and Regulations, and Famous Volleyball Players

Volleyball, Its History, Rules and Regulations, and Famous Volleyball Players

• Categories: Volleyball

About this sample

Words: 599 |

Published: Dec 11, 2018

Words: 599 | Page: 1 | 3 min read

Hook Examples for Volleyball Essay

• The Spike of Passion: Explore the world of volleyball, a sport that ignites passion in the hearts of players and fans alike. In this essay, we’ll dive into the exhilarating highs and the camaraderie that sets volleyball apart as more than just a game.
• Bumping Toward Success: In the world of volleyball, success often hinges on the perfect bump. Join us as we uncover the art of precision, teamwork, and the unique bond that volleyball fosters among its players.
• The Evolution of Volleyball: From Beaches to Olympic Arenas: Trace the fascinating journey of volleyball from its beachside beginnings to the grand Olympic arenas. This essay explores the sport’s growth, impact, and enduring popularity on a global scale.
• Volleyball’s Cultural Impact: Delve into the cultural significance of volleyball around the world. From its role in uniting communities to its representation in popular culture, we’ll explore how this sport transcends boundaries and brings people together.
• Volleyball: A Path to Empowerment: Discover how volleyball empowers individuals, particularly women, on and off the court. In this essay, we’ll delve into the stories of resilience, leadership, and personal growth that volleyball inspires among its participants.

Works Cited

• FIVB. (2021). Official Volleyball Rules. Retrieved from https://www.fivb.org/EN/Refereeing-Rules/documents/FIVB-Volleyball_Rules_2021-2024-EN-v06.pdf
• International Olympic Committee. (2021). Volleyball. Retrieved from https://www.olympic.org/volleyball
• May-Treanor, M., & McCormack, C. (2010). Misty: Digging Deep in Volleyball and Life. Touchstone.
• USA Volleyball. (2021). Rules of the Game. Retrieved from https://www.teamusa.org/usa-volleyball/rules/indoor-volleyball-rules
• Walsh Jennings, K., & Coffey, W. (2016). Gold Medal Strategies: Business Lessons From America’s Miracle Team. Hachette Books.
• Wexler, N. (2016). The Evolution of Volleyball Rules. Active.
• Yu, T., & Yin, X. (2020). A comparative study of volleyball rules between China and USA. International Journal of Performance Analysis in Sport, 20(3), 407-415.
• Zart, N. (2018). Volleyball: History, Rules, Tips and More. CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform.
• Zeigler, M. (2016). Karch Kiraly: A volleyball life. CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform.
• Zhekov, I. (2019). Analysis of the New Scoring System in Volleyball: The Pros and Cons. Journal of Human Kinetics, 69, 195-207.

Cite this Essay

To export a reference to this article please select a referencing style below:

Let us write you an essay from scratch

• 450+ experts on 30 subjects ready to help
• Custom essay delivered in as few as 3 hours

Get high-quality help

Prof Ernest (PhD)

Verified writer

• Expert in: Life

+ 120 experts online

By clicking “Check Writers’ Offers”, you agree to our terms of service and privacy policy . We’ll occasionally send you promo and account related email

No need to pay just yet!

Related Essays

2 pages / 689 words

1 pages / 547 words

4 pages / 2017 words

2 pages / 844 words

Remember! This is just a sample.

You can get your custom paper by one of our expert writers.

121 writers online

Still can’t find what you need?

Browse our vast selection of original essay samples, each expertly formatted and styled

Related Essays on Volleyball

Softball and volleyball are two popular sports that are played by people of all ages and skill levels. While both sports involve team play and physical activity, there are several differences between the two that set them apart. [...]

Volleyball is a popular sport that is played by millions of people around the world. It is a game that requires skill, teamwork, and athleticism. In this informative speech, we will explore the history of volleyball, the rules [...]

Volleyball is a dynamic and exhilarating sport that has captivated millions around the globe. Originating in 1895 in Holyoke, Massachusetts, by William G. Morgan, it was initially called "Mintonette," a game meant for [...]

Passion is a driving force that motivates an individual to pursue their interests and achieve their goals. My passion for volleyball is an integral part of who I am as a college student. Volleyball has helped me develop [...]

Volleyball, a dynamic and exhilarating sport, requires a unique blend of skill, strategy, and teamwork to achieve success. Among the key positions on the court, the setter stands out as a player who holds the power to [...]

A discourse community is a group of people involved in and communicating about a particular topic, issue, or in a particular field. In a discourse community, one can get to know others and express the knowledge they’re [...]

Related Topics

By clicking “Send”, you agree to our Terms of service and Privacy statement . We will occasionally send you account related emails.

Where do you want us to send this sample?

By clicking “Continue”, you agree to our terms of service and privacy policy.

Be careful. This essay is not unique

This essay was donated by a student and is likely to have been used and submitted before

Download this Sample

Free samples may contain mistakes and not unique parts

Sorry, we could not paraphrase this essay. Our professional writers can rewrite it and get you a unique paper.

Please check your inbox.

We can write you a custom essay that will follow your exact instructions and meet the deadlines. Let's fix your grades together!

Get Your Personalized Essay in 3 Hours or Less!

We use cookies to personalyze your web-site experience. By continuing we’ll assume you board with our cookie policy .

• Instructions Followed To The Letter
• Deadlines Met At Every Stage
• Unique And Plagiarism Free

Find the Paralympic roster, schedule and news, plus Olympic recaps!

Resources for

Follow USAVolleyball

• Olympic History Timeline

Olympic Timeline

Trailblazers

Although volleyball was played as a demonstration sport at the 1924 Summer Games in Paris it wasn’t officially added to the program until Tokyo 1964.

• The U.S. Women’s National Team finished fifth with a 1-4 record.
• The U.S. Men’s National Team ended in ninth with a 2-7 record.

Qualifiers Again

Both the U.S. men’s and women’s teams qualified for the 1968 Games in Mexico City.

• The Men’s National Team finished seventh (4-5).
• The Women’s National Team took eighth (0-7).

Missed Opportunities

Three Games came and went – Munich 1972, Montreal 1976 and Moscow 1980 – without American involvement in Olympic volleyball.

• Neither the Men’s nor Women’s National Teams qualified in 1972 and 1976.
• The Women’s National Team qualified for the 1980 Games but did not compete due to a U.S. boycott.

A triumphant return to Olympic volleyball at Los Angeles 1984.

• The Men’s National Team (5-1) claimed the country’s first-ever gold medal in volleyball, beating Brazil 3-0 in the final.
• The Women’s National Team captured silver after a 4-1 record. Unbeaten until the gold medal match, the squad fell to China in three sets.

Back-to-Back

Another quad, another gold at Seoul 1988.

• The Men’s National Team successfully defended its gold medal with a 7-0 record. The team beat the Soviet Union in four sets to clinch.
• The Women’s National Team finished seventh (2-3).

Double Bronze

A pair of podium finishes for Barcelona 1992, including the first WNT medal.

• The Women’s National Team (4-2) earned bronze after defeating Brazil in straight sets.
• The Men’s National Team (6-2) claimed a third consecutive medal by taking bronze with a 3-1 win over Cuba.

Double Medals in Beach Debut

All-American men’s final as beach volleyball debuts in Atlanta 1996.

• American men took gold and silver as Karch Kiraly and Kent Steffes downed countrymen Michael Dodd and Mike Whitmarsh in the gold medal match. Carl Henkel and Sinjin Smith tied for fifth.
• Three women’s teams also represented the U.S. in beach. Barbra Fontana and Linda Hanley finished fourth after falling in the bronze medal match to Australia. Holly McPeak and Nancy Reno tied for fifth, and Gail Castro Kehl and Deb Richardson tied for ninth.
• The Women’s National Team finished seventh (5-3).
• The Men’s National Team ended its medal run and finished ninth (2-3).

New millennium, same men’s beach gold at Sydney 2000.

• After narrowly qualifying for the tournament, Dain Blanton and Eric Fonoimoana won the men’s beach tournament, defeating Brazil. The second men’s team of Rob Heidger and Kevin Wong tied for ninth.
• The Women’s National Team improved to fourth with a 5-3 record. The team fell to Brazil in the bronze medal match.
• In women’s beach, Annett Davis and Jenny Johnson Jordan, and Misty May and Holly McPeak both tied for fifth.
• The Men’s National Team tied for 11th (0-5)

New Dynasty

Two beach legends are introduced at Athens 2004.

• American women took home gold and bronze medals, the first medals by U.S. women in beach volleyball. Kerri Walsh Jennings and Misty May-Treanor downed teammates Elaine Youngs and Holly McPeak in the semis. Walsh Jennings and May-Treanor beat Brazil for gold while Youngs and McPeak downed  Australia for bronze.
• The Men’s National Team (4-4) rebuilt after 2000 to finish fourth. The team fell to Russia in the bronze medal match.
• In men’s beach, Dax Holdren and Stein Metzger tied for fifth. 2000 gold medalist Dain Blanton paired with Jeff Nygaard to finished tied for 19th.
• The Women’s National Team was fifth (2-4).

USA Volleyball had a stellar Games at Beijing 2008, winning four medals, three of them gold.

• The Men’s National Team nabbed its third gold medal after an undefeated 8-0 run. As with the first gold 24 years prior, the team downed Brazil in the championship match.
• Kerri Walsh Jennings and Misty May-Treanor captured their second Olympic gold in women’s beach, beating China in the championship match. Nicole Branagh and Elaine Youngs tied for fifth.
• Todd Rogers and Phil Dalhausser returned the U.S. to the top of the men’s beach volleyball podium after beating Brazil for gold. Jake Gibb and Sean Rosenthal tied for fifth.
• The Women’s National Team earned silver after posting a 6-2 record. The squad fell to Brazil in the final.

Three medals for American women at London 2012.

• Three in a row for Kerri Walsh Jennings and Misty May-Treanor after they beat teammates April Ross and Jennifer Kessy for gold in women’s beach. It was the first time American women took gold and silver in Olympic beach volleyball.
• The Women’s National Team (7-1) once again claimed silver, sweeping through pool play and winning two knockout matches before losing to Brazil.
• In men’s beach, Jake Gibb and Sean Rosenthal tied for fifth for the second Olympics. 2008 champions Phil Dalhausser and Todd Rogers tied for ninth.
• The Men’s National Team tied for fifth (4-2).

Podium Places

A trio of bronze medals highlight a trip to Brazil for Rio 2016.

• In women’s beach, April Ross and Kerri Walsh Jennings paired up to claim bronze with a win over Brazil. It was Walsh Jennings’ fourth consecutive Olympic medal. Lauren Fendrick and Brooke Sweat tied for 19th.
• The Women’s National Team made it three consecutive medals with bronze. Undefeated through the quarterfinals, the U.S. (7-1) rebounded from a semifinal heartbreaker to down Netherlands for third.
• The Men’s National Team (5-3) also won bronze. The team lost a heartbreaker to Italy in the semis (3-2) but rebounded from an 0-2 deficit in the bronze-medal match to clinch third over Russia.
• In men’s beach, Phil Dalhausser made his third Olympic appearance – this time with Nick Lucena – and tied for fifth. Jake Gibb also made his third appearance and tied for 19th with Casey Patterson.

Historic Gold

Worth the wait! Double gold for American women at Tokyo 2020 (delayed one year due to COVID-19).

• The Women’s National Team made history with its first-ever Olympic gold. The team (7-1) dropped one match in the tournament and defeated Brazil in the final.
• In women’s beach, April Ross paired with Alix Klineman to win the gold medal. It was Ross’ third consecutive Olympic medal. Kelly Claes and Sarah Sponcil tied for ninth.
• In men’s beach, both Jake Gibb and Phil Dalhausser competed in their fourth consecutive Games. Gibb paired with Tri Bourne and finished tied for ninth. Dalhausser and Nick Lucena also finished tied for ninth.
• The Men’s National Team finished 10th (2-3).

• SI SWIMSUIT
• SI SPORTSBOOK

Boston Red Sox All-Star on the Verge of Joining Hall of Famers on Insane List in History

Brady farkas | 2 hours ago.

• Boston Red Sox

The Boston Red Sox snapped a five-game losing streak on Friday night by beating the Chicago White Sox, 3-1, at Fenway Park. With the win, Boston is back over .500 at 71-70. They are 5.0 games back of the Minnesota Twins in the battle for the third and final wild card spot. They have 21 games left to play.

In the win, the Sox got excellent pitching from Nick Pivetta, who went 6.0 innings. He allowed one run and struck out six. The pending free agent didn't factor into the decision and is 5-10 with a 4.38 ERA this year. Ceddanne Rafaela had the big blast offensively, hitting a go-ahead homer and that broke a 1-1 tie.

Also interesting to note that though Jarren Duran didn't get a hit in this one, he is on track to join some incredible company in baseball history.

Per Sarah Langs of MLB.com on social media:

Jarren Duran leads MLB in triples and is tied for the lead in doubles players to lead MLB in 2B & 3B for a season (incl ties for lead): 1968 Lou Brock 1948 Stan Musial 1943 Stan Musial 1919 Bobby Veach 1917 Ty Cobb 1900 Honus Wagner 1876 Ross Barnes

Jarren Duran leads MLB in triples and is tied for the lead in doubles players to lead MLB in 2B & 3B for a season (incl ties for lead): 1968 Lou Brock 1948 Stan Musial 1943 Stan Musial 1919 Bobby Veach 1917 Ty Cobb 1900 Honus Wagner 1876 Ross Barnes — Sarah Langs (@SlangsOnSports) September 6, 2024

It's been an incredible year for Duran, who has 44 double and 13 triples to go along with 21 homers. He's hitting .292 this season with a .872 OPS. Durran won the All-Star Game MVP earlier this summer and is likely to finish in the top-five of the American League MVP voting this season.

Brock, Musial, Wagner and Cobb are all Hall of Famers on that list, meaning that Duran is on pace to join one of the most prestigious lists in the sport.

The Red Sox will play the White Sox again on Saturday at 7:15 p.m. ET.

Follow Fastball On SI on social media

Continue to follow our Fastball On SI coverage on social media by liking us on  Facebook  and by following us on Twitter  @FastballFN .

BRADY FARKAS

Brady Farkas is a baseball writer for Fastball on Sports Illustrated/FanNation and the host of 'The Payoff Pitch' podcast which can be found on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Videos on baseball also posted to YouTube. Brady has spent nearly a decade in sports talk radio and is a graduate of Oswego State University. You can follow him on Twitter @WDEVRadioBrady. 

• Share full article

Indonesia Dispatch

Once, Catholic Priests Came to Indonesia. Now, It Exports Them.

A seminary on Flores, a Catholic-majority island in Indonesia, ordains so many priests that a lot of them go abroad to serve the faithful.

Celebrating Mass on a Sunday at St. Paul Major Seminary, on Flores, an island in Indonesia. Credit...

Supported by

By Sui-Lee Wee and Muktita Suhartono

Photographs by Nyimas Laula

Sui-Lee Wee and Muktita Suhartono spent three days at the St. Paul Major Seminary in Indonesia’s eastern island of Flores.

• Sept. 7, 2024 Updated 12:22 a.m. ET

On an Indonesian island about 500 miles east of Bali, an open-air truck traversed up winding roads one recent Sunday. It was taking dozens of jovial men, some already in white robes, and their songbooks and guitars to the church on top of the hill.

The men are training to become Catholic priests. While probably only a fraction of them will go on to be ordained, Indonesia — the world’s largest Muslim-majority country — is producing so many priests now that many of them head overseas to serve the faithful.

For centuries, this traffic flowed in the opposite direction, with Catholic missionaries from Europe heading to the islands of Indonesia.

The Roman Catholic Church knows how significant Indonesia and many countries in the Global South are to its future. Two years ago, Pope Francis declared that to find vocations “we will go to some island of Indonesia.” He did not specify the destination, but he almost certainly meant the island of Flores, where 70 percent of the roughly two million residents are Catholic.

This is where, on a remote hilltop called Ledalero, the St. Paul Major Seminary was established in 1937. This year, it expects to ordain nearly 50 priests of the Society of the Divine Word, a Catholic order that focuses on missionary work. Over the years, it has sent more than 500 of its graduates to different parts of the world, including the United States, Australia and Latin America.

Indian Ocean

We are having trouble retrieving the article content.

Please enable JavaScript in your browser settings.

Thank you for your patience while we verify access. If you are in Reader mode please exit and  log into  your Times account, or  subscribe  for all of The Times.

Thank you for your patience while we verify access.

Already a subscriber?  Log in .

Want all of The Times?  Subscribe .

Advertisement