To understand the history of volleyball, we must begin with its genesis: when, where, under what social circumstances, and by whom it was developed. While the sequence of events leading to volleyball’s creation has been documented many times, this article aims to delve deeper, incorporating the author’s own reflections and insights.
The birth of volleyball, like that of a human life, was a miraculous, serendipitous combination of factors, a story worthy of being told. Like all things, the existence of volleyball hung on a single thread—a different decision at a key moment could have meant that the sport never existed.
If you can feel this possibility, your affection for volleyball will surely deepen, and that would be the greatest joy for the author.
Let’s begin the journey into how volleyball came to be, starting with the sport that can be considered its “parent”: Basketball.
You might find this surprising, as basketball and volleyball don’t seem to share many immediate commonalities. Indeed, this was my own initial feeling. However, understanding the birth of its parent is key to understanding the child.
Basketball: The Parent Sport
Basketball was developed—or rather, born—in 1891 by a young Canadian man named James Naismith. Though Naismith was Canadian, the sport’s origins lie, as many readers expect, in the United States. Naismith synthesized the teachings of his supervising professor at the YMCA (Young Men’s Christian Association), Dr. Luther H. Gulick, with his own childhood play experiences to invent basketball.
It is crucial to understand the philosophy behind Dr. Gulick’s teachings that heavily influenced basketball’s birth. Naismith’s writings quote Dr. Gulick’s guidance on inventing a new sport:
“There is nothing new under the sun. All so called new things are simply recombinations of the factors of things that are now in existence.”
If we were to replace this entire sentence with a single word, it would be “re-creation.” Basketball was born from the re-creation of young Naismith.
From “Free Play” to “Re-creation”
The social context of the time—specifically, the aftermath of the American Civil War (1861–1865)—cannot be overlooked. The war’s end brought tremendous social upheaval. Rapid industrialization and urbanization, which had begun before the war, led to rising issues of inequality, poverty, and juvenile delinquency, alongside the persistent problem of racial discrimination.
In response to this chaotic situation, a movement emerged to protect and nurture the next generation. Parks began to appear across America, and as safe spaces for children to play were established, free play gradually evolved into re-creation activities.
This movement expanded into school education as a part of physical education and spread throughout communities. The initial desire to provide safe, free play environments for children expanded into a re-creation movement for all ages.
William G. Morgan: The Founder
Having discussed the birth and social background of volleyball’s “parent,” basketball, we now turn our attention to the man who contributed the most to the birth of volleyball: William G. Morgan.
Morgan was born in 1870, about 20 years before basketball’s invention. He was an athletic youth who excelled in football in high school, indicating his natural affinity for sports.
His life changed forever when he was scouted by James Naismith at a tournament. This encounter led Morgan to enroll in the School for Christian Workers (now Springfield College).
What if Naismith hadn’t noticed Morgan?
What if Morgan had declined the offer?
While “what ifs” don’t change history, I believe I’m not the only one who feels this way. To their meeting, I raise a toast (though I don’t drink)!
Upon enrollment, Morgan received education in recreation techniques. This was a time when physical education, utilizing sports as a means of instruction, was gaining significant traction in America, and team sports were starting to be played on fields. Against this backdrop, Morgan became a YMCA Physical Education Instructor, tasked with teaching a physical education class specifically for businessmen. This experience—teaching a class of non-youth adults—was the direct catalyst for the birth of volleyball.
Around 1895, about five years after basketball was born, basketball was rapidly gaining popularity, especially among youth in urban areas where gymnasiums were readily available.
However, Morgan, as a physical education instructor, keenly sensed that not everyone was interested in basketball. While it was fun, easy to learn and play, and could be done indoors, it also had drawbacks.
Morgan felt that while basketball met the needs of young people, the intense body contact and high physical load made it unsuitable for older individuals (his businessmen’s class). It is no exaggeration to say that William Morgan’s unyielding drive for improvement and this subtle “discomfort” with the existing sport created the void that volleyball was born to fill.
Volleyball: A Re-creational Sport
Morgan’s motive for developing volleyball, as mentioned, stemmed from the belief that a sport was needed that could be enjoyed by a wider age range of players, not just high-level young athletes. Born from Morgan’s warm and earnest desire to meet the needs of all ages, volleyball is characterized by its ability to be enjoyed by any generation, in any location, and with any number of players.
Crucially, Morgan established re-creational value as one of the most important core concepts for volleyball’s development—the exact same concept emphasized by Naismith when he invented basketball. This heavily suggests Naismith’s influence, further supporting the idea that basketball and volleyball are parent and child.
Based on his experience and the concept of a re-creational sport, Morgan set out to develop the new game. Let’s look at the specifics of this process.
Overcoming Trial and Error
Morgan was inspired by Tennis but disliked the need for a racket. However, he was drawn to the idea of a net sport.
The net prevented body contact between opposing teams, and a net could be strung up anywhere, even just using a rope. Considering game dynamics, he initially set the net height at 6 feet, 6 inches (about 198 cm), slightly above the average height of an American man at the time.
Next was the ball. Morgan struggled immensely with the choice of ball. Initially, inspired by basketball, he tried using the inner rubber bladder of a basketball. However, it was too light, and its movement was too slow. Using the full basketball was also attempted, but it was too large and heavy for optimal play.
Thus, in 1895, Morgan approached the Spalding Company, which was already manufacturing the official basketball. Spalding, with its proven track record in developing balls for baseball, American football, and basketball, accepted Morgan’s enthusiastic request and developed the world’s first dedicated volleyball. It measured 25 to 27 inches (63.5 to 68.6 cm) in circumference and weighed 9 to 12 ounces (252 to 336 grams).
The development of this official ball immediately accelerated the sport’s progress. While we rarely see Spalding volleyballs in Japan today, it is profound to think that volleyball’s development would not have happened without their contribution.
The continued development of the ball today, with changes every few years, underscores the fact that the ball itself significantly impacts player performance in ball sports. Dr. Naismith, the creator of basketball, even had his own theory that the difficulty of a ball sport is inversely proportional to the ball’s size. Regardless of whether size is the sole factor, the influence of the ball on the sport is immense.
With the basic framework and playing environment (net and ball) established, Morgan worked with two friends to create the fundamental game concept along with ten basic rules. Through continuous trial and error, volleyball gradually established itself as a distinct sport. The passion of one physical education instructor was slowly bearing fruit.
“Mintonette,” “Volley Ball,” and “Volleyball”
The major event that brought volleyball to national attention in the US was the Annual Conference of YMCA Physical Education Directors in 1896. Morgan introduced his game at this conference under the name “Mintonette.”
Later that year, in July 1896, Morgan was invited to present Mintonette at a conference at the International YMCA Training Center. A demonstration was conducted with two teams of five players each. Morgan described Mintonette as follows:
“It is designed to be played indoors, such as in a gymnasium or athletic hall, but it can also be played outdoors. The number of players is not restricted; any number can play depending on the court size. No equipment like rackets is used; the body is used to strike the ball, making it easy for anyone to play. The object of the game is to strike the ball over the net and onto the opponent’s court without letting it drop on your own side.”
George Fisher, the first president of the United States Volleyball Association, explicitly stated that “the origin of the game called volleyball lies in this demonstration.” Based on Fisher’s recollection, the history of volleyball spans about 125 years as of the time of this writing (2020). Whether this history seems long or short is a matter of perspective, but from the author’s viewpoint, volleyball is still a developing sport, just taking its first steps, with a bright future ahead.
As for how “Mintonette” became “Volleyball,” the name was changed surprisingly quickly. During the 1896 demonstration, Professor Alfred Halstead suggested that “Volley Ball” would be clearer to everyone, combining the action of “volleying” the ball over the net with the word “ball.” Morgan accepted the suggestion, readily or not. And just like that, “Volley Ball” was born—a lightning-fast name change!
However, it took another 50 years for the term to become the single word we use today, “Volleyball.” In 1952, the United States Volleyball Association officially approved the single-word spelling. While this may seem like a minor change in notation, recognizing “Volleyball” as a single word can also be interpreted as establishing its status as a fully recognized, standalone sport.
Historical Transformation After Birth
To truly understand modern volleyball, it is essential to trace its historical transformation after its birth—its spread across the world, and the changes in its rules and tactics. From every perspective, volleyball has continued to change, or rather, evolve, since its creation.
The story leading up to the birth of volleyball was long, but the story that followed is even longer. It is truly a never-ending story.
With a resolve to spin the next chapter, I conclude this article.
References
- FIVB Coaches Manual Level I volleyball
- Arie Selinger’s Power Volleyball
- コーチングバレーボール(基礎編)
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