Brief History
In 1895 William Morgan, the Physical Education Director at Holyoke YMCA
gymnasium, invented a game in which an inflated bladder was 'batted' by
two teams over a rope, he called this game ‘Mintonette’. The ball had to
be played cleanly from one player to another, no catching, holding or throwing
was allowed. Morgan wanted a simple sport that would be suitable for a variety
of physical types, both fit and unfit, and which could be played almost
anywhere. Whilst playing a demonstration game, it was observed that the
players looked as if they were volleying the ball over the net, perhaps
this is when the name changed to “Volleyball”.
Over 800 million players’ worldwide play the game regularly, at least
once a week. This makes Volleyball one of the most popular indoor team
sport in the world, when looking at all team games, it is second only
to football.
Facilities and Equipment
For volleyball, the playing surface should be flat, horizontal and uniform.
The court is 18.0 metres long and 9.0 metres wide (8.0 metres X 8.0 metres
for beach volleyball). A net (2.43m for men and 2.24m for women) is fixed
across the middle of a court with two flexible antennae rods marking the
extremes between which the ball must pass over the net. A leather volleyball
is used (65-67cm in circumference) but any non sting ball can be used.
Benefits of Participating
Volleyball is a great team sport. It’s dynamic, exciting and can be played
socially or competitively at all different levels. Playing volleyball
is also a great way to keep fit. The game demands skill, speed, strength
and flexibility and is great fun.
Variations of the Sport
Volleyball is a game that can cater for ALL no matter what age, sex, able-bodied
or disabled. It can be played both indoors, in a gym or a sports hall
or outside in a park or on the beach. Different versions of the game also
exist so the game can be played two, three and four a side, as well as
the usual six a side. A Mini version for younger players and sitting volleyball
for people with disabilities is also available.
Contact Details
English Volleyball Association
27 South Road
West Bridgford
Nottingham
NG2 7AG