by Quadri Salau

Created on: May 21, 2009   Last Updated: May 26, 2009

History of Volleyball:

The game of volleyball, formerly named Minonette was founded in 1895 by William Morgan, who was a physical education director in the YMCA center in Holyoke, Massachusetts, USA. The game was invented as a recreation sport to keep businessmen, who founded basketball too active to be fit. In 1896, a demonstration was held for YMCA physical directors during which the game was changed to "Volleyball" by Professor Halstead.

Stages of development

For over 20 years, volleyball was played as a leisure sports in spite of its spread in USA and Canada, little did they realize that the game of volleyball would change into the physically and mentally demanding sport that it is today. in 1897, Mr Morgan published the first volleyball rules in the Handbook of the Athletic League of YMCA of North America. However, the first official volleyball rules were published in 1916.

After the World War II, th game of volleyball assumed an international spread, with its introduction to various continents of the world by soldiers and missionaries. As the game spreads allover the World, there were development of rules, new techniques and tactics,national competition and even championships emerged. Today many changes are taking place in the game of volleyball that an enthusiasts has a great task keeping abreast of the changes.

Milestones in Volleyball Development

In 1947, International Volleyball Federation ( FIVB ) was formed in France with Mr. Paul Libaud as the first FIVB President. In 157, the international Olympic Committee recognized volleyball as an Olympic sport. Volleyball made its debut in the Olympic game in 1964 in Tokyo, Japan. Both Men and Women categories participated.

In 1972, the Continental Commissions became Continental Confederations. This made the administration of the game all over the world easier. These confederations are:

CAVB: Confederation of Africa Volleyball

AVC: Confederation of Asia Volleyball

CEVB: Confederation of European Volleyball

NORCECA: Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbeans

CSV: Confederation of South America Volleyball

Today, FIVB , under the leadership of president Ruben Acosta Has grown to be one of the largest sport federations in the world. The work of the FIVB is carried out by the executive Committee.

It was in 1923 that volleyball got introduced into Africa when Egypt, Tunisia and Morocco started playing volleyball. Through the independence of most African countries from 1960, National Federations were born and they were grouped together within regions of the same language.

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