Katherine Lorn G.

Puno PED 0074

BS Chemistry 2-1 Assignment #1

History of Volleyball

ORIGINALLY KNOWN AS “MINTONETTE,” VOLLEYBALL WAS THE

BRAINCHILD OF AMERICAN WILLIAM G. MORGAN, WHO CAME UP WITH THE
IDEA FOR THE NEW SPORT IN 1895.

As a student at the Springfield College in Massachusets, he had befriended James

Naismith who, in 1891, had himself invented basketball. After graduating, Morgan went
on to become director of physical education at the Young Man’s Christian Association
(YMCA) in Holyoke, Massachusets and it was there that he devised his new sport, which
was designed to be a combination of basketball, baseball, tennis and handball.

Morgan was keen for his sport to offer a less physically intense and demanding
alternative to Naismith’s basketball, one that would appeal to a far broader range of ages
and physical abilities. Describing his early experimentations, he said: “In search of an
appropriate game, tennis occurred to me, but this required rackets, balls, a net and other
equipment, so it was eliminated, but the idea of a net seemed a good one. We raised it to
a height of about 6 feet, 6 inches [1.98 metres] from the ground, just above the head of an
average man. We needed a ball and among those we tried was a basketball bladder, but
this was too light and too slow. We therefore tried the basketball itself, which was too big
and too heavy.”

It was not until 1900 that a specially designed ball - lighter and smaller - was devised,
which opened up a whole new range of tactical and technical possibilities for the sport.
The offensive style of setting and spiking was first showcased in 1916, in the Philippines.
Over the years that followed the rules of the sport were further refined and standardised.
In 1917, the scoring system per game was changed from 21 to 15 points, while in 1920 the
rule stipulating a maximum of three hits per team was instituted.

Until the early 1930s volleyball was for the most part a game of leisure and recreation,
and there were only a few international activities and competitions. There were different
rules of the game in the various parts of the world; however, national championships were
played in many countries (for instance, in Eastern Europe where the level of play had
reached a remarkable standard).
The sport took a huge step forward in 1947 with the creation of the Federation
Internationale De Volley-Ball (FIVB). Two years later the inaugural World
Championships took place in Prague, Czechoslovakia.

Volleyball made its Olympic debut at Tokyo 1964, with the USSR taking men’s gold and
the host nation winning the women’s competition.

Beach volleyball, which had its origins on the beaches of California back in 1930, had to
wait until 1996 for its inclusion on the Olympic programme, and it has helped take the
global reach and popularity of the sport to a new level.

Equipment and Facilities Used in Volleyball

Facilities:

 Court
o Today, courts must meet the specifications set forth by USA Volleyball and
the international governing body, FIVB. Indoor courts must measure 18
meters long by 9 meters wide and have an attack area demarcated 3 meters
back from the centerline. The lines used on the court should not be any
wider than 5 cm. A free space measuring 2 meters in any direction is
recommended around the playing area of the court to prevent any
accidental obstructions of play. Above the highest point of the net, there
should be at least 7 meters of space to allow the ball free travel, though 12
meters is recommended.
 Beach
o The beach variant of volleyball began in the 1940s. While many of the rules
and specifications of this format are the same as indoor volleyball, there are
some differences. The court used in beach volleyball is slightly smaller,
measuring 16 meters by 8 meters. The ball also is increased in size to a
circumference between 66 and 68 cm. The average net height for men and
women stays the same.

Equipment

 Center Line- a center line is marked at the center of the court dividing it equally
into 30 feet squares, above which the net is placed.
  Antenna and Side Bands- antenna are flexible rods that are 1.8 meters long made
of fiberglass, fastened at the outer edge of each side band. Side bands are two white
bands attached vertically to the net and placed above each sideline.
 Attack Line- an attack line is marked 10 feet of each side of the center line
 Service Line- the area from which the server may serve the volleyball, is marked
10 feet inside the right sideline on each back line.
 The Net- placed directly above the center line, 7 feet 4 inches above the ground for
women and 8 feet above the ground for men.
 Poles- volleyball poles should be set at 36 feet apart, 3 feet further out from the
sidelines.
 Ball- the ball used for volleyball is smaller than the basketball bladder that was
used originally. For indoor volleyball, it should have a circumference between 65
and 67 cm when fully inflated to an inner pressure between 4.3 and 4.6 lbs. psi.
Once inflated, the ball must weigh between 260 and 280 g.

Scoring Skills

 Serving- the first weapon that can generate an immediate point, begin a
game, or ignite an offense. A well-placed serve (whether to a weak passer,
at the setter, at the quick attacker, or to a weak formation) that is also
difficult to pass puts the opponent at a disadvantage. Focus on correct
technique and strive for success. In addition, always serve to score points,
NOT just to get the ball into the opponent’s court.

 Attack (Hitting) - There are several attack options that can be effectively
performed in a game. An attacker should be able to hit the following: shots
off the block (using the hands), high sets, low sets, and sets off the net,
offspeed shots, tipping, and a variation of play sets including back court
hitting options. Providing a great deal of practice and repetition of each will
depend on the age and ability of the athletes. Ensure the fundamental
technique of hitting is effective and efficient so that it can be performed at
a high level during competition.
With regard to spiking, the athlete must first be able to demonstrate the
spiking motion when on the floor (with modified and full arm swing). Second
 phase is arm swing, which is started with both arms at side of body. Arms
are taken straight back and then thrust forward and immediately up. Third
phase includes athlete jumping and spiking. As the athlete begins to jump,
her spiking arm is raised with elbow shoulder high. At the top of jump, the
elbow leads as the arm is extended and wrist snaps so that the heel of the
athlete’s hand contacts the ball and follows through. The athlete must land
softly and be in control of the landing. This is a high jump, not a long jump.
Fourth phase the athlete uses only the step-close (right-left for right
handers and left-right for left handers) or step 2 and 3 of the modified
spiking approach. Fifth phase includes athlete using a full approach, take-
off then completing the spiking motion and landing. Right hander (start
right foot in front) should take left right-left or one step and step-close
approach. Left hander (start left foot in front) should take right left-right or
one step and step-close

 Blocking- A well-timed and effective block diffuses an offensive attack. The

athlete is near the net, moves into position with hands up quickly. Athlete
focuses on the ball and jumps vertically so that maximum height is achieved
when the ball is above net and contacted. Arms are raised and extended
above the head; hands are close together with fingers open; wrists are in
line with arms (wrist parallel), and hands are slightly forward. A firm and
straight-arm position is maintained so that the ball rebounds off hands and
is not struck. If possible, athlete reaches up and over the net with arms and
hands pointed in a downward position for a rebound. The athlete lands
facing the net while keeping the upper body in control and knees bent to
absorb the shock. Depending upon whether right side or left is blocking will
determine which hand should be turned inside.

Non Scoring Skills

 Passing (Forearm Underhand) - Accurate and consistent passing can result

in an aggressive multiple attack. Be sure that players are in the ready
position preparing to execute the proper technique before the serve and
 during a rally. The athlete must face and focus on the oncoming ball. Ensure
that the athlete’s arms and hands are in the correct position with wrists
together. The legs are a little further than shoulder width apart with feet
parallel. The ball is contacted on the forearms. Upon contact, the athlete
maintains a stationary straightarm position so that the ball rebounds off
the lower part of the forearms and is directed to the target. The knees are
extended to raise the arms forward upon contact. Straightening the legs
completes the pass; the arms are behind the ball, and weight is transferred
in the direction of the pass.

 Passing (Overhand, Overhead or Setting) - Overhead passing or setting is

the next important part of the pass-set-spike sequence for a successful
attack. In fact, an excellent set from a bad pass can still result in a “kill”.
The athlete forms a triangle with the fingers and thumbs of both hands
around the ball above the forehead (thumbs do not touch). Index fingers and
thumbs form the triangle around 3 panels (18-panel ball). The elbows point
slightly forward. Feet are approximately shoulder-width apart with right
foot slightly forward. Knees are slightly bent, and body is leaning slightly
forward. Eyes are focused on the ball. The athlete receives the ball with
hands on the outside of the ball. The athlete extends the knees and
straightens the arms to follow-through in the desired direction.

 Defensive Skills (Rolling; Sliding) - When the ball does not come directly at
an athlete, it may be impossible to play the ball from a regular underhand
passing standing position. The athlete still focuses on the ball and takes a
step with the near foot in the direction of the oncoming ball. The body is
extremely low when playing the ball. To ensure that the athlete does not
hurt himself/herself, the athlete will continue the momentum and either
slide or roll out of the play. The goal is to get the ball up to the target and
safely return to the ready position as quickly as possible.