James A. Surrell, M.D.

It is reported that the game of volleyball was created in the United States in 1895 by William G. Morgan. Mr. Morgan was the physical director of the YMCA in Holyoke, Massachusetts. Mr. Morgan aimed to create a game for businessmen that required less physical contact than basketball. He designed the first ball and set the volleyball net at 6 feet and 6 inches. The game was officially named volleyball in the year 1896. During a demonstration match, Alfred T. Halstead observed the volleying nature of the game and suggested the name “volleyball.”

Early volleyball rules allowed unlimited hits and players. The 3-hit rule was then introduced in 1920, and the set/spike technique is reported to have originated in the Philippines in 1916. The sport of volleyball became very popular at many United States YMCA locations and it spread internationally through numerous YMCA networks. Volleyball was introduced as a demonstration sport in the Olympics in 1924, and then became an official Olympic program in 1964. Beach volleyball was then also added as an official Olympic sport in 1996. 

In 1916, volleyball rules were issued jointly by the YMCA and the National Collegiate Athletic Association. 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 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, has conducted annual national men’s and senior men’s (age 35 and older) volleyball championships. The 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 international organizations were formed. The Federation Internationale de Volley Ball was organized in Paris in 1947 and moved to Lausanne, Switzerland, in 1984. The United States Volleyball Association was one of the 13 charter members of the FIVB, whose membership grew to more than 210 member countries by the late 20th century.

High school volleyball in the USA is a very popular, female-dominated sport, ranking as the second highest in participation for girls, with more than 6 million girls playing volleyball at this time. The volleyball seasons typically run from August through to early December, often followed by various championship tournaments. It is one of the top high school sports, rivaling track and field in female participation numbers.