Who invented volleyball?

William G. Morgan, a YMCA physical director in Holyoke, Massachusetts, devised the game in 1895 for the members of his YMCA.

What was volleyball originally called?

Morgan called it mintonette. Professor Alfred T. Halstead suggested the name 'volley ball' in 1896 after watching a demonstration of the game.

Why was volleyball invented?

Morgan wanted exercise for older, less athletic members that was less strenuous and less rough than basketball. The net kept the teams apart, so the game needed no body contact.

How high was the first volleyball net?

The first net, a borrowed tennis net that Morgan raised, stood at 1.98 m. Today's men's net is 2.43 m.

When did volleyball teams settle at six players?

The FIVB history dates six a side to 1918. Early Asian volleyball, under the rules Elwood S. Brown used in the Far East, was played sixteen a side, and nine-man volleyball was long played in East Asia.

Where did the set and spike come from?

Filipino players began setting the ball high so that it could be smashed down from above the net. They called that powerful hit the bomba.

How did volleyball spread outside the United States?

YMCA instructors took the game to their branches abroad, with Canada first in 1900. After the First World War, thousands of balls went to soldiers and allies in 1919, and American troops brought the game with them.

Volleyball · Level 9: Master · Sub-level 9.1

Origins

10 tests · 100 facts · updated 25 October 2026 · markdown

Volleyball was devised in 1895 by William G. Morgan, the physical director of the YMCA in Holyoke, Massachusetts. He wanted exercise for his members, many of them older and less athletic, that was less strenuous than basketball, which had appeared in 1891. A net kept the two teams apart and removed body contact, and he blended ideas from basketball, tennis, baseball and handball into simple rules that anyone could follow.

Morgan first called the game mintonette, a name that recalls badminton. After he demonstrated it at a conference in Springfield in 1896, Professor Alfred T. Halstead, who had watched the players volley the ball back and forth, suggested 'volley ball'; the two words later became one. The first net was a borrowed tennis net raised to 1.98 m, well below today's 2.43 m men's net. A basketball bladder proved too light and a basketball too heavy, so Morgan asked Spalding to make a suitable ball. The rules appeared in the YMCA Athletic League handbook in 1897, borrowing innings from baseball and leaving team size open until six a side came in 1918. YMCA staff then carried the game abroad, to Canada in 1900 and to Manila in 1910, where Filipino players began setting the ball high to smash it.

The facts below cover Morgan and Holyoke, the naming, the first equipment and rules, six players and three touches, the set and spike, the early Asian game and the spread after the First World War.

Each test below is ten questions on Insporta. The list under a test is what the questions check: one fact per question, with the source it was written from. Read it before the test, or come back from a wrong answer.

Test 1William Morgan and HolyokeTake a test

Morgan, a YMCA physical director, devised the game in 1895.
Source: FIVB history of volleyball; Wikipedia, Volleyball (History) · recall
Morgan worked at the YMCA in Holyoke, Massachusetts.
Source: FIVB history of volleyball; Wikipedia, Volleyball (History) · recall
The game was born in the Holyoke YMCA gym.
Source: FIVB history of volleyball; Wikipedia, Volleyball (History) · recall
He ran physical education at the Holyoke YMCA.
Source: FIVB history of volleyball; Wikipedia, Volleyball (History) · recall
Naismith, the inventor of basketball, worked at the same school.
Source: FIVB history of volleyball; Wikipedia, Volleyball (History) · recall
Basketball dates from 1891, volleyball from 1895.
Source: FIVB history of volleyball; Wikipedia, Volleyball (History) · recall
Morgan devised it in 1895.
Source: FIVB history of volleyball; Wikipedia, Volleyball (History) · recall
1891, 1895, 1896 and 1897.
Source: FIVB history of volleyball; Wikipedia, Volleyball (History) · applied
Holyoke, the 1896 demonstration, Canada in 1900 and the Philippines in 1910.
Source: FIVB history of volleyball; Wikipedia, Volleyball (History) · applied
Morgan devised the game for the members of his YMCA.
Source: FIVB history of volleyball; Wikipedia, Volleyball (History) · applied

Test 2Mintonette and the nameTake a test

He called it mintonette before it was renamed.
Source: FIVB history of volleyball; Wikipedia, Volleyball (History) · recall
Professor Alfred T. Halstead proposed the name in 1896.
Source: FIVB history of volleyball; Wikipedia, Volleyball (History) · recall
Morgan demonstrated the game at the 1896 conference.
Source: FIVB history of volleyball; Wikipedia, Volleyball (History) · recall
The ball was kept in the air and volleyed back and forth.
Source: FIVB history of volleyball; Wikipedia, Volleyball (History) · recall
The early spelling was 'volley ball'.
Source: FIVB history of volleyball; Wikipedia, Volleyball (History) · recall
The Springfield demonstration took place in 1896.
Source: FIVB history of volleyball; Wikipedia, Volleyball (History) · recall
Mintonette recalls badminton, another net game.
Source: FIVB history of volleyball; Wikipedia, Volleyball (History) · recall
From Morgan's name to two words, then one.
Source: FIVB history of volleyball; Wikipedia, Volleyball (History) · applied
Demonstration, suggestion and acceptance.
Source: FIVB history of volleyball; Wikipedia, Volleyball (History) · applied
Halstead watched the demonstration and suggested 'volley ball'.
Source: FIVB history of volleyball; Wikipedia, Volleyball (History) · applied

Test 3Why the game was inventedTake a test

He wanted something less strenuous than basketball.
Source: FIVB history of volleyball; Wikipedia, Volleyball (History) · recall
He had older, less athletic members in mind.
Source: FIVB history of volleyball; Wikipedia, Volleyball (History) · recall
Volleyball borrowed the net from tennis.
Source: FIVB history of volleyball; Wikipedia, Volleyball (History) · recall
The net kept the teams apart.
Source: FIVB history of volleyball; Wikipedia, Volleyball (History) · recall
He blended ideas from basketball, tennis, baseball and handball.
Source: FIVB history of volleyball; Wikipedia, Volleyball (History) · recall
Members needed exercise when they could not play outside.
Source: FIVB history of volleyball; Wikipedia, Volleyball (History) · recall
Simple rules let anyone take part.
Source: FIVB history of volleyball; Wikipedia, Volleyball (History) · recall
Problem, idea, testing and rules.
Source: FIVB history of volleyball; Wikipedia, Volleyball (History) · applied
The net removes body contact from volleyball.
Source: FIVB history of volleyball; Wikipedia, Volleyball (History) · applied
Volleyball offered exercise without basketball's roughness.
Source: FIVB history of volleyball; Wikipedia, Volleyball (History) · applied

Test 4The first ball and netTake a test

The bladder proved too light; a basketball was too heavy.
Source: FIVB history of volleyball; Wikipedia, Volleyball (History) · recall
A heavy basketball hurt to volley.
Source: FIVB history of volleyball; Wikipedia, Volleyball (History) · recall
Morgan asked Spalding to make a suitable ball.
Source: FIVB history of volleyball; Wikipedia, Volleyball (History) · recall
The first net was much lower than today's men's net.
Source: FIVB history of volleyball; Wikipedia, Volleyball (History) · recall
He borrowed a tennis net and raised it.
Source: FIVB history of volleyball; Wikipedia, Volleyball (History) · recall
Players hit the ball with their hands and arms.
Source: FIVB history of volleyball; Wikipedia, Volleyball (History) · recall
2.43 m is well above the first net's 1.98 m.
Source: FIVB history of volleyball; Wikipedia, Volleyball (History) · recall
Too light, too heavy, then a purpose-made ball.
Source: FIVB history of volleyball; Wikipedia, Volleyball (History) · applied
1.98 m, 2.24 m and 2.43 m.
Source: FIVB history of volleyball; Wikipedia, Volleyball (History) · applied
Spalding made the first ball for the game.
Source: FIVB history of volleyball; Wikipedia, Volleyball (History) · applied

Test 5Morgan's first rulesTake a test

The first rules borrowed innings from baseball.
Source: FIVB history of volleyball; Wikipedia, Volleyball (History) · recall
Team size was not fixed at first.
Source: FIVB history of volleyball; Wikipedia, Volleyball (History) · recall
The rules appeared in the YMCA Athletic League handbook in 1897.
Source: FIVB history of volleyball; Wikipedia, Volleyball (History) · recall
The handbook of 1897 spread the rules.
Source: FIVB history of volleyball; Wikipedia, Volleyball (History) · recall
Early rules allowed an assist on the serve.
Source: FIVB history of volleyball; Wikipedia, Volleyball (History) · recall
Games moved from 21 points to 15 in 1917.
Source: FIVB history of volleyball; Wikipedia, Volleyball (History) · recall
A young game took years to settle.
Source: FIVB history of volleyball; Wikipedia, Volleyball (History) · recall
1897, 1917, 1918 and 1922.
Source: FIVB history of volleyball; Wikipedia, Volleyball (History) · applied
Team size settled at six.
Source: FIVB history of volleyball; Wikipedia, Volleyball (History) · applied
Early rules permitted an assist on the serve.
Source: FIVB history of volleyball; Wikipedia, Volleyball (History) · applied

Test 6The YMCA spreads the gameTake a test

YMCA instructors took the game abroad.
Source: FIVB history of volleyball; Wikipedia, Volleyball (History) · recall
Canada adopted the game in 1900.
Source: FIVB history of volleyball; Wikipedia, Volleyball (History) · recall
Canada was first abroad, in 1900.
Source: FIVB history of volleyball; Wikipedia, Volleyball (History) · recall
YMCA staff carried the game to their branches abroad.
Source: FIVB history of volleyball; Wikipedia, Volleyball (History) · recall
Brown was a YMCA director in Manila.
Source: FIVB history of volleyball; Wikipedia, Volleyball (History) · recall
The FIVB history notes the YMCA spreading the game among women.
Source: FIVB history of volleyball; Wikipedia, Volleyball (History) · recall
Robert C. Cubbon estimated some 200,000 players.
Source: FIVB history of volleyball; Wikipedia, Volleyball (History) · recall
1895, 1900, 1908 and 1910.
Source: FIVB history of volleyball; Wikipedia, Volleyball (History) · applied
Print, teach, travel and take root.
Source: FIVB history of volleyball; Wikipedia, Volleyball (History) · applied
Canada adopted the game in 1900.
Source: FIVB history of volleyball; Wikipedia, Volleyball (History) · applied

Test 7Six players and three touchesTake a test

The FIVB history dates six a side to 1918.
Source: FIVB history of volleyball; Wikipedia, Volleyball (History) · recall
A limit on touches stopped endless passing on one side.
Source: FIVB history of volleyball; Wikipedia, Volleyball (History) · recall
Equal teams made real competition possible.
Source: FIVB history of volleyball; Wikipedia, Volleyball (History) · recall
Three touches shaped the modern rally.
Source: FIVB history of volleyball; Wikipedia, Volleyball (History) · recall
Back-row players were barred from spiking at the net.
Source: FIVB history of volleyball; Wikipedia, Volleyball (History) · recall
Each side had to attack within three contacts.
Source: FIVB history of volleyball; Wikipedia, Volleyball (History) · recall
The NCAA printed unified rules in 1916.
Source: FIVB history of volleyball; Wikipedia, Volleyball (History) · recall
1917, 1918 and 1922.
Source: FIVB history of volleyball; Wikipedia, Volleyball (History) · applied
The three-touch limit produced this pattern.
Source: FIVB history of volleyball; Wikipedia, Volleyball (History) · applied
The early 1920s brought a three-touch limit.
Source: FIVB history of volleyball; Wikipedia, Volleyball (History) · applied

Test 8The set and spikeTake a test

Filipino players began setting the ball high to smash it.
Source: FIVB history of volleyball; Wikipedia, Volleyball (History) · recall
The powerful hit was nicknamed the bomba.
Source: FIVB history of volleyball; Wikipedia, Volleyball (History) · recall
The set prepares the attack.
Source: FIVB history of volleyball; Wikipedia, Volleyball (History) · recall
Hitting down from above the net became the main weapon.
Source: FIVB history of volleyball; Wikipedia, Volleyball (History) · recall
Brown introduced the game in Manila.
Source: FIVB history of volleyball; Wikipedia, Volleyball (History) · recall
Manila hosted the first Far Eastern Games.
Source: FIVB history of volleyball; Wikipedia, Volleyball (History) · recall
The hosts won the first title.
Source: FIVB history of volleyball; Wikipedia, Volleyball (History) · recall
Pass, set, jump and hit.
Source: FIVB history of volleyball; Wikipedia, Volleyball (History) · applied
1910, 1913 and around 1916.
Source: FIVB history of volleyball; Wikipedia, Volleyball (History) · applied
Filipino players called the smash the bomba.
Source: FIVB history of volleyball; Wikipedia, Volleyball (History) · applied

Test 9The early Asian gameTake a test

Early Asian volleyball used sixteen a side.
Source: FIVB history of volleyball; Wikipedia, Volleyball (History) · recall
Brown organised volleyball in the Far East.
Source: FIVB history of volleyball; Wikipedia, Volleyball (History) · recall
Nine-man volleyball was long played in East Asia.
Source: FIVB history of volleyball; Wikipedia, Volleyball (History) · recall
The Far Eastern Games began in 1913.
Source: FIVB history of volleyball; Wikipedia, Volleyball (History) · recall
Big teams let whole groups take part.
Source: FIVB history of volleyball; Wikipedia, Volleyball (History) · recall
The Games brought together East Asian nations.
Source: FIVB history of volleyball; Wikipedia, Volleyball (History) · recall
Six a side was the world standard for competition.
Source: FIVB history of volleyball; Wikipedia, Volleyball (History) · recall
Sixteen, nine, six and two.
Source: FIVB history of volleyball; Wikipedia, Volleyball (History) · applied
The game arrived, was played in large teams, then took the world standard.
Source: FIVB history of volleyball; Wikipedia, Volleyball (History) · applied
The Brown rules used sixteen a side.
Source: FIVB history of volleyball; Wikipedia, Volleyball (History) · applied

Test 10After the First World WarTake a test

Thousands of balls went to soldiers and allies.
Source: FIVB history of volleyball; Wikipedia, Volleyball (History) · recall
American troops brought the game with them.
Source: FIVB history of volleyball; Wikipedia, Volleyball (History) · recall
Little equipment made it ideal for camps.
Source: FIVB history of volleyball; Wikipedia, Volleyball (History) · recall
National championships spread across Eastern Europe.
Source: FIVB history of volleyball; Wikipedia, Volleyball (History) · recall
Few international events existed before the FIVB.
Source: FIVB history of volleyball; Wikipedia, Volleyball (History) · recall
Domestic titles came before world events.
Source: FIVB history of volleyball; Wikipedia, Volleyball (History) · recall
The FIVB was founded in Paris after the war.
Source: FIVB history of volleyball; Wikipedia, Volleyball (History) · recall
Soldiers, equipment, clubs and championships.
Source: FIVB history of volleyball; Wikipedia, Volleyball (History) · applied
Wars and peace shaped the game's growth.
Source: FIVB history of volleyball; Wikipedia, Volleyball (History) · applied
Thousands of balls went to soldiers in 1919.
Source: FIVB history of volleyball; Wikipedia, Volleyball (History) · applied

Questions people ask

Who invented volleyball?: William G. Morgan, a YMCA physical director in Holyoke, Massachusetts, devised the game in 1895 for the members of his YMCA.
What was volleyball originally called?: Morgan called it mintonette. Professor Alfred T. Halstead suggested the name 'volley ball' in 1896 after watching a demonstration of the game.
Why was volleyball invented?: Morgan wanted exercise for older, less athletic members that was less strenuous and less rough than basketball. The net kept the teams apart, so the game needed no body contact.
How high was the first volleyball net?: The first net, a borrowed tennis net that Morgan raised, stood at 1.98 m. Today's men's net is 2.43 m.
When did volleyball teams settle at six players?: The FIVB history dates six a side to 1918. Early Asian volleyball, under the rules Elwood S. Brown used in the Far East, was played sixteen a side, and nine-man volleyball was long played in East Asia.
Where did the set and spike come from?: Filipino players began setting the ball high so that it could be smashed down from above the net. They called that powerful hit the bomba.
How did volleyball spread outside the United States?: YMCA instructors took the game to their branches abroad, with Canada first in 1900. After the First World War, thousands of balls went to soldiers and allies in 1919, and American troops brought the game with them.

Sources

FIVB history pages, Olympic and FIVB results records; original questions authored, nothing reproduced. Numbered FIVB rules belong to the Rules category.

FIVB history of volleyball; Wikipedia, Volleyball (History)100