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Volleyball · Interesting Facts

Chapter 5: Equipment & Technology

10 parts · 10 tests · 100 facts · updated 26 October 2026 · markdown

The objects and the tools of the game: Mikasa and Molten, the modern match ball, Japanese shoe and kit makers, the floors of the Olympics, the video challenge, scouting software, a volleyball film star and jump counters.

5.51Mikasa

A rubber company of 1917, sandals and dodgeballs, and the ball of the Olympics.

Test 1MikasaTake a test

  1. Masutaro Masuda set it up as a rubber company.

    Source: Mikasa Corporation company history and profile; CEV, 'Long term and fruitful' (Mikasa partnership); Hiroshima Peace Media · recall

  2. Gomu is Japanese for rubber.

    Source: Mikasa Corporation company history and profile; CEV, 'Long term and fruitful' (Mikasa partnership); Hiroshima Peace Media · recall

  3. Masutaro Masuda's firm started with everyday rubber goods.

    Source: Mikasa Corporation company history and profile; CEV, 'Long term and fruitful' (Mikasa partnership); Hiroshima Peace Media · recall

  4. The other three founded Molten, Mizuno and ASICS.

    Source: Mikasa Corporation company history and profile; CEV, 'Long term and fruitful' (Mikasa partnership); Hiroshima Peace Media · recall

  5. The company merged with rival rubber firms in the early 1940s.

    Source: Mikasa Corporation company history and profile; CEV, 'Long term and fruitful' (Mikasa partnership); Hiroshima Peace Media · recall

  6. The Olympic debut had come five years earlier.

    Source: Mikasa Corporation company history and profile; CEV, 'Long term and fruitful' (Mikasa partnership); Hiroshima Peace Media · recall

  7. The Hiroshima ball maker and the tableware company are separate.

    Source: Mikasa Corporation company history and profile; CEV, 'Long term and fruitful' (Mikasa partnership); Hiroshima Peace Media · recall

  8. 1917, 1935, 1964 and 1969.

    Source: Mikasa Corporation company history and profile; CEV, 'Long term and fruitful' (Mikasa partnership); Hiroshima Peace Media · recall

  9. 1906, 1917, 1949 and 1958.

    Source: Mikasa Corporation company history and profile; CEV, 'Long term and fruitful' (Mikasa partnership); Hiroshima Peace Media · recall

  10. Mikasa volleyballs first appeared at the Olympics in Tokyo.

    Source: Mikasa Corporation company history and profile; CEV, 'Long term and fruitful' (Mikasa partnership); Hiroshima Peace Media · applied

5.52Molten

A Hiroshima factory of 1958, an early approval for volleyball and balls for many sports.

Test 1MoltenTake a test

  1. Like Mikasa, Molten comes from Hiroshima.

    Source: Molten Corporation, company history (molten.co.jp); Molten USA on the NCAA Volleyball Championships ball · recall

  2. He led the company from its founding.

    Source: Molten Corporation, company history (molten.co.jp); Molten USA on the NCAA Volleyball Championships ball · recall

  3. Approval came barely a year and a half after the first ball.

    Source: Molten Corporation, company history (molten.co.jp); Molten USA on the NCAA Volleyball Championships ball · recall

  4. The same year as Mikasa's official designation.

    Source: Molten Corporation, company history (molten.co.jp); Molten USA on the NCAA Volleyball Championships ball · recall

  5. It changed its company name in October 1983.

    Source: Molten Corporation, company history (molten.co.jp); Molten USA on the NCAA Volleyball Championships ball · recall

  6. The selection was announced in November 1981.

    Source: Molten Corporation, company history (molten.co.jp); Molten USA on the NCAA Volleyball Championships ball · recall

  7. It also supplies USA Volleyball and many state associations.

    Source: Molten Corporation, company history (molten.co.jp); Molten USA on the NCAA Volleyball Championships ball · recall

  8. 1958, 1960, 1969 and 1983.

    Source: Molten Corporation, company history (molten.co.jp); Molten USA on the NCAA Volleyball Championships ball · recall

  9. 1969, April 1973 and May 1975.

    Source: Molten Corporation, company history (molten.co.jp); Molten USA on the NCAA Volleyball Championships ball · recall

  10. Molten's first ball came three months after its head factory opened.

    Source: Molten Corporation, company history (molten.co.jp); Molten USA on the NCAA Volleyball Championships ball · applied

5.53The Modern Match Ball

The V200W and its 18 panels, the ball it replaced and the dimples on its skin.

Test 1the modern match ballTake a test

  1. The new panel layout was the main change from the previous ball.

    Source: FIVB and Mikasa on the V200W reveal at the 36th FIVB World Congress, Cancun; Volleyball Alberta on the V200W and the MVA200 · recall

  2. The older ball was gradually discontinued.

    Source: FIVB and Mikasa on the V200W reveal at the 36th FIVB World Congress, Cancun; Volleyball Alberta on the V200W and the MVA200 · recall

  3. Core and cover stayed identical.

    Source: FIVB and Mikasa on the V200W reveal at the 36th FIVB World Congress, Cancun; Volleyball Alberta on the V200W and the MVA200 · recall

  4. The dimples help against sweat and stabilise the flight.

    Source: FIVB and Mikasa on the V200W reveal at the 36th FIVB World Congress, Cancun; Volleyball Alberta on the V200W and the MVA200 · recall

  5. It was revealed by the FIVB and Mikasa together.

    Source: FIVB and Mikasa on the V200W reveal at the 36th FIVB World Congress, Cancun; Volleyball Alberta on the V200W and the MVA200 · recall

  6. The bright panels are easy to follow on screen.

    Source: FIVB and Mikasa on the V200W reveal at the 36th FIVB World Congress, Cancun; Volleyball Alberta on the V200W and the MVA200 · recall

  7. It became the ball of the Tokyo Olympics.

    Source: FIVB and Mikasa on the V200W reveal at the 36th FIVB World Congress, Cancun; Volleyball Alberta on the V200W and the MVA200 · recall

  8. The 1890s ball, then the MVA200, then the V200W from 2019.

    Source: FIVB and Mikasa on the V200W reveal at the 36th FIVB World Congress, Cancun; Volleyball Alberta on the V200W and the MVA200 · recall

  9. The V200W was revealed in Cancún, sold from 2019 and used in Tokyo.

    Source: FIVB and Mikasa on the V200W reveal at the 36th FIVB World Congress, Cancun; Volleyball Alberta on the V200W and the MVA200 · recall

  10. The V200W was revealed at the FIVB World Congress in Cancún, Mexico.

    Source: FIVB and Mikasa on the V200W reveal at the 36th FIVB World Congress, Cancun; Volleyball Alberta on the V200W and the MVA200 · applied

5.54Shoe Makers from Japan

A Kobe company of 1949 named after a Latin motto, and an Osaka shop of 1906.

Test 1shoe makers from JapanTake a test

  1. It started as Onitsuka Shokai, with two employees.

    Source: ASICS corporate history (corp.asics.com); Mizuno corporate history (corp.mizuno.com) · recall

  2. Anima Sana In Corpore Sano: a sound mind in a sound body.

    Source: ASICS corporate history (corp.asics.com); Mizuno corporate history (corp.mizuno.com) · recall

  3. A wartime friend, Kohei Hori, suggested the phrase.

    Source: ASICS corporate history (corp.asics.com); Mizuno corporate history (corp.mizuno.com) · recall

  4. The company grew into one of the world's big sports brands.

    Source: ASICS corporate history (corp.asics.com); Mizuno corporate history (corp.mizuno.com) · recall

  5. The friend was Kohei Hori; Onitsuka took up his idea.

    Source: ASICS corporate history (corp.asics.com); Mizuno corporate history (corp.mizuno.com) · recall

  6. Onitsuka and two other firms came together.

    Source: ASICS corporate history (corp.asics.com); Mizuno corporate history (corp.mizuno.com) · recall

  7. It was reorganised as Onitsuka Co., Ltd. the same year.

    Source: ASICS corporate history (corp.asics.com); Mizuno corporate history (corp.mizuno.com) · recall

  8. The words come from a line by the Roman poet Juvenal.

    Source: ASICS corporate history (corp.asics.com); Mizuno corporate history (corp.mizuno.com) · recall

  9. 1910, 1933 and 1949.

    Source: ASICS corporate history (corp.asics.com); Mizuno corporate history (corp.mizuno.com) · recall

  10. Kihachiro Onitsuka's Kobe company later became ASICS.

    Source: ASICS corporate history (corp.asics.com); Mizuno corporate history (corp.mizuno.com) · applied

5.55The Floors of the Olympics

A French sports floor at every Games from Montreal 1976, and a long FIVB partnership.

Test 1the floors of the OlympicsTake a test

  1. It is made by the French company Gerflor.

    Source: Gerflor press releases on Taraflex at the Olympic Games (2012, 2016) and the FIVB partnership renewal (2016) · recall

  2. Badminton and table tennis followed at later Games.

    Source: Gerflor press releases on Taraflex at the Olympic Games (2012, 2016) and the FIVB partnership renewal (2016) · recall

  3. The French company supplies floors to Olympic and FIVB events.

    Source: Gerflor press releases on Taraflex at the Olympic Games (2012, 2016) and the FIVB partnership renewal (2016) · recall

  4. Rio marked 40 years of the Olympic tradition.

    Source: Gerflor press releases on Taraflex at the Olympic Games (2012, 2016) and the FIVB partnership renewal (2016) · recall

  5. The partnership was renewed again for 2017-2020.

    Source: Gerflor press releases on Taraflex at the Olympic Games (2012, 2016) and the FIVB partnership renewal (2016) · recall

  6. Olympic supply began in 1976, Paralympic supply in 2012.

    Source: Gerflor press releases on Taraflex at the Olympic Games (2012, 2016) and the FIVB partnership renewal (2016) · recall

  7. It took the partnership up to the Tokyo Olympics.

    Source: Gerflor press releases on Taraflex at the Olympic Games (2012, 2016) and the FIVB partnership renewal (2016) · recall

  8. 1976, 1997, 2005 and 2012.

    Source: Gerflor press releases on Taraflex at the Olympic Games (2012, 2016) and the FIVB partnership renewal (2016) · recall

  9. 1976, 1988, 2012 and 2016.

    Source: Gerflor press releases on Taraflex at the Olympic Games (2012, 2016) and the FIVB partnership renewal (2016) · recall

  10. Taraflex made its Olympic debut at Montreal 1976.

    Source: Gerflor press releases on Taraflex at the Olympic Games (2012, 2016) and the FIVB partnership renewal (2016) · applied

5.56Video Challenge

From a club world championship in 2012 to 399 challenges in Rio.

Test 1the video challengeTake a test

  1. It was not used consistently until 2016.

    Source: FIVB, 'The legacy of innovation during President Graca's mandate' (2024); VolleyMob, 'New technological additions in Manila' (2016) · recall

  2. It has since become a fixture at FIVB events.

    Source: FIVB, 'The legacy of innovation during President Graca's mandate' (2024); VolleyMob, 'New technological additions in Manila' (2016) · recall

  3. A good share of them changed the call.

    Source: FIVB, 'The legacy of innovation during President Graca's mandate' (2024); VolleyMob, 'New technological additions in Manila' (2016) · recall

  4. His motto was 'Innovation and Opportunity'.

    Source: FIVB, 'The legacy of innovation during President Graca's mandate' (2024); VolleyMob, 'New technological additions in Manila' (2016) · recall

  5. It spread from Rio to every FIVB event.

    Source: FIVB, 'The legacy of innovation during President Graca's mandate' (2024); VolleyMob, 'New technological additions in Manila' (2016) · recall

  6. Facts of play, such as in or out, net touches and block touches, are checked.

    Source: FIVB, 'The legacy of innovation during President Graca's mandate' (2024); VolleyMob, 'New technological additions in Manila' (2016) · recall

  7. He led the FIVB for 12 years.

    Source: FIVB, 'The legacy of innovation during President Graca's mandate' (2024); VolleyMob, 'New technological additions in Manila' (2016) · recall

  8. 2012, 2016 and after.

    Source: FIVB, 'The legacy of innovation during President Graca's mandate' (2024); VolleyMob, 'New technological additions in Manila' (2016) · recall

  9. The rally's facts are checked on video before play goes on.

    Source: FIVB, 'The legacy of innovation during President Graca's mandate' (2024); VolleyMob, 'New technological additions in Manila' (2016) · recall

  10. 159 of the 399 challenges at Rio changed the decision.

    Source: FIVB, 'The legacy of innovation during President Graca's mandate' (2024); VolleyMob, 'New technological additions in Manila' (2016) · applied

5.57Scouting Software

Data Volley, the files it writes and the company behind it.

Test 1scouting softwareTake a test

  1. Every technical action in a match is recorded.

    Source: Data Project, Data Volley 2007 handbook (dataproject.com); Journal of Big Data (2025) on the .dvw scouting format · recall

  2. The .dvw files hold a structured record of a match.

    Source: Data Project, Data Volley 2007 handbook (dataproject.com); Journal of Big Data (2025) on the .dvw scouting format · recall

  3. Its website is dataproject.com.

    Source: Data Project, Data Volley 2007 handbook (dataproject.com); Journal of Big Data (2025) on the .dvw scouting format · recall

  4. Software development and customer service were in Salerno.

    Source: Data Project, Data Volley 2007 handbook (dataproject.com); Journal of Big Data (2025) on the .dvw scouting format · recall

  5. The head office was in Bologna.

    Source: Data Project, Data Volley 2007 handbook (dataproject.com); Journal of Big Data (2025) on the .dvw scouting format · recall

  6. Researchers have to work with the files it exports.

    Source: Data Project, Data Volley 2007 handbook (dataproject.com); Journal of Big Data (2025) on the .dvw scouting format · recall

  7. It helps staff prepare matches from the data.

    Source: Data Project, Data Volley 2007 handbook (dataproject.com); Journal of Big Data (2025) on the .dvw scouting format · recall

  8. Coding during the match feeds the analysis afterwards.

    Source: Data Project, Data Volley 2007 handbook (dataproject.com); Journal of Big Data (2025) on the .dvw scouting format · recall

  9. Data Project's head office was in Bologna and its developers in Salerno.

    Source: Data Project, Data Volley 2007 handbook (dataproject.com); Journal of Big Data (2025) on the .dvw scouting format · recall

  10. Data Project, maker of Data Volley, is Italian.

    Source: Data Project, Data Volley 2007 handbook (dataproject.com); Journal of Big Data (2025) on the .dvw scouting format · applied

5.58A Volleyball Film Star

Wilson, the ball with a painted face, and what it fetched at auction.

Test 1a volleyball film starTake a test

  1. Tom Hanks's character paints a face on the ball.

    Source: The Times, Snopes and InsideHook on the 2021 Propstore sale; Robb Report and Bloomberg on the 2022 sale · recall

  2. It sold for £230,000.

    Source: The Times, Snopes and InsideHook on the 2021 Propstore sale; Robb Report and Bloomberg on the 2022 sale · recall

  3. It sold for nearly four times its estimate.

    Source: The Times, Snopes and InsideHook on the 2021 Propstore sale; Robb Report and Bloomberg on the 2022 sale · recall

  4. It was a second ball from the production.

    Source: The Times, Snopes and InsideHook on the 2021 Propstore sale; Robb Report and Bloomberg on the 2022 sale · recall

  5. Films often make several copies of a prop.

    Source: The Times, Snopes and InsideHook on the 2021 Propstore sale; Robb Report and Bloomberg on the 2022 sale · recall

  6. The buyer's name was not given.

    Source: The Times, Snopes and InsideHook on the 2021 Propstore sale; Robb Report and Bloomberg on the 2022 sale · recall

  7. The castaway names the ball after the maker's logo.

    Source: The Times, Snopes and InsideHook on the 2021 Propstore sale; Robb Report and Bloomberg on the 2022 sale · recall

  8. £60,000, £75,000 and £230,000.

    Source: The Times, Snopes and InsideHook on the 2021 Propstore sale; Robb Report and Bloomberg on the 2022 sale · recall

  9. 2000, 2021 and 2022.

    Source: The Times, Snopes and InsideHook on the 2021 Propstore sale; Robb Report and Bloomberg on the 2022 sale · recall

  10. The ball, named Wilson, became one of film's best-known props.

    Source: The Times, Snopes and InsideHook on the 2021 Propstore sale; Robb Report and Bloomberg on the 2022 sale · applied

5.59Jump Counters

A sensor the size of a USB stick that counts every jump, and how well it measures.

Test 1jump countersTake a test

  1. Coaches watch the figures live on a phone or tablet.

    Source: Sports Illustrated (2015) and USA Volleyball (2017) on VERT; Biology of Sport (2017), 'Validation of the VERT wearable jump monitor' · recall

  2. Later versions fit into a waist belt.

    Source: Sports Illustrated (2015) and USA Volleyball (2017) on VERT; Biology of Sport (2017), 'Validation of the VERT wearable jump monitor' · recall

  3. It is worn in a belt at the waist.

    Source: Sports Illustrated (2015) and USA Volleyball (2017) on VERT; Biology of Sport (2017), 'Validation of the VERT wearable jump monitor' · recall

  4. The deal was extended in 2017 to run to 2020.

    Source: Sports Illustrated (2015) and USA Volleyball (2017) on VERT; Biology of Sport (2017), 'Validation of the VERT wearable jump monitor' · recall

  5. Their attack jumps were measured both ways.

    Source: Sports Illustrated (2015) and USA Volleyball (2017) on VERT; Biology of Sport (2017), 'Validation of the VERT wearable jump monitor' · recall

  6. 76.3 cm on VERT against 70.9 cm on the ruler.

    Source: Sports Illustrated (2015) and USA Volleyball (2017) on VERT; Biology of Sport (2017), 'Validation of the VERT wearable jump monitor' · recall

  7. It worked with iOS devices.

    Source: Sports Illustrated (2015) and USA Volleyball (2017) on VERT; Biology of Sport (2017), 'Validation of the VERT wearable jump monitor' · recall

  8. Summer 2014, March 2017 and 2020.

    Source: Sports Illustrated (2015) and USA Volleyball (2017) on VERT; Biology of Sport (2017), 'Validation of the VERT wearable jump monitor' · recall

  9. 0.75, 70.9 and 76.3.

    Source: Sports Illustrated (2015) and USA Volleyball (2017) on VERT; Biology of Sport (2017), 'Validation of the VERT wearable jump monitor' · recall

  10. VERT-style wearables track jump load in training.

    Source: Sports Illustrated (2015) and USA Volleyball (2017) on VERT; Biology of Sport (2017), 'Validation of the VERT wearable jump monitor' · applied

5.60Brands Behind the Kit

From a 1906 shop in Osaka to a Kobe company: the brands that dress volleyball players.

Test 1brands behind the kitTake a test

  1. Rihachi lived from 1884 to 1970.

    Source: ASICS corporate history (corp.asics.com); Mizuno corporate history (corp.mizuno.com) · recall

  2. Golf clubs followed twenty years later.

    Source: ASICS corporate history (corp.asics.com); Mizuno corporate history (corp.mizuno.com) · recall

  3. Mizuno spread into many sports.

    Source: ASICS corporate history (corp.asics.com); Mizuno corporate history (corp.mizuno.com) · recall

  4. The name has stayed the same since.

    Source: ASICS corporate history (corp.asics.com); Mizuno corporate history (corp.mizuno.com) · recall

  5. Rihachi Mizuno and his younger brother Rizo founded it.

    Source: ASICS corporate history (corp.asics.com); Mizuno corporate history (corp.mizuno.com) · recall

  6. His first shop sold western goods, baseballs among them.

    Source: ASICS corporate history (corp.asics.com); Mizuno corporate history (corp.mizuno.com) · recall

  7. Sports shoes have come a long way since.

    Source: ASICS corporate history (corp.asics.com); Mizuno corporate history (corp.mizuno.com) · recall

  8. 1906, 1941, 1949 and 1977.

    Source: ASICS corporate history (corp.asics.com); Mizuno corporate history (corp.mizuno.com) · recall

  9. 1910, 1913 and 1933.

    Source: ASICS corporate history (corp.asics.com); Mizuno corporate history (corp.mizuno.com) · recall

  10. Mizuno Brothers opened in Osaka in 1906.

    Source: ASICS corporate history (corp.asics.com); Mizuno corporate history (corp.mizuno.com) · applied

Sources

Primary/official sources only, no Wikipedia citations: the International Volleyball Hall of Fame, the FIVB and Volleyball World, the CEV, the NCAA, the IOC, World ParaVolley, the federations', clubs' and leagues' own histories, Guinness World Records and named reputable media.

  • ASICS corporate history (corp.asics.com); Mizuno corporate history (corp.mizuno.com)20
  • Mikasa Corporation company history and profile; CEV, 'Long term and fruitful' (Mikasa partnership); Hiroshima Peace Media10
  • Molten Corporation, company history (molten.co.jp); Molten USA on the NCAA Volleyball Championships ball10
  • FIVB and Mikasa on the V200W reveal at the 36th FIVB World Congress, Cancun; Volleyball Alberta on the V200W and the MVA20010
  • Gerflor press releases on Taraflex at the Olympic Games (2012, 2016) and the FIVB partnership renewal (2016)10
  • FIVB, 'The legacy of innovation during President Graca's mandate' (2024); VolleyMob, 'New technological additions in Manila' (2016)10
  • Data Project, Data Volley 2007 handbook (dataproject.com); Journal of Big Data (2025) on the .dvw scouting format10
  • The Times, Snopes and InsideHook on the 2021 Propstore sale; Robb Report and Bloomberg on the 2022 sale10
  • Sports Illustrated (2015) and USA Volleyball (2017) on VERT; Biology of Sport (2017), 'Validation of the VERT wearable jump monitor'10