Did you realise that Volleyball History is one of the most searched topics in the volleyball community?

Well it's not really surprising when you consider just how popular it has become in it's relatively short life.

It is estimated that about 17% of the world participate in volleyball, beach volleyball or recreational volleyball.

The game of volleyball was devised by a YMCA physical education director,William G Morgan, back in 1895 but was originally called "Mintonette".

Initial rules where pretty basic:

- any number of players were allowed
- any number of contacts permitted before a ball is passed over the net - court size was 25 foot x 50 foot with a net of 6 feet and 6 inches
- each match had 9 innings with 3 servers per team per innings
- if a serve hit the net it was considered a foul that resulted in a point loss - ladies were allowed to catch the ball and then throw it back (beginning of the "set")

Alfred Halstead came up with the name "Volley Ball" ( in 1896) because the ball was constantly being "volleyed".

It was not until 1900 was a proper volleyball, one that we know today as a volleyball, created for the sport. The Set and Spike were only introduced and mastered around 1916 and the scoring changed from 21 to 15 points a year later.

The three hits and back row hitting rules were only introduced in 1920. Volleyball was taken to the world during 1919 when 16,000 volleyballs were issued to troops and allies.