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History of Volleyball

In 1895, William G. Morgan, an instructor at the Young Men’s Christian Association


(YMCA) in Holyoke, Massachussets decided to blend elements of basketball, baseball,
tennis, and handball to create a game for his classes of businessmen which would
demand less physical contact than basketball. He created the game of Volleyball (at
that time called, Mintonette). Morgan borrowed the net from tennis, and raised it 6
feet 6 inches above the floor, just above the average man’s head.

During a demonstration game, someone remarked to Morgan that the players seemed
to be volleying the ball back and forth over the net, and perhaps “volleyball” would be a
more descriptive name for the sport. On July 7, 1896 at Springfield College the first
game of “volleyball” was played.

Basic Skills in Volleyball


1. Passing
Passing is simply getting the ball to someone else on your team after it’s been served or
hit over the net by the opposing team. It’s commonly thought of as the most important
skill in all of volleyball, because your team can’t return the ball without a solid volleyball
pass. Forearm volleyball passes are often used to direct the ball in a controlled manner
to a teammate, but overhead passing is another option.
2. Setting
The setter has the most important position on the team, and is often the team leader
for this reason. It’s their job to make it easy for a teammate to get the ball over the
volleyball net, preferably with a spike that the other team can’t return. The setting
motion gets the ball hanging in the air, ready to be spiked by another teammate with
force.
3. Spiking
A real crowd-pleaser, spiking is the act of slamming the ball in a downward motion
across the volleyball net to the other team’s side of the court. When done well, spiking
is very difficult to return, which is why it’s an essential skill. A proper spike will help
accumulate points quickly.
4. Blocking
Blocking is another important skill, although it’s probably the most expendable of the
fundamentals. Still, it adds a great dimension to the game, keeping the other team on
their toes, so to speak. By timing it right, you can jump up and deflect or block the
opponent’s attack before it even crosses the volleyball net, which can take them by
surprise and give your team an easy point.
5. Digging
Digging is a defensive maneuver in volleyball that can save your team from an offensive
spike or attack. Your job is to keep the ball from hitting the floor, and you do that by
diving and passing the ball in a fluid motion. Unlike a typical pass, you’ll probably be
trying to recover the ball from a steep downward trajectory.
6. Serving
Our final fundamental skills is serving. How can you be a great volleyball player without
knowing how to serve? There are a variety of ways to serve, but you’ll most often see
the underhand or overhand serves.
– For an underhand serve, if you’re right-handed, hold the ball in your left hand while
the right hand makes a fist with the thumb on top. Make contact with the underside of
the ball to send it over the net.

– For an overhand serve (which is more advanced and common among skilled players)
you’ll be tossing the ball up while you pull back the dominant arm and swing. Don’t
follow through after your hand contacts the ball, which should feel almost like you’re
punching the ball across the volleyball net.

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