Definition of volleyball

The sport of volleyball traces its origins back to the late 1800s, and the name of the game is said to have been coined by William G. Morgan, a physical education instructor at the YMCA in Holyoke, Massachusetts. In 1895, Morgan developed a new game for businessmen, who often found it challenging to schedule time for athletics due to their busy professional lives. He wanted a sport that would be less strenuous than basketball, which was gaining popularity at the time, and more suitable for mature athletes. Morgan's game, initially known as Mintonette, was played with a net and a large, soft ball made from woven basket materials. The term "Mintonette" was adopted from the name of the Italian game "Jeu de Paume," which involved hitting a small ball against a wall with the hands. However, the name "Mintonette" was cumbersome and hard to remember, causing confusion among players. Morgan, in consultation with his students, thought of a new name for the game that would be easy to remember and more descriptive of its distinguishing feature. To keep the game's legacy intact, Morgan decided to continue using the ball made from woven basket materials, which would be easily visible when it was struck. Players were required to hit the ball over the net in a continuous volley of hits, and volleyball was born. The word "volleyball" was first documented in a Massachusett's YMCA bulletin in 1896, and it quickly caught on as the popular name for the game. The name "volleyball" aptly described the game's unique feature, which involved players volleying the ball back and forth over the net. The game's popularity grew rapidly from there, and volleyball became an officially recognized sport at the 1964 Olympics in Tokyo. Today, volleyball is played in countries around the world, and the name "volleyball" remains a brand name for a sport that combines exhilarating athleticism, strategy, and teamwork.