Volleyball celebrated its 100th birthday back in 1995. It's popularity continues to grow and the game is now even played as part of the Summer Olympic Games. There are 800 million players world, with a whopping 46 million of them in the US, alone. But it all began in 1895 when William G. Morgan, a YMCA (Young Men's Christian Association) instructor in Holyoke, Massachusetts blended together elements of basketball, baseball, tennis, and handball to create a game for his classes of businessmen which would demand less physical contact than basketball. Morgan borrowed the net from the tennis and raised it to 6 feet, 6 inches (201.168 cm) above the floor, just above the head of an average man, During a demonstration match, a spectator commented to Morgan that the "players seemed to be volleying the ball back and forth across the net." And thus the name volleyball came to be.
One-hundred twenty years ago, on this very day (July 7th, 1897,) the very first volleyball game was played at Springfield College in Massachusetts. In 1900, a special ball was designed specifically for the game. During the early part of the 20th century, volleyball spread to other countries like Canada, Cuba, Puerto Rico, Uruguay, the Orient, and most of the Southern Hemisphere. By 1928, it became clear that a definitive set of rules and tournaments were needed, so the USVBA was created. (The United States Volley Ball Association). It is now called simply US Volleyball. In the 1930's the game became popular as a recreational activity. By the early 1950's, 50 million people played volleyball in as many as 60 countries. The Tokyo Olympic Games of 1964 was the first time that volleyball was included in the summer games. The California Beach Volleyball Association was formed in 1965. And it wasn't until 1986 that the Women's Professional Volleyball Association was formed. 1994 marked the first internet site on the sport of Volleyball. Which brings us pretty much up to modern times. But I still haven't said much on the subject of beach Volleyball itself.
It is thought that beach volleyball was first played in Hawaii i n 1915, when the Outriggers Beach and Canoe Club set up a net on Waikiki Beach. However, most people believe that it really began in Santa Monica, California in the 1920's...about 25 years after the indoor version came into being. The sport began as family fun at the beach. The wide appeal and low cost of playing meant that the beach version, too, soon became popular all over the world. The sport was given a boost during the the Great Depression when cash-poor Americans flocked to the beaches and played what was, essentially, a no-cost sport. By the 1950's competitions were being held in California, in conjunction with beauty pageants and other forms of entertainment. By the 1970's a full-fledged professional beach volleyball tour was organized. Beach Volleyball was a demonstration game at the 1992 Olympics in Barcelona. It was included as an actual event during the 1996 Olympics, held in Atlanta, Georgia. Some common, yet interesting Volleyball terms include: Attack which means the offensive action of hitting the ball. Chester which means to get hit in the chest with a spike (a hit), and six-packed...getting hit in the face with the ball. Ouch!
Lily Pad has miles and miles of beautiful beaches and during the summer one can see loads of families and friends playing this delightful, if not strenuous, game. My buddies and I will get there early tomorrow and pick out a great spot for our day of fun in the sun.
I wish each of you a sunny and happy weekend, whatever your plans include. And I invite you all back here on Monday. Hopefully, my little froggy arms won't be too worn out from all that attacking, and I will still be able to type!