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William Morgan Research Paper

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“In 1895, William G. Morgan decided to blend the elements of basketball, baseball, tennis, and handball to create a game for his classes of businessmen.” (Donaghy). Morgan was raised in New York and went to the Springfield College of the YMCA. In 1895, he became the director of physical education at the YMCA in Holyoke, Massachusetts. William Morgan invented volleyball while looking for a less violent sport for his older members of the YMCA. (Strength and Power for Volleyball).
William Morgan named his sport mintonette, but Dr. Alfred Halsted helped Morgan change the name. “During a demonstration game, someone remarked that the players seemed to be volleying the ball back and forth over the net, and perhaps “volleyball” would be a more descriptive …show more content…

Volleyball is a very adaptable and flexible sport. It can be played indoors, outdoors, and even in water. The rules can be altered to fit any situation. Around the world, people came up with new rules and ideas for the game. “The offensive style of setting and spiking was first demonstrated in the Philippines in 1916.” (Volleyball Court Central). “During the 1930s, the Czechs and Russians were known for their skill at blocking.” (Sherrew 11). Players decided to focus on a certain skill as the game became more competitive. Each person had their own position that they were advanced …show more content…

In 1912, the size of the court was expanded, and the net was raised a foot higher. It was decided that there would be six players on each side that would rotate around the court throughout the game. Teams played to twenty-one points, and the winner was the best of three games. “In 1922, officials declared that a team could only hit the ball three times before sending it to the other side. Players in the back row were not allowed to spike. The rules banned hitting the ball twice in a row. A team must also win by two points.” (Sherrew 21). Another change allowed teams to use an extra player called the libero. A libero wears a different colored uniform and only plays in the back row. The libero can substitute an unlimited number of times for any player. “Some major changes occurred in the late 1990s. It was swiched to rally scoring. The number of points per game was increased to twenty-five. The banned long sleeve shirts, and said uniforms could not be baggy.” (Sherrew 76). The rules of volleyball have been changed majorly from the first rules instructed by William Morgan.
Volleyball has become a very popular sport, and it still continues to grow. As of 2001, forty-six million people in the United States played volleyball. William Morgan was the foundation of the sport that has grown rapidly over the past two centuries. The original rules were so much different compared to the rules today. Volleyball is a sport

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