Volleyball History

Perhaps even William G. Morgan, who founded Volleyball 126 years ago, did not think that one day the popularity of the sport he invented would be so pervasive that Volleyball would be named the most-watched Olympic sport. Volleyball is recognized as one of the top five sports in the world, and its international federation, with 220 members of the national federation, is the largest sports organisation in the world, which is obliged to develop various programs for half a billion people who play volleyball. Volleyball became so popular with people all over the world nowadays, in addition to the Olympics, competitions such as the World Championship, World Cup, World League, World Grand Prix, Continental Champions Cup, and the World Youth Championship are only part of the global programs of volleyball planners and policy makers to keep those who interested in this sport satisfied.   During these years, the World Volleyball Federation (FIVB) organises international programs with titles such as: public volleyball, volleyball with height restrictions, volleyball for children from teenagers to teenagers, etc., which all express the interest of the international community in this sport.

In the last two decades, with the Appearance of beach volleyball, another part of the fans of sports that are considered as serious competition for championship, fun and tourism, joined the field so that beach volleyball from the very beginning of its international presence, face with a great response from Athletes and sports enthusiasts. Beach volleyball is considered to be one of the most lucrative sports in the world today, with billions of dollars in revenue from world tours.

History of Volleyball in World

In the winter of 1895, in Holyoke, Massachusetts (United States), William G. Morgan, a YMCA physical education director, created a new game called Mintonette, a name derived from the game of badminton, as a pastime to be played (preferably) indoors and by any number of players. The game took some of its characteristics from other sports such as baseball, tennis and handball. Another indoor sport, basketball, was catching on in the area, having been invented just ten miles (sixteen kilometres) away in the city of Springfield, Massachusetts, only four years before.

Alfred Halstead, noticed the volleying nature of the game at its first exhibition match in 1896, played at the International YMCA Training School (now called Springfield College), the game quickly became known as volleyball (it was originally spelled as two words: “volley ball“). Volleyball rules were slightly modified by the International YMCA Training School and the game spread around the country to various YMCAs.

Although volleyball was initially an indoor sport, it was gradually drawn to the open by the people themselves and became one of the most popular summer pastimes in parks and beaches.

Process of Making Volleyball Rules

At First, there were no specific rules for volleyball, but as it became more widespread, there was a need to establish rules and regulations that would make it easier for everyone to play. for this reason,
In 1900 it was accepted that each set of games would be 21 points.
In 1912 the rotation system was approved.
In 1917 it was accepted that each set of games would be 15 points.
In 1918, it was approved that the number of players on each side of the field be six.
In 1921, it was agreed that each team would send the ball to the other side of the net with three hits.
In 1923, the area of the playground was set at 9 × 18 meters.

Over the years, many rules were set for the game, and many of the previous rules were changed, and these changes are still ongoing. One of the most important programs of the International Volleyball Congress, which is held every four years is going to approve or change the rules and regulation in order to complete, improve and make the sport more attractive. For example, at the 1998 World Congress, rules such as the Rally scoring method with 25 points for the first, second, third, and fourth sets and 15 points for the fifth set were passed, as well as the approval of a libero player and a free kick player. There was a lot of charm and excitement in the game of volleyball.

On the Way to Globalization

Canada was the first foreign country to play volleyball in 1900. Volleyball has since spread to countries such as; India, Cuba, Puerto Rico, Philippines, Uruguay, China and Japan. Volleyball was gradually introduced and expanded to European countries, including France, Czechoslovakia, Poland, the Soviet Union, Bulgaria, and other countries, from 1914 by US Army soldiers, advisers, and others. In the meantime, it was the Asians who formed a volleyball association earlier than other countries and in 1913 held a tournament called the Far East Cup. But France, Czechoslovakia and Poland were the three countries that formed the National Volleyball Federation before others and decided to establish the International Volleyball Federation with the help of other countries. At the same time as the Berlin Olympics (1936), they carried out many activities, all of which were wasted and stopped with the outbreak of World War II.
But after World War II, a volleyball match in continental Europe and in Paris between France and Czechoslovakia provided an opportunity to re-establish the issue of establishing an international body for the sport.

Establishment of the World Federation

Finally, negotiations between the three countries of France, Czechoslovakia and Poland led to the formation of special congress to establish the International Volleyball Association, and in April 1947 this congress was attended by representatives of fourteen countries (Belgium, Brazil, CzechoslovakiaBrazil, Egypt, France, Netherland, Hungary, Italy, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Uruguay, USA and Yugoslavia) were held in Paris, and participants voted to establish the International Volleyball Federation (FIVB) in Paris, headed by Paul Libod from France. In the following years, a flood of applications from various countries reached the International Federation, and the FIVB, which began its work with 14 member countries, increased its membership to 220 in less than sixty years.
During his 37 years as president of the International Federation (until 1984), Paul Libod, with the help of his colleagues, made FIVB one of the most active federations and volleyball one of the most widespread sports in the world. With the formation of specialized committees and the development of new regulations, a program for official international competitions was prepared and started.

In 1949, the first World Men’s Championship was held in Prague, and in 1952, the second edition was held in Moscow along with the first World Women’s Championship.

Enter the Olympics

The international status and importance of volleyball from the very beginning of its globalization was so undeniable that it did not take long for the organizers of the Olympic Games to introduce volleyball as one of the Olympic sports. Volleyball competitions in the men’s and women’s categories have been officially added to the Olympic program since 1964 (Tokyo Olympics), and so far eleven editions of this presence has been passed. According to the official announcement of the International Olympic Committee; Volleyball has attracted the most television viewers (over 1.5 billion people) worldwide at the Athens (2004) and Beijing (2008) Games.

New Volleyball

But at the 1984 International Volleyball Congress in Los Angeles, Dr. Ruben Acosta, a former Mexican oil minister, was elected as FIVB chairman. With the coming to power of Ruben Acosta, volleyball came to life again. Because of his wisdom in the global capital market and economic activities, on the one hand, he did infrastructure work to attract capital, and on the other hand, he founded a new volleyball team by taking advantage of the point of view of experts.
He moved the headquarters of the International Volleyball Federation from Paris to Lausanne, Switzerland, and formed the structure of the FIVB in the way it is run today.
It was at this time that world volleyball policymakers approved the plan to hold a world-class volleyball tournament on an annual basis so that volleyball enthusiasts would not have to wait four years for a World Championship or World Cup to be held. As a result, the World League and World Grand Prix competitions were designed with million-dollar prizes, which are still held every year and are among the most popular in the world of sports.

Beach Volleyball

The FIVB’s activities during Ruben Acosta’s presidency were not limited to volleyball; Because beach volleyball had spontaneously become popular in some countries, the FIVB supported the sport by developing new rules and regulations and holding world competitions; To the extent that the International Olympic Committee was persuaded to add beach volleyball competitions to the Olympic Games program from 1996 (Atlanta Olympics).
Dr. Ruben Acosta finally resigned in 2008 after 24 years as President of the World Federation, and Wei Zhi Hong was elected as President of FIVB by  31st International Volleyball Congress members in Dubai.
Wei Zhi Hong during the years before his presidency of the World Federation; He was the President of the Asian Volleyball Confederation, the Vice President of the World Federation and the Chairman of the FIVB Judicial Committee. He is also a former member of the Chinese national volleyball team.

New Sight; New boss

Wei Zhi Hong announced shortly after his election that He is an interim president who intends to create the conditions for a worthy person to lead the World Federation. In fact, He was stated that because the members of FIVB were surprised by the announcement of the resignation of Dr. Ruben Acosta from the presidency and could not make the necessary plans for an important and decisive election, they decided to choose the trustful person (Wei zhi Hong) has gone through a transition period and in this 4-year transition to conclude and plan for the 2012 World Volleyball Federation presidential election. Finally in 2012, during the 33rd World Volleyball Congress held in Anaheim, USA, Dr. Ary Grasa (Brazil) was elected the new President of the World Volleyball Federation by an overwhelming majority of members of Congress.
Dr. Eri Grassa; He was the former president of the Brazilian Volleyball Federation and the South American Volleyball Confederation and a member of the board of directors of the World Volleyball Federation. His plans to popularize the Brazilian volleyball style after the fall of power and the subsequent collapse of the Soviet Union are well-known to world sports directors. He has also played a significant role in the globalization of beach volleyball as a popular sport. Dr. Ary Grassa is now the President of the FIVB as the first man in the world to manage volleyball with a wide variety of programs, as well as a new look and goal that makes volleyball one of the world’s most popular sports.

History of Volleyball in Iran

Volleyball was begun in Iran at the end of 1921 by Mir Mehdi Varzandeh, the great master of sports, and its training was began at the Academy of Sports Teachers.
The game of volleyball in Iran at the beginning did not have special rules and was done in different ways. The techniques and tactics of volleyball, like its rules, did not have a principled basis, and each player played the ball on his own initiative, often with punching or kicking.
In 1923-1924, by using the translation of foreign magazines, rules that were implemented in other countries at that time, became common in Iran.
From 1925-1926, public attention to this sport increased and in a short time, many fans were attracted; So volleyball training in three places was started and followed seriously and continuously. These three places were:
1. Darol Moalemin Varzesh
2. Shayesteh or Ejtemaeeion Club
3. Alborz College Varzeshi Club

Alborz College had more and better facilities than other sports centres at that time, and as a result, most of the young people went to this place for training.
The first volleyball match was played in 1925 between the two teams of Darol Moalemin and the Shayesteh Club, which was very exciting; Because the match was new to the people, their presence caused more Rivalry between the two competing teams and added to excitement. This competition was a prelude to the increasing development of this sport.
The game of volleyball gradually spread to schools and in a short time, it became popular in the schools as well as in cities of the country by graduating coaches of Darol Moalemin.

Isfahan was the first city after Tehran to develop this sport. The first match of Iranian cities was held between two volleyball teams of Isfahan College and Tehran Alborz College .
Providing ball was one of the problems of that time and soccer ball was mostly used for playing volleyball. Finally, the First ball of volleyball was made by a person named Ghomshei.
In 1935, a club competition was held in Tehran and Darband Club won the championship. In the same year, several friendly matches were held between Tehran women’s teams.

In 1939, the first Edition of the Iranian Volleyball Championship was held at the same time as the competitions of other sports.
At the beginning of the establishment of sports federations (1324), volleyball and basketball had a joint federation and continued until 1336. In those years, competitions were held under the title of club championship, free, selected teams, championship of schools and colleges of each city, and finally the national championship.
The occupation of Iran by the Allied forces in World War II brought our country’s sports connection, especially volleyball teams, with the soldiers of these forces and was a way to get acquainted with volleyball abroad. At that time, a friendly match between a team from our country and the Russian army was held in Anzali port, which ended in favor of the Iranian team.

In 1939, the first edition of the Iranian Volleyball Championship was held at the same time as the competitions of other sports.
At the beginning of the establishment of sports federations (1945), volleyball and basketball had a joint federation, and this continued until 1957. In those years, competitions were held under the title of club championship, free, selected teams, championship of schools and colleges of each city, and finally the national championship.
The occupation of Iran by the Allied forces in World War II brought our country’s sports connection, especially volleyball teams, with the soldiers of these forces and was a way to get acquainted with volleyball abroad. At that time, a friendly match between a team from our country and the Russian army was held in Anzali port that Iran defeated Russia.