William G. Morgan
Encyclopedia
William G. Morgan was the inventor of volleyball
, originally called "Mintonette". He was born in Lockport, New York
, USA. He met James Naismith
, inventor of basketball
, while Morgan was studying at Springfield College
, Massachusetts
in 1892. Like Naismith, Morgan pursued a career in Physical Education
at the YMCA
(YMCA stands for Young Men's Christian Association). Influenced by Naismith and basketball, in 1895, in Holyoke, Massachusetts
, Morgan invented "Mintonette" a less vigorous team sport more suitable for older members of the YMCA but one that still required athletic skill. Later Alfred S. Halstead watched Mintonnette and re-named it "Volleyball" as the point of the game is to "volley" the "ball" back and forth over the net.
Morgan died in 1942. An elementary school in Holyoke, William Morgan School, bears his name.
Volleyball
Volleyball is a team sport in which two teams of six players are separated by a net. Each team tries to score points by grounding a ball on the other team's court under organized rules.The complete rules are extensive...
, originally called "Mintonette". He was born in Lockport, New York
Lockport (city), New York
Lockport is a city in Niagara County, New York, United States. The population was 21,165 at the 2010 census. The name is derived from a set of Erie canal locks within the city. Lockport is the county seat of Niagara County and is surrounded by the town of Lockport...
, USA. He met James Naismith
James Naismith
The first game of "Basket Ball" was played in December 1891. In a handwritten report, Naismith described the circumstances of the inaugural match; in contrast to modern basketball, the players played nine versus nine, handled a soccer ball, not a basketball, and instead of shooting at two hoops,...
, inventor of basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
, while Morgan was studying at Springfield College
Springfield College
Springfield College is a private, coeducational university located in the City of Springfield, Massachusetts. Springfield College is most famous as the site where the sport of basketball was invented...
, Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
in 1892. Like Naismith, Morgan pursued a career in Physical Education
Physical education
Physical education or gymnastics is a course taken during primary and secondary education that encourages psychomotor learning in a play or movement exploration setting....
at the YMCA
YMCA
The Young Men's Christian Association is a worldwide organization of more than 45 million members from 125 national federations affiliated through the World Alliance of YMCAs...
(YMCA stands for Young Men's Christian Association). Influenced by Naismith and basketball, in 1895, in Holyoke, Massachusetts
Holyoke, Massachusetts
Holyoke is a city in Hampden County, Massachusetts, United States, between the western bank of the Connecticut River and the Mount Tom Range of mountains. As of the 2010 Census, the city had a population of 39,880...
, Morgan invented "Mintonette" a less vigorous team sport more suitable for older members of the YMCA but one that still required athletic skill. Later Alfred S. Halstead watched Mintonnette and re-named it "Volleyball" as the point of the game is to "volley" the "ball" back and forth over the net.
Morgan died in 1942. An elementary school in Holyoke, William Morgan School, bears his name.