Original Rules of Volleyball

Original Rules of Volleyball

Volleyball--History; Springfield College; Springfield College--Alumni and alumnae; International Young Men's Christian Association Training School (Springfield, Mass.);

Morgan, William G.; Rules; Sports; Volleyball;

A copy of the original rules for the game of volleyball most likely sent to Springfield College from William Morgan, the inventor of volleyball, in 1932. Morgan graduated from Springfield College in 1894 and became a physical director at the YMCA in Auburn, Maine. In 1895 he left Maine and became a physical director at the YMCA in Holyoke, MA. While working as the physical director at the YMCA in Holyoke, Morgan developed the game of volleyball as a less strenuous alternative to basketball for middle-aged business men. Morgan's game combined elements of both basketball and badminton and was first debuted at Springfield College. Morgan left the YMCA in 1897 to begin work with General Electric and Westinghouse but maintained his ties to the college and the game he created. Morgan died in 1942 at the age of 72.

THE ORIGINAL GAME OF VOLLEYBALL RULES

1. Game. The game consists of nine innings
2. Innings. An inning consists of: when one person is playing on each side, one service on each side; when two are playing on each side, two services on each side; when three or more are playing on each side, three services on each side. The man serving continues to do so until out by failure of his side to return the ball. Each man shall serve in turn.
3. Court. The court or floor space shall be 25 feet wide and 50 feet long, to be divided into two square courts, 25 x 25 feet, by the net. Four feet from the net on either side and parallel with it shall be a line across the court, the Dribbling Line. The boundary lines must be plainly marked so as to be visible from all parts of the courts.
Note-The exact size of the court may be changed to suit the convenience of the place.
4. Net. The net shall be at least 2 feet wide and 27 feet long, and shall be suspended from uprights placed at least one foot outside the side lines. The top line of the net must be 6 feet 6 inches from the floor.
5. Ball. The ball shall be a rubber bladder covered with leather or canvas. It shall measure not less than 25 inches nor more than 27 inches in circumference, and shall weigh not less than 9 ounces nor more than 12 ounces.
6. Server and Service. The server shall stand with one foot on the back line. The ball must be batted with the hand. Two services or trials are allowed him to place the ball in the opponents’ court (as in tennis). The server may serve into the opponents’ court at any place. In a service the ball must be batted at least ten feet, no dribbling allowed. A service which would strike the net, but is struck by another of the same side before striking the net, if it goes over into the opponents’ court, it is good, but if it should go outside, the server has no second trial.
7. Scoring. Each good service unreturned or ball in play unreturned by the side receiving, counts 1 score for the side serving. A side only scores when serving, as a failure to return the ball on their part results in the server being put out.
8. Net Ball. A play which hits the net aside from the first service is called a net ball and is equivalent to a failure to return, counting for the opposide side. The ball hitting the net on first service shall be called dead and counts as a trial.
9. Line Ball. It is a ball striking the boundaryline; it is equivalent to one out of court and counts as such.
10. Play and Players. Any number may play that is convenient to the place. A player should be able to cover about 10 x 10 feet.

Should any player during play touch the net, it puts the ball out of play and counts against his side. Should any player catch or hold for an instant the ball, it is out of play and counts for the opposite side. Should the ball strike any object other than the floor and bound back into the court, it is still in play. To dribble the ball is to carry it all the time keeping it bouncing. When dribbling the ball no player shall cross the Dribbling Line, this putting the ball out of play and counting against him. Any player, except the captain, addressing the umpire or casting any slurring remarks at him or any of the players on the opposite side, may be disqualified and his side be compelled to play the game without him or a substitute or forfeit the same.

Processed;

Morgan, William G.

Springfield College

1932?

2012-03-15

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MS 511 William G. Morgan Papers

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