Timeline of Significant Volleyball Events

1900, a special ball was designed for the sport.

1916, in the Philippines, an offensive style of passing the ball in a high trajectory to be struck by another player (the set and spike) were introduced.

1917, the game was changed from 21 to 15 points.

1920, three hits per side and back row attack rules were instituted.

1922, the first YMCA national championships were held in Brooklyn, NY. Twenty-seven teams from 11 states were represented.

1928, it became clear that tournaments and rules were needed, so the United States Volleyball Association (USVBA, now USA Volleyball) was formed. The first U.S. Open was staged, as the field was open to non-YMCA squads.

1930, the first two-man beach game was played.

1934, national volleyball referees were approved and recognized.

1937, at the AAU convention in Boston, action was taken to recognize the U.S. Volleyball Association as the official national governing body in the U.S.

1947, the Federation Internationale De Volley-Ball (FIVB) was founded.

1948, the first two-man beach tournament was held.

1949, the initial World Championships were held in Prague, Czechoslovakia.

1964, volleyball was introduced to the Olympic Games in Tokyo.

1965, the California Beach Volleyball Association (CBVA) was formed.

1974, the World Championships in Mexico were telecast in Japan.

1975, the U.S. National Women’s team began a year-round training regime in Pasadena, Texas (moved to Colorado Springs in 1979, Coto de Caza and Fountain Valley, CA, in 1980, and San Diego, CA, in 1985).

1977, the U.S. National Men’s Team began a year-round training regime in Dayton, Ohio (moved to San Diego, CA, in 1981).

1983, the Association of Volleyball Professionals (AVP) was formed.

1984, the U.S. won their first medals at the Olympics in Los Angeles. The men won the gold, and the women the silver.

1986, the Women’s Professional Volleyball Association (WPVA) was formed.

1988, the U.S. men repeated the gold in the Olympics in Korea.

1990, the World League was created.

1995, the sport of volleyball was 100 years old!

1996, two-person beach volleyball became an Olympic sport.