indoor volleyball
Volleyball
was invented by William Morgan in USA in 1895. Participation in the
game has grown enormously and it is now one of the top five international
sports and FIVB is the largest international sporting federation in
the world. It has seen particular growth in the last decade with volleyball
being the number two team sport in the world behind soccer. In New
Zealand it is the number one team sport for secondary school girls.
In Hawke’s Bay participation rates are growing steadily and
already our sport is ranked in the top five secondary school participation
sports.
Volleyball is a complex game of simple skills. A purely rebound sport
where you can’t hold the ball – a game of constant motion.
Power and height have become vital components for the players of the
game but strategy, 
tactics
and skills are crucial factors for success. As the game has developed
specialist players have developed with most teams having a specialist
setter, two centre blockers, two receiver/hitters and a universal
hitter. In 2000 prior to Sydney Olympics the Libero specialist position
was introduced. In 2000 the new scoring system was also introduced
– rally point. This was designed to make the game easier to
follow, faster and more exciting.
World Championships for indoor volleyball were first held for Men only on a tennis court in Prague in 1949. Women began in Moscow in 1952.
Indoor
Volleyball made its Olympic debut in Tokyo in 1964. The game has been
dominated by many different countries over the years. New Zealand
has never done well on the international scene in indoor volleyball
although we do compete well at school level against our Australian
counterparts. It is hoped that indoor volleyball will soon be included
as a sport at the commonwealth games.