韦廉姆·G·摩根1870—1942

1892年，当摩根在斯普林菲尔德学院学习时，他认识了篮球的发明者詹姆士·奈史密斯。与奈史密斯一样，摩根在基督教青年会从事体育教育工作。受奈史密斯和篮球的影响，在1895年的马萨诸塞州霍利奥克，摩根发明了“Mintonette”，一项不太激烈的团队运动，更适合基督教青年会的老年成员，但仍然需要运动技能。后来，阿尔弗雷德·S·哈尔斯特德（Alfred S. Halstead）观看比赛并将其更名为“排球”。

1985年，摩根入选排球名人堂，成为首任成员。

William George Morgan (January 23, 1870 – December 27, 1942) was an American sports educator and the inventor of volleyball, originally called "Mintonette", a name derived from the game of badminton which he later agreed to change to better reflect the nature of the sport. He was born in Lockport, New York, U.S.

He met James Naismith, inventor of basketball, while Morgan was studying at Springfield College in 1892. Like Naismith, Morgan pursued a career in Physical Education at the YMCA. 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 it being played and renamed it "Volleyball".

In 1985, he was inducted into the Volleyball Hall of Fame as the inaugural member.

Early life

William George Morgan graduated from high school at Northfield Mount Hermon School and moved on to attend the YMCA International Training School (Later renamed Springfield College) in Massachusetts with James Naismith, the inventor of basketball. Both Morgan and Naismith pursued careers in Physical Education at the YMCA (Young Men’s Christian Association). Auburn, Maine, at the YMCA, was where Morgan spent one year working prior to graduating from Springfield College. During the summer of 1895, Morgan moved to Holyoke, Massachusetts, where he continued to work for the YMCA, becoming the Director of Physical Education. With Morgan being the Director, it allowed him to devise workout plans and teach sports in depth to the young male adults.

Creating the sport

As he worked as the Director of Physical Education at the YMCA in Holyoke, he noticed the game of basketball was not meant for everyone to play. The weaker young men, non-athletic adults, and the older adults were unable to keep up with running up and down the court, along with the amount of contact they would occasionally run into. Morgan then had to think of a game in which everyone would have an equal amount of participation but also had similar objectives to basketball. He wanted to create a game which everyone could play, no matter their age or physical ability.

Between trying to run classes at the YMCA and creating a new sport suitable for all, Morgan decided it was best that he use ideas from various sports such as handball, tennis, and badminton, and his own knowledge from sports training methods and experience, to create this new sport.

Introducing the sport

The first time Morgan revealed his sport to the other Directors of Physical was at the YMCA located in Springfield, in 1896. He presented his new, creative idea to Dr. Luther Halsey Gulick (director of the professional physical education training school) and the rest of the YMCA Directors of Physical Education. Dr. Gulick was so impressed that he asked Morgan to present his sport at the school's new stadium.

In preparation for his big debut, Morgan created 2 teams of 5 men, who would help in demonstrating “Mintonette” in front of the conference delegates in the East Gymnasium at Springfield College.

In December of 1895, William Morgan presented his new sport to the world.

Aftermath

On July 7, 1896, the first game of volleyball was played at Springfield College.

In 1900, Spalding started to produce a special ball, which was designed specifically for the sport – A volleyball.

In 1920, new rules were instigated which included the three hits per side and the back row attack rules.

In 1964, at the Summer Olympic Games in Tokyo, Volleyball was introduced to the Olympics.

Later life

William Morgan left his job at the YMCA in 1897 to start a new career with General Electric and Westinghouse. He stayed in touch with Springfield College and stated that he was "content in the knowledge that the game brought a richer life to millions of people throughout the world."

Morgan died on December 27, 1942, in Lockport, New York where he was born.

Credits

In 1995, The Morgan Trophy Award was created. The Award is presented annually to the most outstanding male and female collegiate volleyball player in the US. An elementary school in Holyoke, William Morgan School, bears his name.