Volleyball Hall of Fame facts for kids
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An exhibit on various inductees at the Hall of Fame, 2012
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| Established | 1978 |
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| Location | Holyoke, Massachusetts |
| Type | Professional sports hall of fame |
The International Volleyball Hall of Fame (IVHF) is a special place that honors amazing players, coaches, officials, and leaders. These are people who have made a huge difference in the sport of volleyball. The Hall of Fame is located in Holyoke, Massachusetts, which is where volleyball was invented way back in 1895! A man named William G. Morgan created the game at the local YMCA.
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How the Hall of Fame Started
In 1971, a group in Holyoke, Massachusetts, decided they wanted to create a Volleyball Hall of Fame. They worked hard to make this dream come true.
By 1977, signs went up in Holyoke calling it the "Home of the Volleyball Hall of Fame." At first, it was just a small display of volleyball items. These items were shown at the Chamber of Commerce and the Wistariahurst Museum.
In 1978, the group officially became the Holyoke Volleyball Hall of Fame. Their goal was to keep the history of volleyball alive and honor its greatest figures. A small museum opened on June 6, 1987. It was in a renovated warehouse that used to store silk fabric.
In 1998, the museum got bigger and moved to a permanent spot. It's now in downtown Holyoke's Heritage State Park. The museum shares its building with the Holyoke Children's Museum.
Today, the International Volleyball Hall of Fame has cool exhibits. You can see displays honoring new members, a full-size volleyball court, and timelines of the sport. There are also photos and special items from volleyball history. You can even use an interactive video screen and visit the gift shop!
The very first person to be inducted into the Hall of Fame was William G. Morgan in 1985. He was the inventor of volleyball! Since then, more than 140 men and women from 25 countries have joined the Hall of Fame.
Who Are the Inductees?
The International Volleyball Hall of Fame honors people in different categories. These include male and female players, coaches, and leaders or officials. Each person has made a big impact on volleyball around the world.
Famous Male Volleyball Players
Many incredible male players have been inducted. For example, Karch Kiraly is famous for winning Olympic gold medals in both indoor and beach volleyball. He's the only player ever to do that! Another star is Gilberto (Giba) Godoy Filho from Brazil. He was named the Most Valuable Player at the Olympics, the World Championship, and the World Cup.
Famous Female Volleyball Players
Female players have also achieved amazing things. Regla Torres from Cuba won three Olympic gold medals. She was also named MVP at two World Championships! "Jenny" Lang Ping from China is another legend. She won Olympic gold as a player and then as a head coach. She's the only person to do that in indoor volleyball.
Inspiring Volleyball Coaches
Coaches play a huge role in volleyball success. Eugenio George from Cuba led his women's national team to win three Olympic gold medals. Nikolay Karpol from Russia is another top coach. He led his women's teams to win five Olympic medals!
Important Volleyball Leaders and Officials
Leaders and officials help grow the sport behind the scenes. William G. Morgan, the inventor of volleyball, was the first person inducted. Dr. Harold T. Friermood worked tirelessly to get volleyball into the Olympic Games. Paul Libaud helped start the FIVB (the international volleyball federation) and got volleyball recognized as an Olympic sport.
Images for kids
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International Volleyball Hall of Fame Logo
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An exhibit on various inductees at the Hall of Fame, 2012
See also
In Spanish: Salón de la Fama del Voleibol para niños
- Major achievements in volleyball by nation
- Fédération Internationale de Volleyball
