William G. Morgan facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
William G. Morgan
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William George Morgan
January 23, 1870 Lockport, New York, U.S.
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| Died | December 27, 1942 (aged 72) Lockport, New York, U.S.
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| Alma mater | Springfield College |
| Occupation | Educator |
| Known for | Inventor of volleyball |
| Spouse(s) | Mary King Caldwell (divorced) |
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William George Morgan (born January 23, 1870 – died December 27, 1942) was the person who invented the sport of volleyball. He first called it "Mintonette." He was born in Lockport, New York, in the U.S.
Morgan met James Naismith, who invented basketball, while they were both studying at Springfield College in 1892. Like Naismith, Morgan became a teacher of Physical Education at the YMCA (Young Men's Christian Association). In 1895, in Holyoke, Massachusetts, Morgan created "Mintonette." He wanted a team sport that was less rough than basketball. It was meant for older members of the YMCA or those who were not as athletic. Later, someone watched the game and suggested a new name: "Volleyball."
In 1985, William G. Morgan was honored as the very first person to be included in the Volleyball Hall of Fame.
Contents
Morgan's Early Life and Education
William George Morgan finished high school at Northfield Mount Hermon School. Then, he went to the YMCA International Training School in Massachusetts. This school was later renamed Springfield College. It was there that he met James Naismith, the inventor of basketball. Both Morgan and Naismith chose careers in Physical Education at the YMCA.
Before graduating from Springfield College, Morgan worked for one year at the YMCA in Auburn, Maine. In the summer of 1895, Morgan moved to Holyoke, Massachusetts. He continued to work for the YMCA there, becoming the Director of Physical Education. Being the Director allowed him to create exercise plans and teach sports to young men.
How William Morgan Created Volleyball
As the Director of Physical Education at the YMCA in Holyoke, Morgan noticed something important. The game of basketball was not suitable for everyone. Some young men, adults who were not very athletic, and older adults found it too hard. They struggled with running up and down the court and the physical contact involved. Morgan then decided to invent a new game. He wanted a sport where everyone could participate equally. It also needed to have goals similar to basketball. His main aim was to create a game that people of all ages and physical abilities could enjoy.
Morgan worked on creating this new sport while also teaching classes at the YMCA. He took ideas from different sports like handball, tennis, and badminton. He also used his own knowledge from sports training. He decided the new game would have a net that was six feet, six inches high. This net would divide the playing area into two sides. The game would be played on a court that was 30 feet by 60 feet. This size would allow it to be played in gyms across the country.
After setting some basic rules, William Morgan needed to test his game. First, he had to choose the right ball. A basketball was too heavy. A basketball bladder (the inside part) was too light. After trying all the balls he had, he decided to ask A.G. Spalding & Bros. to make a special ball for his game. A designer named Dale Callaghan at Spalding & Bros. created the first volleyball.
Morgan was very happy with their work. They made the perfect ball for his sport. It was covered in leather and measured 25–27 inches around. The ball also had the right weight, between 9–12 ounces. This new ball was the final touch to the basic parts of the sport. The last thing Morgan needed was a name. He came up with "Mintonette" for his new game.
Introducing the New Sport to the World
Morgan first showed his new sport to other Physical Education Directors in 1896. This happened at the YMCA in Springfield. He presented his creative idea to Dr. Luther Halsey Gulick, who was the director of the physical education training school. All the other YMCA Directors of Physical Education were also there. Dr. Gulick was very impressed. He asked Morgan to show his sport at the school's new stadium.
To prepare for this important presentation, Morgan created two teams. Each team had five men. These teams would help demonstrate "Mintonette" in front of the conference delegates. The demonstration took place in the East Gymnasium at Springfield College.
In December 1895, William Morgan officially presented his new sport to the world. Before the demonstration, Morgan explained some key rules of "Mintonette." He mentioned that the game could be played both outdoors and in gyms. He also explained that the main goal was to keep the ball moving. Players had to hit it from one side of the high net to the other.
One of the people at the conference, Professor Alfred T. Halsted, really liked the game of Mintonette. However, he felt that the name could be better. Professor Halsted suggested that the game should be called Volleyball. He thought this name was better because the main idea of the game was to "volley" the ball to a teammate or over the net. Morgan agreed with Halsted's idea. Since then, the original game of "Mintonette" has been known as Volleyball.
Morgan continued to improve the rules of the game. By July 1896, his sport was included in the first official handbook of the North American YMCA Athletic League.
Volleyball's Growth and Olympic Debut
On July 7, 1896, the very first game of volleyball was played at Springfield College.
- In 1900, the company Spalding began to make a special ball just for volleyball.
- In 1920, new rules were added to the game. These included the rule of three hits per side and the back row attack rule.
- In 1964, volleyball was introduced at the Summer Olympic Games in Tokyo. This was a huge step for the sport.
Morgan's Later Life
William Morgan left his job at the YMCA in 1897. He started a new career working for General Electric and Westinghouse. He always stayed in touch with Springfield College. He said he was happy knowing that his game "brought a richer life to millions of people throughout the world."
Morgan passed away on December 27, 1942.
Honoring William Morgan
In 1995, The Morgan Trophy Award was created. This award is given every year to the best male and female college volleyball players in the U.S. Also, an elementary school in Holyoke, Massachusetts, is named the William Morgan School in his honor.
Images for kids
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Portrait of William G. Morgan as Director of Physical Education
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The YMCA gymnasium in Holyoke where Morgan developed volleyball.
See also
In Spanish: William George Morgan para niños
