Volleyball is one of the most popular sports in Brazil and around the world, both in terms of participation and viewership. The Brazilian volleyball teams, both men’s and women’s, have an impressive record of achievement, including Olympic medals and world titles. Today we’re going to introduce you to the biggest names in volleyball today, as well as telling you a little about the sport!
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Read on to find out who the biggest names in volleyball today are!
Biggest names in Volleyball today: historical context
William George Morgan, a teacher and director of Physical Education at the YMCA, created a game that aimed to minimize the chances of injury among participants by avoiding intense physical contact.
He also wanted the sport to be less strenuous, thinking especially of older players.
At that time, basketball was on the rise, having been created just four years earlier, in 1891, also by a physical education teacher at ACM.
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This is how volleyball was born, initially called “mintonette”. One of the fundamental characteristics of the game was that the teams were separated by a net, significantly reducing the risk of injury.
What’s more, volleyball didn’t require players to run the length of the court, making it less physically demanding than basketball, but still offering a range of health-boosting exercises.
Morgan also wanted to innovate his classes to attract more students. In addition, volleyball could be played indoors, making it a perfect option for the harsh American winter.
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One of the initial challenges was to find the ideal ball for the game. Morgan began by using only the air chamber from the basketball, trying to make it smaller and lighter.
However, this wasn’t enough, so he asked the company A.G. Spalding & Bros. to create a ball specifically for volleyball.
After several attempts, they finally developed a ball with the ideal size and weight for the sport.
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Volleyball’s global expansion
After establishing itself in the United States, volleyball quickly spread to Canada and arrived in South America in 1910, with Peru being the first South American country to know it.
Brazil was introduced to the sport in 1915, and in 1951, it hosted the first South American volleyball championship.
In the United States, around 1920, beach volleyball began to emerge as a recreational activity on the beaches of Hawaii. In Brazil, beach volleyball began to be practiced on the beaches of Rio de Janeiro in 1930.
Interestingly, volleyball was widely played by soldiers during the First and Second World Wars as a pastime.
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Founding of the International Volleyball Federation (FIVB)
The International Volleyball Federation (FIVB) was founded on April 20, 1947, with Paul Libaud as its first president. Initially, the federation had 14 members:
- Brazil;
- Belgium;
- Egypt;
- United States;
- France;
- Netherlands;
- Hungary;
- Italy;
- Yugoslavia;
- Poland;
- Portugal;
- Romania;
- Czechoslovakia;
- Uruguay.
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Biggest names in Volleyball today: rules and disciplines
To develop the rules of volleyball, William George Morgan enlisted the help of two friends, Dr. Frank Wood and John Lynch.
The year after the sport was created, Morgan was invited to give a demonstration at a conference organized by the Young Men’s Christian Association (YMCA).
This event, known as the Congress of Physical Education Teachers, brought together various advisors in the field.
During this demonstration, the name “mintonette” was changed to “volley ball” at the suggestion of Professor Alfred T. Halstead, because the movements of the game referred to the concept of a volley, a shot made in the air.
The board members present received a copy of the game’s rules and formed a team to study them and propose improvements.
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Currently, the rules and modalities of volleyball are configured as follows:
Equipment and court
The court measures 18m long by 9m wide, divided by a net whose height is 2.43m for men and 2.24m for women. The official ball weighs between 260 and 280 grams.
Composition of the game:
- Teams: each team consists of 6 players on the court and up to 6 substitutes.
- Scoring: the game is played in sets. The team that scores 25 points first, with a minimum difference of 2 points, wins the set. If necessary, the fifth set is played to 15 points.
- Rotate: after winning the serve, the players must rotate clockwise.
Fundamentals:
- Service: starts the game, must be played from behind the back line.
- Reception: the pass or pass to set up the play.
- Lifting: usually done by the setter to prepare the attack.
- Attack: the cut or spike to score.
- Block: an attempt to prevent the opponent’s attack from crossing the net.
Faults:
- Touch the net: players cannot touch the net.
- Four touches: the team cannot take more than three touches before sending the ball to the other side.
- Positioning: players must respect their positions and rotate correctly.
Modalities:
- Court volleyball: traditionally played indoors.
- Beach Volleyball: played in pairs on sand courts, with specific rules and dimensions.
Read on to find out who the biggest names in volleyball are today!
Biggest names in Volleyball today (Men – World)
Wilfredo León (Poland)
Renowned for his incredible attacking ability.
Maxim Mikhaylov (Russia)
Outstanding in international competitions.
Earvin N’Gapeth (France)
Known for his versatile and dynamic style.
Biggest names in Volleyball today (Women – World)
Tijana Bošković (Serbia)
Considered one of the best opposites in the world.
Zhu Ting (China)
MVP in several international competitions.
Paola Egonu (Italy)
Renowned for the power of her attacks.
Biggest names in Volleyball today (Men – Brazil)
Darlan
A promising Brazilian, Darlan, just 21 years old, was voted MVP in the last season of the Volleyball Super League. The player scored 626 points in the championship.
Lucarelli
Veteran Ricardo Lucarelli is still one of Brazil’s best active volleyball players.
Leal
A Cuban naturalized Brazilian, Leal was the highlight of the last VNL and will be representing Brazil at the Olympics.
Biggest names in Volleyball today (Women – Brazil)
Júlia Kudiess
Runner-up at the age of 21, Júlia was voted MVP of the 2024 South American Club Championship and was named the Breakthrough Athlete of the 2023/24 Brazilian Super League.
Priscila Daroit
Pri Daroit, 35, was voted Best Pointer at the 2024 South American Club Championship. With the Brazilian national team, she won two silver medals at the Pan American Cup, in 2007 and 2012.
Kisy Nascimento
Kisy is a talented Brazilian volleyball player who plays in the opposite position. Young, but already highly respected on the volleyball scene, both nationally and internationally. She is one of the great hopes of Brazilian volleyball!
Prospects for Paris 2024
The countries with the best chances of winning medals in volleyball at the Paris 2024 Games are:
- Brazil: traditionally strong in both men’s and women’s competitions.
- Poland: with a very competitive men’s team.
- United States: strong in both disciplines.
- Italy: top-level men’s and women’s teams.
- Serbia: with an outstanding women’s team.
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