Volleyball is a unique team sport which was invented in the United States amongst other sports such as basketball, American Football, snowboarding and a few more. Since its inception, volleyball has grown in popularity and is considered as one of the top 10 most popular sports in the world.
Let’s find out some of the interesting tidbits about volleyball:
Positions on the court
The six positions on the court include the setter, server, blocker, spiker, passer, and the digger.
Bet on all the volleyball action online at Betway as we bring you various tournaments across the world. Register a new account & claim up to R1,000 in Extra Bets on your first deposit and enjoy great odds on your favourite matches.
Set and spike
The set and spike concept in volleyball originated in the early 1900s in the Philippines. The Filipinos referred to the kill / spike approach as a “bomba”, loosely translated to
bomb, and hitter / spiker as a “bomberino”.
From Mintonette to Volleyball
Initially, volleyball was called Mintonette based on its similarity to Badminton. Volleyball also has elements of tennis, handball and baseball, as there are 9 innings with three outs.
Unique terminology
Colourful terms are regularly used in volleyball which include:
- Pancake – like the name may suggest, this is when a player is flat on the floor while palming / rescuing the ball and play continues
- Kong – when a player gets a one-handed block
- Goofy – when a player jumps with the wrong foot when attacking
- Joust – when the ball lands on the net and the two opposing players jump and push against the ball in an attempt to force it on the opponent’s side
Volleyball in the Olympics
Volleyball was introduced as an event unofficially in the 1924 Olympics in France, however it was not until the 1964 Olympic Games held in Tokyo, Japan.
Longest game ever recorded
The longest volleyball game ever recorded was in Kingston, North Carolina and the game played for 75 hours and 30 minutes. Quite a workout.
Volleyball Hall of Fame
Some of the most successful volleyball players have been inducted into the Hall of Fame include Thomas Haine, Rolf Engen, Jon Stanley and Michael O’ Hara. Success female players have also been inducted into the Hall of Fame, these include Flo Hyman, Jane Ward and Mary Jo Peppler.
Common injuries in volleyball
The most common injuries in volleyball include ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) injury, knee, finger, shoulder, lower back and ankle injuries.
You might also like: Interesting facts about tennis
With the latest odds and the most up-to-date markets, volleyball betting online has never been so easy. Sign up now & bet with the best >> bet with Betway
For all the latest sports news, betting tips and promotions, follow Betway on
Facebook,
Twitter,
Instagram,
Google+ and
YouTube.
Download the Betway App.