When the sport of Volleyball (originally known as Mintonette) was created in 1895, the ball for play was borrowed from the newly created sport of basketball (1891). As the ball was intended to stay aloft over the net, this ball proved to be too heavy and a lighter ball was required. At first, the inner bladder of the basketball was used, but this quick solution did not prove to be successful as the ball moved too slowly through the air. As no existing athletic ball fulfilled the needs of the sport, Morgan commissioned a new type of ball from A.G. Spalding & Bros, specifically designed for volleyball.
In 1900 the first volleyballs were released by Spalding. These first balls were created with three-layers; an internal latex bladder, incased in a layer of light-weight mesh and finished with a layer of stitched leather. Since the first volleyballs were released, this original design has experienced a number of innovations and adjustments which have had a great impact on the sport, though the basics have remained the same.
The first volleyball was released in 1900 by A. G. Spalding & Bros. at the request of volleyball creator William G. Morgan. This original design was composed of three layers made of latex, mesh and stitched leather. These materials were chosen as they allowed the ball to be light enough to stay aloft for movement across the court, and heavy enough that players were able to control this movement. As the design fulfilled the basic requirements of the game, it underwent few alterations or advancements. It has only been in recent decades that changes have been made.
For many years Volleyball Manitoba maintained a close relationship with Japanese sporting goods company, Tachikara. The Tachikara volleyball was used in Manitoba high school competition until the early 2010s. The balls were designed using Japanese innovation to improve ball control, stability and performance.
Introduced as the Manitoba Volleyball Association official ball in 2011, the blue and gold Mikasa MVA200 ended the traditional use of the Tachikara ball in Manitoba High School competition. The ball, designed with eight micro-fiber panels, sought to revolutionize the sport. The design increased surface area and added dimpling to improve control and aerodynamics.
Although similar in use and appearance, the ball used for beach volleyball has a number of key differences to accommodate outdoor play. The beach volleyball is larger and lighter than its indoor counterpart, allowing it to float more in the air. This provides players with more time to get under the ball while increasing the impact of weather.