A Global Stage (1970-2000)

Following the introduction to the Olympics in Tokyo, 1964, Volleyball appreciated an accelerated rise in the remaining decades of the 20th century. In these years, tournaments continued to be held by the FIVB with a growth in viewership.

By the 1980s and 1990s, clubs began to pop-up all-over Ontario such as Durham Attack in 1991 for boys and 1997 for girls. In Ottawa, the Ottawa Mavericks was introduced in 1985 with both clubs participating with the Ontario Volleyball Association (OVA). The availability for access to information regarding volleyball in Canada shows that while there was participation, it wasn't until the last third of the century that volleyball really took off in the country. 

During this period, there was also a growth in protective and other sports equipment strictly for the sport. It wasn't until the 1990s that Mizuno introduced knee pads to the sport which supported players when digging the ball. 

Other athletic equipment such as breathable jerseys and shorts were also starting to be worn by both women's and men's teams in Canada. By the 21st century, volleyball continues to grow through access from clubs and schools. 

One of the biggest considerations when approaching volleyball equipment is different schools and clubs played the sport at different levels and as such, the equipment was not totally unified. For example, by the 1980s, some clubs were using spandex material, while other still used inflexible shorts or shirts.

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Bibliography

"History", Durham Attack Volleyball Club, December 21st, 2022, https://durhamattack.ca/history/

KSmack Volleyball, "Canada vs Russia (1996 Olympic Volleyball" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DYAH1SI1UZU&t=91s

"Laurier 1980 Volleyball" Laurier University, https://images.ourontario.ca/Laurier/47052/image/94585

Matthews, Mike, "Canadian Volleyball Championships (May 5, 1984)" CBC, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2KSoHMDAhZ8&t=485s

"Recreational Volleyball" Internet Archive, 1980, https://archive.org/details/2_20200617_202006

Worker, Miley. "Volleyball History", Timetoast.ca, November 22, 2022, https://www.timetoast.com/timelines/volleyball-history-496a2a17-8d73-4375-aa32-96b5a96a704e