Volleyball – William G. Morgan invented volleyball in 1895 while working as the physical education director at the YMCA in Holyoke, Massachusetts, creating it as a less strenuous alternative to basketball.
Futsal 5A Side Football – Futsal was invented in 1930 by Juan Carlos Ceriani Gravier, a teacher in Montevideo, Uruguay, as an indoor football version for the YMCA.
Gymnastics – In 1869, the YMCA introduced gyms in its Boston, San Francisco, and 23rd Street (New York City) branches, allowing men to train in gymnastics. However, most experienced gymnasts at the time were circus performers, which did not align with YMCA values.
Establishment of YMCA India: The National Council of YMCAs of India was formed in Madras on February 21, 1891, by David McConaughy and later became part of the World Alliance of YMCAs. Its headquarters moved to Calcutta in May 1902.
First Physical Education College in Asia: The YMCA College of Physical Education in Chennai, established in 1920 by American coach Harry Crowe Buck, is the first physical education college in India and South Asia.
India’s First Olympic Team – In 1924, the YMCA College of Physical Education in Madras trained India’s first Olympic team under the leadership of Harry Crowe Buck, who is regarded as the father of physical education in India, and following the 1920 Games, Dr. A.G. Noehren, YMCA India’s Physical Education Director, joined the Olympic committee, which later led to the formation of the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) in 1927 with Sir Dorabji Tata as President and Dr. Noehren as Secretary, introducing the biennial National Games to promote sports in India.
Formation of Indian Olympic Association – The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) was formed in 1927, following India’s participation in the 1920 and 1924 Olympics, with Sir Dorabji Tata as its first president and Dr. A.G. Noehren as its first secretary. The initiative was led by Harry Crowe Buck and Dr. Noehren of the YMCA College of Physical Education in Madras, who also helped establish state Olympic associations across India. The All India Olympic Games, later known as the National Games, were first held in 1924, and eight athletes from these games represented India at the Paris Olympics, managed by Buck.
On 6 June 1844, Sir George Williams founded the first YMCA in London, England.
By the time of the first World Conference in Paris in 1855, the YMCA Movement was already established in 9 countries.
The YMCA's headquarters are in Geneva, Switzerland.
The YMCA is a worldwide organization with branches in over 120 countries. GLOBAL REACH
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