The first USSR championships were national teams competitions held in 1933-1936 and were officially called All-Union Volleyball Holidays.

In addition, in 1951 and 1952 together with the club teams of Moscow, Leningrad, RSFSR and Ukrainian SSR participated national teams of other Union republics, in the USSR championship of 1976 participated USSR national team and national teams of DSO and departments.

The scheme for holding the USSR championships has changed repeatedly.

Since 1957 the competitions were held in a round robin system, except 1968, when the final two rounds were played with separation.

Games were played in 1-4 rounds, with the 1949 and 1958 championships requiring an ex.