Rallyball

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Rallyball is a competitive sport invented at the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, NY in early 2008. The sport consists of two players battling for supremacy in a narrow playing field. The object of the game is to hit the opposing player with the rallyball using racquets. The first player to ten hits wins. [1]


Contents

[edit] History

Rallyball has a short but rich history at Eastman. Invented in late April 2008 by Michael Alexander and James Herman, rallyball has seen an exponential rise in popularity in the weeks since. Players from across the country have come to SLC Stadium to compete, from Minnesota to Ohio. [2]

[edit] Gameplay

The play format of rallyball is fairly simple. Each player stands at the middle of the playing field at the start of the game. The match begins with a "faceoff" similar to that in hockey. [3] Both players have racquets, which are used to hit the ball at the opponent. The ball may only hit the racquet and the player's racquet hand (down to the wrist). Any other contact is deemed a point for the opposing player.

The players start the faceoff by alternately tapping the ground and the opponent's racquet, then simultaneously making a play for the ball. Regulation play then begins, with players hitting the ball towards the opponent until one player reaches 10 hits. This constitutes a win, and a new match will begin. Games usually consist of 3-7 matches, depending on the field, the ball's level of inflation, and player fatigue. [4]

[edit] Strategies

Many strategies have developed in rallyball since the sport's creation. One such strategy is the "rush", where one player ruthlessly assaults his opponent with the ball, staying within 5 feet of the opponent and trying to score as many hits as possible. Another is playing the "long game", where the player stays back from the opponent, using the thin side of the racquet to attempt to score hits from 10-20 feet away. Both strategies can be effective, but wins usually come from a mixed offense.

Defense is as vital to winning as offense, and each player must have a solid defensive backbone to survive in the competitive leagues. Keeping a nimble racquet is key--one must move quickly to keep the ball at bay. Many times a sure defense can counter a weak rush, and the defender can leave the skirmish with more points than the rusher. This is termed a "stonewall defense". [5]

[edit] Legacy

Rallyball will surely go down in history as one of the most innovative and most exciting sports of its kind. It has put Rochester in a state of frenzy, as new players and fans alike flock to become a part of the new phenomenon. Truly, the city, and perhaps the entire state of New York, has benefited from rallyball's energy and fun.

[edit] References

  1. ^ www.tcpalm.com/news/2007/nov/04/rallyball-is-tennis-basic-training/
  2. ^ USTA Colorado - the Colorado Tennis Association
  3. ^ www.muncieymca.org/programs/?id=2004
  4. ^ www.huntingtontennis.com/pages/index.cfm?siteid=578
  5. ^ www.nj.com/sports/reporter/index.ssf?/base/sports-1/1207757211122820.xml&coll=13
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Please categorize this article to list it with similar articles. (June 2008)