Tchoukball

Tchoukball (pronounced chukeball) is an indoor team sport developed in the 1970s by Swiss biologist Dr. Hermann Brandt, who believed that "The objective of all physical activities is not to make champions, but make a contribution to building a harmonious society". His aim was to develop a team sport which did not involve the horrific injuries which he viewed as plaguing other sports.

The sport is played on an indoor court measuring forty metres by twenty metres (130 feet x 65 feet). At each end there is a 'frame' (a device similar to a trampoline off which the ball bounces) which measures one square metre and a semi-circular 'D' measuring three metres (10 feet) out from the frame in all directions. Each team can score on both ends on the field, and comprises twelve players, of which nine may be on the court at any one time. In order to score a point, the ball must be thrown by an attacking player, hit the frame and bounce outside the 'D' without being caught by the defending team. Physical contact is prohibited, and defenders may not attempt to intercept the attacking team's passes. Players may take three steps with the ball, hold the ball for a maximum of three seconds, and teams may not pass the ball more than three times before shooting at the frame.

Tchoukball has come to be an international sport, played in Taiwan, Great Britain, Switzerland, India, Japan, Canada, the United States, Italy, the Czech Republic, Hong Kong, Macau and Singapore. It is governed by the Féderation Internationale de Tchoukball (FITB, founded in 1971). Taiwan hosted the 2004 World Championships and won both the women's and junior championships, with the Swiss men winning the men's championship. The 2006 European Championships were held in Switzerland, with Great Britain taking both the Men's and Under-18's titles, while the hosts won the Ladies event.

History

Tchoukball was born thanks to the research of Dr. Hermann Brandt, who was concerned by the numerous serious injuries among athletes resulting from sports prone to aggression and physical contact. He believed that sports should not only form champions, but also contribute to the creation of a better and more humane society.^[1] Hence the invention of tchoukball, which combines elements of handball (it is played with hands, and the balls used are similar), volleyball (as the defending team must prevent the ball from falling) and squash (since there is a bounce). This sport can be played by anyone at his or her respective level, irrespective of the players sex, age or physical abilities.

Basic rules

Two teams of 9 players each (men or women) compete to score points

A player scores a point when he bounces the ball onto either of the two trampolines and it touches the ground outside the semi-circle facing the trampoline.
If a player of the attacking team misses the frame, or if the ball touches the ground outside the court before or after the bounce, then the defending team scores a point.
Each team can score a point on either of the two trampolines.

1 field of 16x32m and a ball (almost similar to a handball)

Playing the game

The player can take 3 steps and is not allowed to bounce the ball on the ground between these steps.
The attacking team cannot make more than 3 passes before shooting
When a pass is dropped or not completed (i.e. the ball touches the ground), the other team gets possession
The defending team cannot hamper the attacking one
Touching the ball with one’s feet or legs below the knee is forbidden

The International Tchoukball Federation (FITB)

The FITB, founded in 1971, is based in Geneva. It now comprises 13 member associations and 22 affiliated associations (that means it has relations with 35 countries). In spite of limited financial and human resources, it is developing numerous contacts throughout the world. It supports and advises national associations and individuals willing to implant tchoukball in new areas. For instance, tchoukball was recently integrated in the school program of some regions of Senegal.

The international, continental and world tournaments of tchoukball and beach tchoukball are an excellent way to make tchoukball more famous, and the FITB is now trying to enhance the television broadcasting of these competitions, which also creates an additional motivation for the players. The FITB will be integrated in the 2009 World Games, which will take place in Kaohsiung (Taiwan).

International Competitions

World Tchoukball Championships 1984 Taiwan Men: ROC Women: ROC World Tchoukball Championships 1987 Switzerland Men: ROC Women: ROC World Games 1989 Germany Men: ROC Women: ROC World Tchoukball Championships 1990 Great-Britain Men: ROC Women: ROC World Tchoukball Championships 2000 Switzerland Men: ROC Women: ROC European Tchoukball Championships 2001 Switzerland Men: Great Britain Women: Switzerland World Tchoukball Championships 2002 Great-Britain Men: ROC Women: ROC European Tchoukball Championships 2003 Italy Men: Switzerland Women: Switzerland Asian Tchoukball Championships 2003 India Men: ROC Women: ROC World Tchoukball Championships 2004 Taiwan Men: Switzerland Women: ROC World Beach Tchoukball Championships 2005 Switzerland Men: ROC Women: ROC M-18 Men: ROC M-18 Women: Switzerland European Tchoukball Championships 2006 Switzerland Men: Great-Britain Women: Switzerland M-18 Men: Great-Britain Asian Tchoukball Championships 2006 Taiwan Men: ROC Women: ROC South American Tchoukball Championships 2006 Argentina Men: Brazil Women: Brazil Asian Tchoukball Championships 2008 Hong Kong Men: ROC Women: ROC European Tchoukball Championships 2008 Czech Republic Men: Switzerland Women: Switzerland M-18 Men: Switzerland South American Tchoukball Championships 2008 Argentina Men: Brazil Women: Brazil

Notes

^ Brandt, H., Etude scientifique des sports d’équipe, Ed. Roulet, Geneva, 1971)

External links

Associations

[1] Brandt, H., Etude scientifique des sports d’équipe, Ed. Roulet, Geneva, 1971)

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