The Chronicle

TOOWOOMBA DEBUTS THE BIRTH OF BRAND NEW SPORT.

- SEAN TEUMA

TEDBALL: It’s long been considered just a warm-up game, but now TedBall is looking to move into its own spotlight right here in Toowoomba.

A cross between volleyball and handball, TedBall is traditiona­lly played by cricketers as a warm-up before taking the field.

Involving a wide range of movements, the fast-paced

game is perfect to get the muscles moving and blood flowing, and now it’s ready to be considered a sport in its own right.

Cricket coach Kent Reimers helped to organise a demonstrat­ion game at Action Indoor Sports.

“It’s always traditiona­lly been a warm-up for cricket teams,” Reimers said.

“Basically the teams that I’ve coached love it so much

that I think we can make it into a bondafide competitio­n.

“There’s a lot of dynamic movements and it gets people moving in multiple directions.

“Among sporting people, if you make it slightly competitiv­e, they will compete.

“It’s a fast-moving game that’s pretty simple to understand. You get three hits to get it over, but unlike volleyball it’s allowed to bounce once you hit it.

“All you need is a ball and some lines.”

Reimers said there has been interest in the sport once he put the feelers out, as well as a strong audience with the demonstrat­ion livestream­ed.

“There was quite a following when it was livestream­ed. A lot of people I’ve coached in southern Queensland knew about it and tuned in,” he said.

“The sports centre has been hit pretty hard by

COVID, so I thought why not help them out and try to get a new sport started.

“We’d like to start a weekly competitio­n with a men’s team, and potentiall­y women’s or mixed as well.

“We’re talking about trying to do a tournament to see who has the best TedBall talent in southern Queensland.”

For more informatio­n on how you can try TedBall, contact Action Indoor Sports on 46359999.

THE RULES

Four or six players on each side

Games are either timed, or three sets of 11 points

Serve from behind the line to start a point

Each team has three hits to get the ball over the centre markings

Points to the opposition team if you hit it out or it bounces twice on your side

 ?? Photo: Contribute­d ?? NEW HORIZONS: Kent Reimers runs participan­ts through a game of TedBall at Action Indoor Sports in Toowoomba.
Photo: Contribute­d NEW HORIZONS: Kent Reimers runs participan­ts through a game of TedBall at Action Indoor Sports in Toowoomba.

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