DOCSLIB.ORG

INSPIRING a GENERATION ‘The Rugby Football League Is Committed to Growing and Supporting the Girls’ and Women’S Game

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
INSPIRING a GENERATION ‘The Rugby Football League Is Committed to Growing and Supporting the Girls’ and Women’S Game INSPIRING A GENERATION ‘The Rugby Football League is committed to growing and supporting the girls’ and women’s game. This Framework brings together all the ways that women are involved in Rugby League – as volunteers, administrators, coaches, supporters and most importantly as players. The Framework is the basis for a game-wide campaign which builds on the commitment and dedication of club, school and college volunteers, and will take the sport to the home World Cup in 2021. This new, focused and funded campaign for girl’s and women’s Rugby League is made possible by support from Sport England, community clubs and volunteers, professional clubs and Foundations and the Rugby Football League’s many partners. Campaigning for girls’ and women’s Rugby League is already showing strong results and I encourage all partners to get in touch with the Participation, Development and Performance team. There’s never been a better time to get involved.’ RALPH RIMMER, INTERIM CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER, THE RUGBY FOOTBALL LEAGUE ‘These are exciting times for the women’s game and it is vital that the energy and enthusiasm shown by players, coaches, volunteers and supporters is allowed to blossom and grow. A proper framework within which they can develop is exactly what is needed, and even at this early stage the signs are that the Rugby Football League’s vision and support structure for women and girls is heading in the right direction.’ ANGELA POWERS, SKY SPORTS AND FOUNDER ‘HER LEAGUE’ THE FRAMEWORK COMMITMENTS CAMPAIGNING FOR GIRLS’ AND WOMEN’S RUGBY LEAGUE The Rugby Football League will support new, free, marketing and promotion activity by all community clubs wishing to grow or start girls’ teams, aligned to Sport England’s award- winning, national ‘This Girl Can’ campaign. On behalf of the sport, the Rugby Football League will work with other sports - in particular team sports such as football - that have significantly increased female participation and learn from them. The Rugby Football League will also work with partners to maximise the potential of the female fanbase. We know that 42% of ticket buyers to Rugby League events are women – a better gender ratio than many major sports. This means more female decision makers are familiar with and respect the sport. The sport has significant opportunities at major events from Magic Weekend to the Challenge Cup weekend to make the case for women’s Rugby League with its passionate fan base. COMMITMENT: To provide free campaigning and marketing assets to clubs and partners across the sport to support the recruitment of new players and the increased profile and commerciality of the sport. THE FRAMEWORK COMMITMENTS MORE PARTICIPANTS The number of women playing Rugby League is historically small - in particular in the club setting. But this is changing. The sport is committed to growing the number of female participants by 5% year on year by 2021. This includes girls and women playing all formats of Rugby League including Touch Rugby League; Tag Rugby League and full contact Rugby League. Our commitment covers all education and club settings. In secondary schools we will build on the growth of girls’ teams in recent years in the flagship Champion Schools competition and work with partner schools, and schools new to the sport, to increase the number of girls’ teams entering the competition. Further work is underway to align schools’ activity to growth in clubs to ensure that as many girls as possible have a meaningful exit route from the Champion Schools competition. We have developed a new College competition for girls aged 16-18. In addition, the first female player has joined the TASS (Talented Athlete Scholarship Scheme) programme and we will work with partners to grow this opportunity for the most talented players. Starting with schools and Sky Try As a sport we will build on considerable success at the youngest age groups where we see very encouraging signs - through the sport’s children’s participation programme ‘Sky Try’ and great primary aged Rugby League in community clubs. Sky Try is delivered by leading Rugby League Foundations in schools and at primary age there are large numbers of girls playing the game. We need more of them to stay in the sport, whether in full-contact or Tag or Touch Rugby League. Sky Try is also introducing more very young girls to the sport outside of club Rugby League. Some will go onto to join a community club; others will play schools Rugby League and still more will become the supporters, volunteers and fans of the future. COMMITMENT: To grow the number of girls and women playing the version of Rugby League that is right for them by 5% year on year from 2017 – 2021. THE FRAMEWORK COMMITMENTS NEW PATHWAY - FROM REGIONAL AND NATIONAL HUBS TO THE ENGLAND WOMEN’S TEAM A new single pathway will include new Development Hubs (in 2018) in the North West, Central Yorkshire and West Yorkshire for girls at 14 and at 16. These regional hubs will feed into a National Hub (2019) providing a dedicated England coaching environment for talented players (U16s). The Rugby Football League will fund the Women’s Super League founder clubs to grow the number of players and teams at community clubs (12, 14, 16 age groups). COMMITMENT: To deliver high quality regional Development Hubs and a National Hub. To support growth in the community game with additional teams, and resilience in existing teams. 19 + WOMEN’S COMMUNITY COLLEGE - CLUB CLUBS (16+) PARTNERSHIP 16 - 19 GIRLS TALENT HUBS 12 - 16 COMMUNITY OTHER SECONDARY CLUBS SCHOOLS DELIVERY COMMUNITY OTHER PRIMARY CLUB PRIMARY SCHOOLS DELIVERY 6 - 11 RUGBY LEAGUE PRIMARY RUGBY LEAGUE AGE RANGE AGE THE FRAMEWORK COMMITMENTS ENGLAND WOMEN TO WIN IN 2021 The Rugby League World Cup 2021 will be held in England and the women’s tournament will be played alongside the men’s. The tournament, associated festivals and community activities present a unique opportunity to inspire a generation and deliver a step-change in participation in girls’ and women’s Rugby League. As a non-Olympic and non-Commonwealth Games sport, Rugby League is ineligible for UK Sport funding. Some of the Sport England investment in the sport is utilised in support of the national team programme. As now, the England Women’s squad will be drawn from community Rugby League including the Women’s Super League, with adaptions made to development and training opportunities given that players are in full- time education or work. The England Women’s programme is now part of the new England Performance Unit under the direction of the Rugby Football League’s Rugby Director Kevin Sinfield MBE, supported by a multi-disciplinary team. COMMITMENT: To put the England Women’s team in the best position possible to win at RLWC2021. THE FRAMEWORK THE WOMEN’S COMMITMENTS SUPER LEAGUE The Women’s Super League is a new elite the ways that girls and women can get involved in competition at the top of the grassroots game. All the sport. players are community players. The Women’s Super League was soft launched in 2017 and the inaugural Further support will ensure that the Women’s winners were Bradford Bulls Women following Championship competition remains a vibrant, an outstanding Grand Final against Featherstone exciting and high-quality competition. Rovers Ladies held on Super League Grand Final Underpinning the competition tiers is the Merit Day in front of an enthusiastic crowd at the Regional League, a flexible and more informal competition Arena, Manchester. offer for teams who are developing or starting out in the sport. There are x12 Founder Clubs of the Women’s Super League – all committed to working together to COMMITMENT: To grow the Women’s Super inspire a generation and to grow the grassroots League competition to a x12 team commercial game for every girl and woman who wants to play. competition by 2021. To support all tiers of The Founder Clubs of the Women’s Super League: competition in the women’s game to ensure Bradford Bulls; Castleford Tigers; Featherstone players have a competitive playing offer that’s Rovers; Huddersfield Giants; Hull FC; Hull KR; Leeds right for them. To work with media partners to Rhinos; St Helens; Wakefield Trinity; Widnes Vikings; increase the coverage of Women’s Rugby League Wigan Warriors; York City Knights. by 100% including the first ever televised Women’s Super League fixture and regular streamed The Women’s Super League competition 2018 will content. feature seven elite teams, and all Founder Clubs will play in the WSL by 2021. Women’s sport in generally is poorly covered by mainstream sports media and makes up just 7% of all sports media coverage in the UK. The Women’s Super League has already increased media interest in women’s Rugby League but there is a considerable way to go. The new tier builds on and supports the commitment of community clubs to grow the women’s game by harnessing the power of professional club brands to inspire participation, to raise the profile and increase the reach of the sport. The Rugby Football League will work with campaigning partners including Sport England and Women in Sport to drive the agenda for greater coverage of women’s sport including Rugby League. Women’s Super League teams share some of the marketing and coaching support available at the pro-club. Women’s Super League teams are also actively involved in the supporting and growing the girls’ and women’s pathway in their area. Women’s Super League is already driving up standards of play which will put the sport in the right place for England Women to win in 2021.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Leigh Centurions V ROCHDALE HORNETS
    Leigh Centurions SUvN DRAOY C17HTDH AMLAREC H O20R1N9 @ET 3S PM # LEYTHERS # OURTOWNOURCLUB# OURTOWNOURCLUB # LEYTHERS # OURTOWNOURCLUB# OURTOWNOURCLUB engage with the fans at games and to see the players acknowledged for their efforts at the Toronto game, despite the narrowness of the defeat, was something Welcome to Leigh Sports Village for day 48 years ago. With a new community that will linger long in the memory. this afternoon’s Betfred stadium in the offing for both the city’s Games are coming thick and fast at FChamRpionshOip gameM agains t oTur HfootbEall team s iTt could Oalso welPl also be present and the start of our involvement in friends from Rochdale Hornets. the last time Leigh play there. the Corals Challenge Cup and the newly- Carl Forster is to be commended for It’s great to see the Knights back on the instigated 1895 Cup and the prospect of taking on the dual role of player and coach up after years in the doldrums and to see playing at Wembley present great at such a young age and after cutting his interest in the professional game revived opportunities and goals for Duffs and his teeth in two years at Whitehaven, where under James Ford’s astute coaching. players. The immediate task though is to he built himself a good reputation, he now Watching York back at their much-loved carry on the good form in a tight and has the difficult task of preserving Wiggington Road ground was always one competitive Championship where every Hornets’ hard-won Championship status in of the best away days in the season and I win is hard-earned and valuable.
    [Show full text]
  • Press Release Cardinal Newman Catholic High
    PRESS RELEASE CARDINAL NEWMAN CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL RECEIVE £3337.37 FROM THE CREATEDBY RLWC2021 CAPITAL GRANTS LEGACY PROGRAMME The grant, which has been awarded to help more people play rugby league at grassroots level, will fund the school’s new girls rugby league after-school club. Cardinal Newman Catholic High School has received £3337.37 from the CreatedBy RLWC2021 Capital Grants Programme. Delivered in partnership between RLWC2021, the sport’s national governing body, the Rugby Football League, Sport England and the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport, the CreatedBy programme is a funding pot of up to £10million made available by the government to support the legacy of the Rugby League World Cup by growing participation in the sport. Funds will go towards new equipment and rugby posts to allow the school to develop its training, competition and guidance offering to potential new players. The school aims to further establish itself as a key provider of girls’ opportunities in rugby league and to cultivate a lifelong interest in sporting activity throughout its student’s secondary years. The school will partner with Warrington Wolves to act as a feeder initiative into the club’s girls programmes, allowing student’s participation and progression to continue following their school years. Scott Corrigan, Head of PE at Cardinal Newman said: “The grant will enable us to offer a high quality experience of rugby league to our girls. There is an appetite amongst our female students to play, learn and develop their skills set and understanding of this great game. Through using the equipment provided through the grant scheme we will be able to harness the students’ desire and enthusiasm for the sport and help set them off on the pathway to playing the sport well beyond their time at Cardinal Newman.” Jo Langstaff, Headteacher, added: “We are absolutely delighted to have received this grant.
    [Show full text]
  • RL GUIDE 2006 FRIDAY PM 17/1/12 14:40 Page 1
    rfl official guide 2012 working.e$S:RL GUIDE 2006 FRIDAY PM 17/1/12 14:40 Page 1 RFL Official Guide 201 2 rfl official guide 2012 working.e$S:RL GUIDE 2006 FRIDAY PM 17/1/12 14:40 Page 2 The text of this publication is printed on 100gsm Cyclus 100% recycled paper rfl official guide 2012 working.e$S:RL GUIDE 2006 FRIDAY PM 17/1/12 14:40 Page 1 CONTENTS Contents RFL B COMPETITIONS Index ........................................................... 02 B1 General Competition Rules .................. 154 RFL Directors & Presidents ........................... 10 B2 Match Day Rules ................................ 163 RFL Offices .................................................. 10 B3 League Competition Rules .................. 166 RFL Executive Management Team ................. 11 B4 Challenge Cup Competition Rules ........ 173 RFL Council Members .................................. 12 B5 Championship Cup Competition Rules .. 182 Directors of Super League (Europe) Ltd, B6 International/Representative Community Board & RFL Charities ................ 13 Matches ............................................. 183 Past Life Vice Presidents .............................. 15 B7 Reserve & Academy Rules .................. 186 Past Chairmen of the Council ........................ 15 Past Presidents of the RFL ............................ 16 C PERSONNEL Life Members, Roll of Honour, The Mike Gregory C1 Players .............................................. 194 Spirit of Rugby League Award, Operational Rules C2 Club Officials .....................................
    [Show full text]
  • Covid 19 (Coronavirus) Ticketing FAQ’S
    Covid 19 (Coronavirus) Ticketing FAQ’s Public health considerations – for everyone - and particularly the most vulnerable in all our communities - are everyone’s priority. The Rugby Football League and Super League are following and have always followed Government’s advice and will continue to do so. We are in constant contact with the relevant Government Departments who are informed by the national scientific and medical experts. All tickets purchased with RFL ticketing are subject to the standard terms and conditions of sale which can be found on our ticketing website https://www.rugby- league.com/tickets/terms__conditions Please understand that due to the high volume of enquiries, our ticketing team is experiencing higher numbers of calls and emails at the current time and it may therefore take a little longer than normal for us to respond. We will endeavour to respond to all our customers within 72 hours at this time. We are working remotely in line with the government restrictions and we appreciate your patience. Dacia Magic Weekend Dacia Magic Weekend at St James’ Park is postponed. The event was due to make its return to Newcastle on May 23-24. Betfred Super League intends to keep Dacia Magic Weekend in the 2020 schedule and all options are being considered as part of extensive and ongoing fixtures remodelling. More information will be provided once there is a clearer picture regarding the resumption of the season. Tickets already bought for Dacia Magic Weekend in Newcastle will be transferable to a later date at St James’ Park, or an alternative venue depending on when the season restarts.
    [Show full text]
  • Written Evidence Submitted by the Rugby Football Union SPORT in OUR COMMUNITIES
    Written evidence submitted by the Rugby Football Union SPORT IN OUR COMMUNITIES – RUGBY FOOTBALL UNION RESPONSE TO DCMS SELECT COMMITTEE INQUIRY ORGANISATIONAL SUMMARY The Rugby Football Union (RFU) is the governing body for Rugby Union in England. Across England there are four million people enjoying rugby, 500,000 regular players with more than 100,000 volunteers in almost 2,000 clubs. All profit made by the RFU is invested back into the community game and the men’s and women’s England age grade and senior teams. This written submission details the governance of Rugby Union in England and how the future of the community game can be secured. 1. ARE CURRENT SPORTS GOVERNANCE MODELS FIT FOR PURPOSE? The RFU has a co-operative structure. Rather than being a company, it is a society registered under the Co-operative and Community Benefit Societies Act, meaning that it is a members’ organisation. The membership is predominantly rugby clubs, both professional and amateur. The Board has ultimate responsibility for the strategic direction of the RFU, and has the authority to exercise all executive functions other than clearly specified powers which are reserved to Council or the members. The Board is designed to be a combination of representatives of the game elected from the RFU Council, together with executive staff and independent non-executive directors. Directors are appointed through a rigorous skills based selection process to ensure the right combination of skills, experience and knowledge. With the exception of executive staff, all Board members are subject to limits on the time they can serve on the Board as set out in the RFU’s Rules.
    [Show full text]
  • The History of Football from FIFA.Com • the Origins • Britain, the Home Of
    The History of Football from FIFA.com • The Origins • Britain, the home of Football • Opposition to the game • The Global Growth The Origins The contemporary history of the world's favorite game spans more than 100 years. It all began in 1863 in England, when rugby football and association football branched off on their different courses and the Football Association in England was formed - becoming the sport's first governing body. Both codes stemmed from a common root and both have a long and intricately branched ancestral tree. A search down the centuries reveals at least half a dozen different games, varying to different degrees, and to which the historical development of football has been traced back. Whether this can be justified in some instances is disputable. Nevertheless, the fact remains that people have enjoyed kicking a ball about for thousands of years and there is absolutely no reason to consider it an aberration of the more 'natural' form of playing a ball with the hands. On the contrary, apart from the need to employ the legs and feet in tough tussles for the ball, often without any laws for protection, it was recognized right at the outset that the art of controlling the ball with the feet was not easy and, as such, required no small measure of skill. The very earliest form of the game for which there is scientific evidence was an exercise from a military manual dating back to the second and third centuries BC in China. This Han Dynasty forebear of football was called Tsu' Chu and it consisted of kicking a leather ball filled with feathers and hair through an opening, measuring only 30-40cm in width, into a small net fixed onto long bamboo canes.
    [Show full text]
  • Touch Football Study Guide
    TOUCH FOOTBALL STUDY GUIDE 1. HISTORY Football historians say the game originated from the English game of Rugby. Football first became popular in the United States in the 1820’s when it was widely played in colleges and universities. Walter Camp is known as the father of American football. He began the process of changing the game from rugby-style play to the modern game of American Football. The first official organized football game took place between Princeton and Rutgers Universities in 1869. The American Professional Football Association formed the first professional football league in 1920. The Super Bowl began in 1967 and was won by the Green Bay Packers in a game against the Kansas City Chiefs. 2. SAFETY GUIDELINES FOR CLASS a. Play two-hand touch. No pushing or tackling. b. Do not throw the ball to a receiver who is not prepared to catch it. 3. TERMINOLOGY a. Line of Scrimmage – Imaginary line which runs the width of the field where the ball is placed before each play. b. Punt – Kicking the ball by dropping it and contacting it with one’s foot. A punt usually occurs on fourth down. c. Field Goal – The ball is kicked through the goal posts. It is worth three points. d. Extra Point – Following a touchdown, a team can earn one point by kicking the ball through the goal posts. It is also known as a PAT, or point after touchdown e. Two Point Conversion- After a touchdown a team may elect to try one offensive play from the 2 yard line (NFL) or the 3 yard line (college/high school).
    [Show full text]
  • Origins of Football and Rugby Before 1850, Sport Only Played a Very Small Role in Briti Sh Society
    Unit focus: History of Football Text focus: Information Text (1010L) STAGE 6 Origins of Football and Rugby Before 1850, sport only played a very small role in Briti sh society. In fact, even today’s most popular game, football, was played by only the richest schoolboys around the nati on. Rugby, and many other games we now know and love, were yet to be invented. Football and rugby are everywhere in modern Briti sh life and, even if we don’t parti cularly like them, it is hard to escape their collecti ve presence. So how did these sports begin? Back in the early Victorian era, many public fi gures were worried about the state of school educati on and had concerns as to the behaviour of schoolboys. Despite strict punishments, it seemed that only their weekly games lessons got the best of them. Deciding it could help them understand the vital skills needed in life, headmasters believed that more physical educati on was needed. An early form of football instantly became the most popular with school children everywhere. Each school decided on their own sets of rules and began to develop into teams and later they formed clubs. However, there was to be one major problem. When clubs began to organise fi xtures, they found the other ‘football’ teams played with diff erent rules. Some could pick up the ball, others argued on how many players should be allowed to play. To stop any further confusion, a meeti ng was arranged at a pub in London. The meeti ng was the fi rst of the Football Associati on.
    [Show full text]
  • Changing Perceptions with World First Disability Sport
    Changing Perceptions With World First Disability Sport Martin McGuigan Executive Director of Innovation Twitter: @MJMac88 A Ten Year Sporting Journey • 2008: Premier League ‘Creating Chances’ winners. Form long term partnership with Middlesbrough FC – starting with Gareth Southgate… • Followed with various Super League clubs, Blackburn Rovers, Manchester FA, Portsmouth FC and Scottish FA – and many more! • Progammes that promote health, happiness, inclusion and experiences for people learning disabilities, autism, mental health concerns and dementia. • Supporting carers and giving back to communities… • Breadth of individual outcomes and profile opportunities • Catalyst for growth, BD and social value – a genuine point of difference… Our Programmes… Using the assets of clubs to make a difference: skills, profile, reach, facilities: • Accessible sports sessions • Dementia cafes • Staff wellbeing & mental health programmes • Care home activity and reminiscence • Heritage programmes • Rewards and experiences • Player visits • Employment and volunteering • Training • Recruitment • Joint enterprise – care services A game changer: The Community Integrated Care Learning Disability Super League… The Vision… • Official Social Care Partner of Rugby League / Super League – a Major 5 sport. • Training and development for all club • A strategic partner: shaping inclusivity, engaging new audiences in playing and watching the game • Bring to life the unique values of the sport • Leveraging this to support overall aims of game: Attendees, profile, partnerships, new models… • Commission participating clubs directly • And a world-first… • 12 major rugby league clubs create teams • Playing accessible festivals linked to Super League events • Open to all: Celebrated by the sport • Philosophy: Remove focus on competition. Greater focus on life skills, experience, participation and memories • Training: Person-centred tools, communications, understanding learning disabilities and autism • Autism experience simulator & Experts By Experience….
    [Show full text]
  • List of Sports
    List of sports The following is a list of sports/games, divided by cat- egory. There are many more sports to be added. This system has a disadvantage because some sports may fit in more than one category. According to the World Sports Encyclopedia (2003) there are 8,000 indigenous sports and sporting games.[1] 1 Physical sports 1.1 Air sports Wingsuit flying • Parachuting • Banzai skydiving • BASE jumping • Skydiving Lima Lima aerobatics team performing over Louisville. • Skysurfing Main article: Air sports • Wingsuit flying • Paragliding • Aerobatics • Powered paragliding • Air racing • Paramotoring • Ballooning • Ultralight aviation • Cluster ballooning • Hopper ballooning 1.2 Archery Main article: Archery • Gliding • Marching band • Field archery • Hang gliding • Flight archery • Powered hang glider • Gungdo • Human powered aircraft • Indoor archery • Model aircraft • Kyūdō 1 2 1 PHYSICAL SPORTS • Sipa • Throwball • Volleyball • Beach volleyball • Water Volleyball • Paralympic volleyball • Wallyball • Tennis Members of the Gotemba Kyūdō Association demonstrate Kyūdō. 1.4 Basketball family • Popinjay • Target archery 1.3 Ball over net games An international match of Volleyball. Basketball player Dwight Howard making a slam dunk at 2008 • Ball badminton Summer Olympic Games • Biribol • Basketball • Goalroball • Beach basketball • Bossaball • Deaf basketball • Fistball • 3x3 • Footbag net • Streetball • • Football tennis Water basketball • Wheelchair basketball • Footvolley • Korfball • Hooverball • Netball • Peteca • Fastnet • Pickleball
    [Show full text]
  • Rugby League As a Televised Product in the United States of America
    University of Nebraska - Lincoln DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln Professional Projects from the College of Journalism and Mass Communications, College Journalism and Mass Communications of 7-31-2020 Rugby League as a Televised Product in the United States of America Mike Morris University of Nebraska-Lincoln, [email protected] Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/journalismprojects Part of the Broadcast and Video Studies Commons, Communication Technology and New Media Commons, Journalism Studies Commons, and the Mass Communication Commons Morris, Mike, "Rugby League as a Televised Product in the United States of America" (2020). Professional Projects from the College of Journalism and Mass Communications. 23. https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/journalismprojects/23 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Journalism and Mass Communications, College of at DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln. It has been accepted for inclusion in Professional Projects from the College of Journalism and Mass Communications by an authorized administrator of DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln. Rugby League as a Televised Product in the United States of America By Mike Morris Abstract Rugby league is a form of rugby that is more similar to American football than its more globally popular cousin rugby union. This similarity to the United States of America’s most popular sport, that country’s appetite for sport, and its previous acceptance of foreign sports products makes rugby league an attractive product for American media outlets to present and promote. Rugby league’s history as a working-class sport in England and Australia will appeal to American consumers hungry for grit and authenticity from their favorite athletes and teams.
    [Show full text]
  • Early Ball Games
    1 Early Ball Games all games have a very long history. Young men and women B have been getting together to play them for thousands of years. The earliest games were played in Mexico, South America, at least three thousand years ago. Later games, which had their own rules, were part of the culture of the ancient1 Olmec and Aztec peoples. We do not know a lot about these ball games because it is very difficult to understand the written accounts of them. But they were all very similar and in some ways they were like the modern game of football. The games were played on a special piece of ground – the ‘pitch’. The spectators – the men, women and children who watched the game – stood on the terraces and they often bet their gold, slaves2 and houses on the result of the game. Small figures3 of the players could be bought by their ‘fans’. In these early ball games, there were two teams of seven players. The players were men who had been captured in wars and kept as prisoners. They played with a ball made of black rubber that probably weighed about five or six kilos. The ball had to be kept in the air – it was not allowed to touch the ground. But the players did not kick the ball. They used their hips, their knees and their arms to keep it in the air and they wore pads4 to protect themselves. The players tried to score a ‘goal’ by getting the ball through one of the two stone rings above the terraces.
    [Show full text]