U.S.A. TCHOUKBALL October ’03 Number 2 Official United States Tchoukball Bulletin

volume1 U.S.A. TCHOUKBALL October ’03 Number 2 Official United States Tchoukball Bulletin

[email protected] www.tchoukball.net Tchoukball in the United States of America ...

Encouraging! We re- ceive more and more often news from P.E. teachers and athletic directors who started teaching the game and want to share with us Contents their experience. Thank you to them for sharing this information ! Tchoukball, a Scientific Swiss Sport In April 2004 a U.S. with a Social Conscience p 2 Tchoukball Invitational Festival will be held in Washington D.C. and In the School we invite everyone to participate. Bertie Backus M.S. Washington D.C. p 3 We especially encourage P.E. Christian Brothers takes up a new sport teachers and their students to take New Orleans p 3 part in the popular tournament on Key Middle School, Virginia p 4 Saturday afternoon. You will be able to play with international P.E. Teacher & Coach Tips p 6 tchoukball players and we assure you a tremendeous amount of fun. Upcoming Events p 7 See more details inside. In the Community We hope you will enjoy reading this bulletin and we en- Los Angeles, California p 9 courage you to share with us your own tchoukball experience.

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TTTCHOUKBALL Promotion Tchoukball, a Scientific Swiss Sport With a Social Conscience

“The objective of human physical activities is not to make cham- pions, but rather to help construct a harmonious society.” — Dr. Hermann Brandt, Swiss Physician and inventor of the Tchoukball game.

Dr. Hermann ability to concentrate psychological, physiological, and social Brandt (1897- - Reward problem-solving and capabilities, and was calibrated to 1972) was an anticipation as well as physical enhance challenging play within a eminent Swiss ability totally non-contact framework. physician and - Teach teamwork and positive physical social behavior Tchoukball’s advantages educator. His work in the Brandt used a scientific - Tchoukball does not allow contact practical approach in order to design rules or interference between players. With application of advancing his educational objectives. no body contact, injuries are scientific knowledge as it relates to Brandt wanted to create a sport in minimized. physical activities led him to develop - No player can steal the the sport of tchoukball. After writing ball nor intercept a pass, the book From Physical Education instead rewarding to Sport Through Biology, Dr. strategy and Brandt presented his now-famous cooperation as teams paper A Scientific Criticism of Team play on both offense Games. For this work he won the and defense. coveted Thulin Prize, a world - Tchoukball is easy to competition on the theory of physical play. Rules are intuitive education organized by the and easily grasped. International Physical Education - It accommodates Federation mixed team play (old/ young, male/female, fit/ Brandt worked to develop a sport unfit, experienced/ that would: which the players’ skills could be beginner). expressed without physical - No player dominates a team. All the - Be competitive without confrontations with opponents. He players must be involved, both on encouraging aggression also wanted to teach through play the offense and defense. - Avoid violent confrontations benefits of nonviolent action. Each - Tchoukball requires alertness and - Increase self-confidence and the rule was carefully adapted to human concentration. It teaches anticipation and physics, as well as teamwork and trust.

Are you interested in knowing more ? If you want to know more about this fantastic and unique game, please visit www.tchoukball.net or call 301 962 5076

- 2 - Christian Brothers In the School School, New Orleans, takes Bertie Backus Middle Schooll, up new sport! Washington D.C.Plays Tchoukball

When Tim Collins took School Introduced to Swiss Aerobic Game... over as athletic director at Chris- tian Brothers School in New Or- leans, five years ago, one of his Backus MS held a school- ground. The offense scores a point goals was to offer a variety of wide Tchoukball tournament De- if the ball touches the ground. The sport to the students. cember18, following three weeks of game is fast-paced, non-violent and “Young people enjoy play- intensive training in the physical edu- requires ball handling, strategy, con- ing other sports beside the big cation classes of approximately 120 centration and teamwork. Pierre- three: football, basketball and seventh and eighth grade students. Alain Girardin, an international baseball,” Collins said. “And when Tchoukball, a Swiss aero- player and coach, helped Backus they do this, it keeps them develop bic netball game, combines physi- students hone their skills, and orga- their physical skills.” cal skills with educational objec- nized the tournament. The school is located in tives. Teams of seven to nine play- The Tchoukball in Schools City Park and has an enrollment ers score points by bouncing a ball Program through the American of 275 boys in grades five, six and off a net to prevent a catch by op- Tchoukball Corporation (ATC), seven. Christian Brothers offers ponents before it touches the brought the game to Backus. Backus princi- basketball, baseball, flag football, pal Eugene Pair said, swimming, bowling, cross country, “Students took to golf, inline hockey, tennis, soccer tchoukball immediately. volleyball and wrestling. They can play in physi- And this year, tchoukball cal education class, at re- will be added to the list. cess and in after-school “I had never heard of it programs. We’re very until last spring,” Collins said. “But pleased.” one of our faculty members asked if we could include it in our pro- Source PCPS January 8 2003 gram for the 2003-2004 school year.” TTTCHOUKBALL Promotion LLC. Tchoukball is a blend of Educational Services volleyball and handball. It can be Learn about Tchoukball. played indoors or outdoors on a Tchoukball can be taught during regular P.E. Classes with students. court that is about 40 yards long Our staff of Tchoukball professional organize training, after school with a rebound net at each end of activities, summer camps, presentations, In-Services, workshops, P.E. the court. Two teams of nine play- teacher trainings and more.... ers each throw a ball that is about the size of a cabbage ball against Contact us today and give to your students a lot of fun the net and try to catch it. Tchoukball Promotion, P.O.Box 6176, Silver Spring, MD 20916 Guy Weigel, who teaches e-mail: [email protected], www.tchoukballpromo.com Tel: 301 962 5076 Continued on Page 4 - 3 - Continued from Page 3 In the School

English and literature at Christian Weigel said it requires a certain Key Middle School, Brothers, introduced the sport to amount of athletic skill, specially Springfield, VA Collins and the students in the running and catching the ball. spring after reading a magazine “It is fun, and the boys are By Shari Frank, Health article about it. going to have lots of fun,” he said. & Physical Education “I showed a video of the “But they will also improve their Teacher game being played and asked who stamina with all the running they would like to play.” Weigel said. will be doing.” “More than half of the boys who The Time-Picayune. New Orleans. After 15 years as a P.E. saw the video wanted to play.” teacher, Shari Frank thought she The students already have “Your sons into young men had seen and taught practically ev- started playing tchoukball in their – young men into Christian gentle- ery sport until she attended a work- physical education classes. About men” Christians Brothers School the middle of September, those who philosophy. want to play on a team will have The school’s goal is to de- an opportunity to participate in an velop the moral, intellectual, social, after-school intramural program, cultural, and physical potentialities Weigel said. of each student. Owen Barry, 12, a sev- We congratulate Guy enth-grader at Christian Bothers, Weigel and Tim Collins for their said he is looking forward to the enthusiasm for introducing this new start of th tchoukball season. non-violent game to their students. “I play soccer and flag They have been the first in the football, but I want to learn how to United States to introduce the game play a new sport,” he said. “I’ve as an intramural activity at school. already played it (tchoukball) some, We are looking forward to and it is lots of fun. It is different having them participate in the popu- from the other sports I’ve played.” lar tchoukball tournament held at shop about tchoukball. “What I At first tchoukball might the first Tchoukball Invitational really liked about tchoukball is the appear to be easy to play. But Festival in April 2004. teamwork that the game teaches (see page 7) by itself. The design of the rules Subscription to U.S.A. TCHOUKBALL pushes forward the collaboration that children must have in the game to be successful” she said. After Please, fill this form out and send it with your check of $20.00 to: the workshop, Shari knew she had U.S. TchoukBall Association; 2501 Glenallan Ave #3, to teach this new sport to her students. So, for three weeks in May 2003, with the help of Pierre-Alain Girardin, Shari taught the game to First and last name: ______7th and 8th grade students at Key Address:______Middle School. Twenty to thirty City/State/Zip:______students attended 45 minutes P.E. Tel:______classes every day during that time.

- 4 - In the School

Key Middle School, Springfield, VA

Day 1: Passes This must be taught to students in tchoukball when you have made First, the students were order to allow the less skilled play- the pass you have to move some- taught to pass the ball properly. In ers to participate in the game. By where to help your teammates to tchoukball, the ball should never doing so, the level of passes will be ready for the next action. touch the floor and it cannot be in- increase as well as the quality of Gradually, the students’ self-con- tercepted by an opposing player. the whole game. Shari was able fidence increased. Therefore, the passes require each to teach this concept really easily Day 3: Defense & Catching with appropriate exer- After learning passing and cises, followed by lead- shooting, the students were taught up games. how to catch and defend a shot. Day 2: Shooting First, the students reviewed the Next, the chil- angles a ball makes when it is shot dren were taught how at the frame and the consequen- the ball reacts with the tial rebounds. Next, Pierre demon- rebound frame. They strated to the students where the were able to practice ball can go on the court depending catching the ball after it on the strength and the angle of rebounds from the the shot. Finally, the students were frame and the different shown the concept of defending shooting angles. Sev- the court as a team. By showing player to accurately throw the ball eral important aspects of the game how the ball can go everywhere without overwhelming his team- were taught: first, the concept of within the limits of the court, the mate with the strength of the throw. the rebound from the frame and students understood that every This concept requires throwing and the angles of the ball after a shot player on the team has to defend catching skills from the students. and second, the fact that in the floor. Day 4 and 5: The whole game After going over the ma- TTTCHOUKBALL Inc. jor rules of the game, the students were able to play a real game of

The unique, exclusive #1 tchoukball. In the beginning, the tchoukball frame in the U.S.A. students’ main goal was to shoot the ball at the frame. The students Provide your players and students shot mainly from the center posi- with tchoukball frames to develop tion in front of the frame which self-confidence and team work offered an easy catch for the de- skills. U.S.TchoukBall Association fense since the ball rebounded Official Frame straight into the middle of the court. Gradually, the students improved TCHOUKBALL Inc. their shooting, began using differ- P.O. Box 6176, Silver Spring, MD 20916. Tel 301 962 5076 www.tchoukballpromo.com E-mail: [email protected] Continued on Page 6

New New New

- 5 - In the School P.E Teacher & Coach Tips

Key Middle School, Passing and Catching the Es- tant for them to step in the direc- sence of Tchoukball. tion of the throw. Springfield, VA Passing is the most impor- The type of pass utilized tant skill in tchoukball. It allows a depends on the specific situation Continued from Page 5 player to move the ball quickly and which is presented to the player. accurately and to advance the ball After a pass the player should try and set up scoring opportunities. to position himself/herself in such Several principles apply to all ent angles of shots and increased a manner to help the player with passes. the level of intensity of the game. the ball and look for a return pass The type of pass, and the Impressions and feedback: or take a defense position if it was velocity of the pass is determined Overall, the students really the third pass. by the speed of the intended re- enjoyed playing and learning the The ball should be thrown ceiver and the distance between the game. David (13) says, to a teammate at chest level so it passer. However, because, in “Tchoukball was a good learning can be easily handled and put into tchoukball, nobody blocks the experience! I like to shoot the ball play. movement of the players making Exercises: at the frame.” Martin (13) says, the pass or steals the ball while it is To teach to students the “I would love having it as an intra- in the air, it is really important to principle of passing and catching, mural program.” point out the quality of the pass create pair of players with one ball “This is the first sport that between players regarding the level per group. Make one lane of player I like! I am not a sport person and of skills of the players (passer and on the side line of the basketball I am afraid to get hurt. In tchoukball catcher). court and the partner is about 15 nobody will hurt you. I would like While players are learning feet far from the first player. Dif- to do it more!” says Ruby (13). the fundamentals of passing, the ferent kind of pass can be used Ren (13) says, “Tchoukball non-throwing hand should point in such as overhand pass, underarm is the only game that I can play the direction of the throw. pass, chest pass etc. The objec- because nobody will tackle me and When throwing and catch- tive of the players is that the ball boys and girls can play together. I ing the ball, it is recommended that never touches the floor and twenty would like definitely to play it as an the players use the fingers, rather consecutive and successful passes, after school activity”. than the palm of the hand, to in- per player are done. The concept For Shari, introducing sure consistent control of the ball. of smooth pass and accurate pass tchoukball was very rewarding. “I Proper balance should be between players must be taught to was really impressed to see how maintained and the body weight the students (in the game of students, who usually would never should be evenly distributed to help tchoukball, if the ball is dropped it been involved in a team game like insure more accurate passes. Dur- is a turn over and the ball belongs basketball or soccer, were really ing the throwing phase, the body to the other team.) active in tchoukball. Tchoukball is weight should be shifted from the In order to increase the lev- an appropriate sport for school be- back foot to the front foot main- els of difficulty you can increase cause it emphasizes teamwork and taining momentum behind the ball the distance between the players non-violence” Shari said. “I would for a crisp pass. or ask them to run and move ev- like to introduce it as an after school The correct throwing pat- erywhere on the court while mak- activity. In the next school year I tern requires the player to step for- ing passes. The same objective can will teach the game in a 3 week ward with the leg on the side of be required by the players. unit to build the skills of throwing the body of the no-throwing arm. and catching” she added. For beginning players it is impor- To be continued… - 6 - land and the Coach of the U.S. Upcoming Events national teams. Minimum partici- pants twelve, maximum twenty. In Washington D.C. Make your reservation before U.S. Tchoukball Invitational Festival 2004 March 1, 2004 at 301 962 5076 or e-mail at Friday April 9th to Monday April and International Tchoukball play- [email protected] 11th, 2004 ers. The players will be happy to demonstrate and explain how to First International Tchoukball play Tchoukball. Play in a tourna- The first ever organized Invitational Tournament major Tchoukball event in the ment with international players. U.S.A. Students and adults from Pennsyl- The first U.S. Tchoukball vania, Virginia, Maryland will par- Invitational Tournament will be Join Us, Watch and Participate ticipate. open to the international teams FREE… from Switzerland, Canada, Italy Exhibition Games and the U.S.A.. Many activities are sched- Opportunity to watch a Take advantage of the uled and everyone can participate high level of Tchoukball and to ex- presence of international players to from youth to elderly people. perience an unforgettable atmo- see how Tchoukball is played at the sphere on the court and among the spectators.

Program:

-Friday: training international players -Saturday morning: training international players workshop for P.E. teachers and Sports Coach -Saturday afternoon: popular Tchoukball tournament exhibition games + prizes ceremony -Sunday: U.S. Tchoukball Training and Practice international level. See the speed Invitational Tournament of the game, its intensity, and how -Monday morning: U.S. Teams from Italy, Switzer- spectacular Tchoukball is. Tchoukball Invitational Tournament playoff land, Canada and U.S.A will prac- Workshops (3 to 4 hours) tice and train together. Are you interested? Famous Swiss coaches will If you are interested in par- Workshops will be pro- join us to lead the training and share ticipating alone or with your stu- vided to Physical Education teach- their knowledge with the interna- dents at any of the activities please ers in order to give them exercises, tional players, physical education contact us by phone 301 962 5076 lead-up games, and knowledge to teachers and students. or e-mail [email protected]. be able to teach Tchoukball in P.E. For more information re- First Popular Tournament classes. Educational aspects of the garding Tchoukball, please visit game will be described in detail. www.tchoukball.us or Learn how to play Workshops will be taught by www.tchoukball.net Tchoukball by watching the U.S. Tchoukball experts from Switzer- - 7 - AMERICAN TCHOUKBALL CORPORATION

The American Tchoukball “promote, encourage, and motivate teachers and providing training ses- Corporation (ATC) is a nonprofit the development of physical fitness sions for teachers and introductory organization whose mission is to and sports participation for Ameri- training sessions for students in P.E. promote tchoukball, a nonviolent cans of all ages.” classes. team sport, in elementary, middle The ATC has been en- Equiping 11 schools per grant- and high schools and in the com- ing period with four munity. It does so by assisting in frames and five balls the purchase of game equipment; each. by training P.E. teachers, coaches, Helping those 11 referees, recreation directors, and schools to introduce students; and by organizing tourna- tchoukball into their P.E. ments. classes. The ATC believes that Organizing tourna- adoption of tchoukball into P.E. cur- ments in the participat- ricula will increase positive social ing schools. behavior, reduce sport-related inju- Schools can ap- ries, encourage students to engage ply to enter the " in daily physical activity, and give dorsed by the National Association Tchoukball in Schools" program. P.E. teachers a game that focuses for Sport and Physical Education For more information on the development of the (NASPE). visit our web site whole person. Objectives www.americantchoukball.org Inherent in these goals is the The ATC hopes to achieve If you wish to contribute to promotion of the mission as stated its goals through realistically and in- the promotion of this non-violent by the President’s Council on crementally increasing its involve- Swiss game in the U.S.A. and make Physical Fitness through its Execu- ment in the following: a donation, we would appreciate tive Order of 1956, which hope to Making presentation to P.E. your charitable contribution. Your donation is tax-deductible.

American Tchoukball Corporation Contribution

I/we wish to support the American Tchoukball Corporation and its project Tchoukball in the Schools. My contribution is _____$20.00 _____$50.00 ______$75.00 ______$100.00 $______Please make check payable to the American Tchoukball Corporation and mail to: American Tchoukball Corporation Name: ______2501 Glenallan Ave #3 Address:______Silver Spring, MD 20906 ______

- 8 - In the Community Los Angeles, California

Lorna Hobbs first played were interested in playing the game. to think of creative new drills that tchoukball in England from 1987 to “I have a great group of friends here will help to raise the level of the 1991. When she moved to the U.S., in LA; I knew they’d love the game game.” she was disappointed to discover so I held an “intro to tchoukball” “I love the fact that team- that the game was not played. As night at a friend’s house. After work is an essential part of this the years went by, Lorna never for- watching the video, everyone game; one player alone cannot “steal got how much she enjoyed playing couldn’t wait to give Tchoukball a the glory” because without the aid tchoukball. try. I contacted Pierre and arranged of their teammates they cannot even One evening in January for him to fly out to LA to coach an begin to play the game” Lorna says 2003, Lorna typed “U.S.A introductory clinic. of tchoukball. “I also love the spirit of the game. Aggression, foul play and negativity are not welcome in this game nor do they serve any pur- pose other than to lose points for your team. Positive attitudes, honesty and sharp thinking are the attributes needed to play this game well.” Interestingly, out of all the sports that the team members play (basketball, softball, football & soccer), tchoukball has one of the best turnouts week after week. When asked why, a team member said tchoukball” in an internet search The introductory clinic was engine and to her great surprise, held in April for 5 hours. Pierre ex- discovered an American website plained the philosophy of the game promoting the game of tchoukball. and introduced many drills to learn She immediately sent an e-mail to the basics of tchoukball. Lorna ex- the web master asking them for a plains, “We had a lot of fun at the video or for some promotional ma- clinic; I think everyone was instantly terial. Pierre-Alain Girardin an- hooked on the game.” At that mo- swered and sent Lorna a tchoukball ment, LA Genesis - LA’s first video. tchoukball team - was born. “Even though it had been Since the clinic, the team over 11 years since I last played, I has played virtually every Sunday af- had still not forgotten what an im- ternoon. Lorna leads the training. pact tchoukball had on me. I was “I love to teach tchoukball. It’s very pleasantly surprised to find Pierre- rewarding to see everyone have so Alain Girardin’s website. I felt like much fun each week. It’s fascinat- “Tchoukball is SO much fun to play I had discovered tchoukball all over ing to see people’s competitive and and it’s so awesome to play a sport again!” somewhat aggressive attitudes about for hours where nobody gets in- Lorna wanted to show the sport change into more positive jured.” video to her friends to see if they ones. It’s also a welcome challenge Laura, another Genesis

- 9 - In the Community

Los Angeles, new type of sport. I think the kind run by men’s basketball leagues and California of values and attitude that the game it’s difficult to find athletic direc- of tchoukball requires and expects team member, says of tchoukball “It’s fun and really active; I like the thinking aspect of the game. I appreciate the fact that players with different levels of ability can play together.” “I like to be part of something which carries noble and positive values. Tchoukball is the first sport that I have ever played in which those values can be expressed and are encouraged. I would like to sup- tors who will give you even 5 min- port the promotion of the game here are ones that my country is severely utes of their time so you can ex- in the U.S.” says Tristana. lacking. I want to be a part of plain what Tchoukball is all about A truly incredible opportunity something that leads by example in and why it’s so important that we has arisen for these Los Angeles the hope of change” Tristana said. be allowed a place to play” Lorna women. They have the opportunity “I want to be involved in a said. to represent the United States at the sport that is growing. Going to Tai- As these pioneering female next world tchoukball tournament in wan will help spread the knowledge tchoukball players continue their 2004 in Taiwan. “Being the first U.S. about tchoukball and might get training in order to increase their women’s team is exciting. I like be- more people involved the sport” skills and level of game, the logistic ing a part of the team, exposing oth- says Charlee, another Genesis team structures are being put in to place ers to the sport and having the op- member. to make this dream a reality. “I This new en- will help with the sponsorship and deavor has brought about fundraising aspects of the team, so new challenges for LA we can have great opportunities to Genesis. These include learn from more experienced play- finding a gym to practice ers and discover new cultures” at on a regular basis, Heather said. thinking of original ways Like their namesake, these to fundraise, and finding women hope to be the genesis of sponsors that will make something unique for sport in the this dream possible. The United States. whole team stays opti- To learn more about L.A. mistic but admits it is Genesis, please contact Tristana daunting endeavor. Ward at [email protected]. “I think one of our biggest challenges portunity to meet new people.” thus far has been finding gym Jamie said. space for us to play. Los Angeles “I am proud to be part of this recreation centers seem to be over- - 10 - UNITED STATES TCHOUKBALL ASSOCIATION

The United States association will organize tourna- bers to have a discount on training, Tchoukball Association ments at the local, regional and na- newsletters, tournaments. If you (U.S.T.B.A.) is the governing body tional level. Members can be indi- are interested in becoming a mem- of Tchoukball in the United States. viduals, teams, clubs, state associa- ber of this association please fill out The association organizes training tions and/or for-profit companies. the form and send it with your for coaches and referees. Also the The membership allows the mem- check. Thank you for applying

MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION FORM

Please PRINT

First name : ______Last Name:______

Mailing Address: ______

City: ______State: ______Zip: ______

Home Phone: ______Work Phone: ______

E-mail: ______

Date of Birth: ___/____/ 19__ Gender: male Female:

Area (s) of Interest Professional Member $40.00 ______Tournaments Refereeing Associate member $15.00 ______Teaching the Game National team Students $10.00 ______Training International Events Retired member $12.00 ______National Events Sports & Science Team name: ______$100.00 ______Newsletter other: ______

State Association $ 200.00 ______Name: ______

Renewal New

Make Check Payable to: U.S. TchoukBall Association, and mail it to U.S. TchoukBall Association, 2501 Glenallan Ave. #3, Silver Spring, MD 20906. See our home page at www.tchoukball.us . Thank you for applying.

U.S.A. TCHOUKBALL U.S.A. TCHOUKBALL. 2501 Glenallan Ave #3 Silver Spring, MD, 20906. www.tchoukball.net -11 -

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