Friday, April 23, 2010

Tchoukball Rules

Tchoukball is a unique sport originated from Switzerland. The inventor of the game, Dr. Hermann Brandt, a physician who treated a large amount of injured sportsman due to the various forms of aggressiveness in sports, started to worry about the educative value of modern sport and the abuses of it. Thus, Dr. Hermann Brandt wanted to create a sport that would allow the individual to acquire and maintain a lasting physical, mental, and social balance. Tchoukball seeks to make his wish come true.
The name of the game originated from one of the treatments that Dr. Hermann Brandt does for his patients, that is to have his patient throw a ball at a trampoline that bounces the ball back for the patient to catch. A ‘tchouk’ sound is made each time the ball touches to net of the trampoline; hence, TCHOUKBALL.
Tchoukball has also something called the Spirit of the Game, often also known as The Tchoukball Charter which was written by Dr. Hermann Brandt. The whole charter could basically be express in these two mottos, ‘Beautiful play attracts beautiful play’ and ‘To play with an opponent and not against an opponent’. When one plays with not just elegant skill, but also with a good attitude and respect for the opponents, it will inspire others to do the same. In Tchoukball there are no sides for either team, players can shoot at either frame that is placed at both ends of the court. Therefore it is played on a single game surface shared between all. Tchoukball is a team game without body contact. Beyond this, every act of disturbing, obstruction and interference of players and of the game is banished. No unsportsmen like behavior are allowed. Respect therefore is required for each other. The spirit of the game is one of the major uniqueness of the game and is what make Tchoukball so special.
The game of Tchoukball is easy to play. Here are the basic rules of how to play,
1.) Passes: The attacking team is allowed a maximum of 3 passes to try to be in the best situation possible for shooting.
2.) Shot: At any time a player can decide to shoot at one of the frames.
3.) The other team tries to catch the ball from the frame before it touches the ground.
• If the defending team does not catch the ball before it falls on the ground, one point is scored by the attacking team.
• If the defending team catches the ball, the game goes on and the defending team becomes the attacking team.
• If the attacker misses his shot at the frame or if the shot is out of bound, a point is given to the defending team.
To play a game of Tchoukball, all you need is two frames, and a ball. It is an ideal sport for anyone who wishes to start a team sport, but it becomes a particularly intense and complete sport once played at a higher level.
Tchoukball is a truly universal sport for all ages, for all kinds of players, for all kind of surfaces, for all countries. It is a pleasant sport to play indeed.

Tchoukball Charter

1. The game excludes any striving after prestige, whether personal or collective.
On a personal level : The attitude of the player implies respect of every other player, whether on one's own side or in the other team, whether stronger or weaker than one's self.
The game being open to players of all degrees of competency (constitutional or acquired), one inevitably meets players of every possible category. The respect and consideration due to one and all oblige each player to adapt his own conduct (technical or tactical) to the circumstances of the moment.
On a collective level : A result, no matter what, involves no-one's reputation and, above all, allows for no sectarianism. From victory one can derive pleasure and even joy, but never the satisfaction of vain glory. The joy of winning is an encouragement, whereas arrogance in victory carries the seeds of a struggle for prestige which we condemn as giving rise to inter-human conflict of every kind and degree.
2. The game requires all-out dedication : First of all, when keeping a constant watch on the movements of the ball, secondly when observing objectively and sympathetically the other players.
Self-renunciation is subjective participation in the event. It results in a melting of personalities in the reciprocal confrontation of reactions within the game. That is to say :
a) A sense of the collective achievements of the team : it welds together the players of a team; it teaches esteem, appreciation of the other's value; it creates a feeling of oneness in the common effort of a small group.
b) The assimilation of the attitudes of the so-called adverse group, towards whom one must oppose opportunistic play free of any kind of hostile undercurrents.
c) The major concern of each player must be to strive after beauty of play. Universal experience in sport can be resumed by the expression : "Elegant playing attracts elegant playing."
This mental attitude is the pivot of the social action of tchoukball :
It encourages one to aim for perfection and always to avoid any negative action towards the adversary. It is more than just the rule of a game. It is a rule for social conduct all times; a psychical component of behaviour; the basis of the social personality.
The aim is therefore the avoidance of conflicts, with one aim in view : the notion of fair play being outmoded, We are talking not of concessions to be made to the adversary, but rather of an activity in common, linking the team together, where the beauty of play from the other side leads to and develops beauty of play from the other side.
3. The game is a social exercise through physical activity.
It is a pooling of means of action, the better players accepting the responsibility for teaching the less adept; therefore there is no real championship, but a race for competency.
When one say, "let the best man win", it should mean that being the best man can be achieved through adequate preparation. This being so, it is appropriate that the results should reward the trouble the players have taken, individually and in the common effort.
Within these limits, a victory can and should bring normal satisfaction and meet with respect from the adversary.
Victory should stimulate in the adversary the desire to do as well, and not a feeling of belittlement or arrogant domination. The winners should strive to give this impression. Healthy satisfaction on the part of the winners is way of holding out their hands to the losers, to incite them to continue to train properly.
For these reasons the notion of champion should give way to the simpler, better adapted one of winner.
Playing to improve one's performance is the impulse that every activity should imply and develop: it is towards this goal that every tchoukball organisation must tend, from the smallest friendly encounter to the most important confrontation at the summit.

History of Tchoukball Malaysia

Tchoukball is a new sport in Malaysia. It has been promoted for 3 years in Malaysia. It is currently promoted in Malaysia by a group of youths with support of a few churches. We were introduced to the game by Jeff Ang through a Sports Ministry meeting 3years ago. Since then, we’ve found tchoukball an ideal sport to excel in. Because it is new in Malaysia, it is easier for us to master the sport. As long as we know how to play the sport, we can teach others to play the sport. Some of the youth that are promoting tchoukball in Malaysia are also qualified B-license tchoukball coaches. It’s simple to get a coaching certificate in tchoukball too. So now with these qualifications, it is possible for us to start to coach a team or even go into schools to teach tchoukball.
In these 3 years, we’ve already promoted tchoukball to a few schools & many churches. We’ve also been to many international tournaments. Our team has been to about 4 international tournaments in these 3 years. We’ve also had many tchoukball friendly matches with Singapore too. Every year, we’ll also organize a Tchoukball Tournament for the tchoukball teams in Malaysia to come and compete. Tchoukball has allowed us to make many friends around the country & also the world. So the excitement in tchoukball for us is all year round.
Tchoukball is also a very good tool to use for ministry. Because of this sport, many of the players that have come in touch with this game have heard of the gospel. It has been a great opportunity for us to share the gospel through tracts & also word of mouth. Through tchoukball, 3 of the tchoukball players have also receive Jesus as their Lord. As I’ve said, with tchoukball coaching certificates, we can also go into schools or form a team to coach. These can also be great opportunities & strategies to reach out to our community. Not only can we do out-reach, we can also use Tchoukball to do in-reach. For example, we can disciple believers in tchoukball trainings, help them in their walk with God & build greater bond among youth.
I hope this will encourage you to use tchoukball as a great tool too. I strongly recommend you to take up Tchoukball, if you are looking for another tool to do out-reach & in-reach. I strongly recommend this sport to you, because Tchoukball has benefited us a lot.

History of Tchoukball

Dr Hermann Brandt was an eminent Swiss doctor. It was through his work in practical application of scientific knowledge in the sphere of physical activities that the idea of tchoukball had its foundation. After writing the book “From Physical Education to Sport through Biology” [1], Dr Brandt presented his now famous paper “A Scientific Criticism of Team Games” [2]. This won him the coveted award of Thulin Prize, given by the “Fédération internationale d’éducation physique (FIEP)”, presented at the University of Lisbon on August 16th, 1970.

The practical expression of his ideas, stemming from his critical study of existing games, is the game we have come to know as tchoukball. It derives its name from the sound the ball makes as it rebounds from the net. Dr Brandt felt this would be universally acceptable. He died in November, 1972.

Most sports can be traced to humble beginnings and periods of slow development before becoming established as a national and international sport. Tchoukball is no exception. It has taken time and patience to convince people that this unique sport is truly a 'Sport for all', but now all the signs indicate that the message is getting across. The last years have seen sizeable growth, and the coming years promise a gathering momentum in membership.

Today, tchoukball is no longer just another new team game to be regarded with doubt and suspicion. It is being played on the five continents with much energy and enthusiasm, varying levels of skill, but above all with a great deal of enjoyment. Today, it is played in many countries across the world including : Argentina, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Czech Republic, France, Great-Britain, Hong Kong, India, Italy, Japan, Korea, Mainland China, Mauritius, New Zealand, Pakistan, Poland, Singapore, Switzerland, Taiwan and the U.S.A.

In past years one has struggled to develop the game, with very few resources, and always relying on the good will and voluntary effort of a small group of workers. Happily that group is growing into a small army. It is they the voluntary backroom organisers, administrators, fund-raisers and dedicated enthusiasts, (whose work often goes on unsung and with little recognition) upon whom we rely so heavily. They hold the key to the future. The game is indebted to them and history will record their contribution.