The Hitball Organisation is in discussion with government officials about Hitball in schools. If you have any contacts in schooling or governmental education departments, please make a point of communicating your perspective on the values of this game. The following is a synopsis of what we're telling them about it:

Proposal: Hitball in schools.

In brief:

Hitball is a sport which is played in an area of around 30sq metres, outdoor, or indoor (high ceiling preffered).

The game is very easy to introduce to new players, a few minute's instruction conveys the basic points and gets a beginner player started. The fastest way for beginners to learn is to partner experienced players in a doubles game.

It can be played passionately and with great enjoyment, at a low skill level.

There is no upper limit to skill level. A master player still learns and improves. Every fight.

Improvements in mobility, fitness and strength as well as mental agility are significant.

Competition takes various formats: Singles matches, Doubles and Team events.

The injury rate is far lower than soccer, tennis, squash, martial arts and most other similarly active sports.

Some factors which make Hitball particularly appropriate for schools:

Psychological growth and development of players:
Personal integrity is encouraged by the game and its rules. This is very much the opposite of the normal sports situation, where players try to get advantage by bending rules when they can "get away with it". In a Hitball game, a point is not awarded if there is unhappiness on the part of either side. The point is replayed. Also, a player reports his/her own "hits" - points against him/her. Playing the game induces and promotes a high level of personal honesty and responsibility.

Stress reduction and anger release:
Because Hitball competition is modeled on a "fighting" situation, playing it can involve significant release of anger. Psychologically, the "permission" to fight hard, using the body in natural movements releases stress very effectively.

High intensity exercise:
The "fighting" nature of Hitball has a dramatic effect on the body's energy usage. In a fight situation the body consumes energy much faster than in "normal" sports and more use is made of the musculature.

Appropriate for different body types:
So far, "star" players have had a wide range of body type, and wide differences in technique. Hitball challenges players to make the most of their physical assets, finding their own style to complements those assets.

Exercise for the mind:
The development and refinement of responsiveness - the ability to respond intelligently to a situation is more important than sheer reaction time. Hitball is mentally as well as physically challenging. Sports such as Japanese Kendo and English Fencing are sometimes described as "high speed chess". This applies at least as much to Hitball.

Generalised coordination:
Hitball strongly develops a generalised coordination - movement is free-form, and to all the body's limits. An awareness of the body and it's capabilities is developed and built upon.

Low injury levels:
Injuries in Hitball are (in over a decade of play) rare and slight. Certainly nothing to the injuries incurred in most other sports. The only thing that crosses the (wide) line between opposing players is a light plastic ball. There's no high-speed running, just very short start and stop. Safety is enforced by simple rules. There is no need for careful coaching in technique in order to avoid injury. Players that are "mismatched" don't present any increased risk of injury. No age or gender division is required between players except between lower and upper primary, and high school.

Team and individual play:
Teams can play on the basis of four (2 a side) players are in the ring at any one time. Players retire (die) after 5 hits against them, and are replaced by the next team member. Team strategy consists mainly in fielding one's players in response to the points situation and the quality of opponents' play. A bit like Cricket. A dozen players a side can be accommodated in an hour or so.

Coaching and supervision required:

The rules are few, are sensible and are easily explained and applied. Management of equipment is simple and inexpensive. The basics can be imparted in a half-hour. From the outset, players learn primarily through their experience of playing. Skilled players can of course coach and train techniques they've found useful, but coaching is not at all a requirement for excellence in the game. Playing is.

Two experienced players can teach a group of 20 beginners to play within 3 hours, ideally split into two sessions, with equipment available to the "trainees" between the sessions. A further 3 hours can equip teachers with the necessary skills to manage equipment, create a playing area and teach beginners. This does not appear realistic, but Hitball is that simple to start.

The current player base is sufficient to start workshops to train teachers in supervision and management of the game in their schools. players keenly support the game.

Equipment availability and production:

Equipment for Hitball is inexpensive and readily available. Most importantly, Hitball is free in the same way that opensource software is free. There's no royalties, fees, required "brand" of equipment or other profiting/exploitation from the "ownership" of the "intellectual property" of Hitball. There's also no restriction of the rights of anyone to make equipment, copies of the rules and any other materials related to the game. Sponsors can put their logos on items they provide.

Anticipating a pilot project and potential "rollout" to SA schools, production of equipment would have to be significantly increased.
This can be accomplished in a way that supports Government's social goals:

In the event of large and ongoing demand if the game is played in schools, centralised purchasing of materials for and manufacturing of hitball equipment could be set up as community industries in economically depressed areas. The facilities, tools, and equipment required are minimal, no hazardous substances (e.g. glue) or other health risks are involved in the producton process.

Equipment for pilot projects and training workshops is available at present in two ways:

1) Players can make their own equipment from inexpensive, readily available items and materials, obtainable for (est.) R47.00

2) Assembled/manufactured kits can be supplied at R100.00 each.

A first step:

Funding for research into the following is being sought:

1) Determine interest and support available for the game in schools.

Ideas:

Make copies of the Off The Pitch SABC program available to teachers and ask for / gather feedback.

Organise a demonstration game at a teachers' conference, training college or inter-school sports event.
(This would ideally involve G'teng players, available for S&T)

2) Determine interest and support available for the game in academia.

Ideas:

Demonstrate the game to physical education academics and sports scientists in W.Cape institutions.

See what tests they might have to indicate benefits of playing.

3) Determine interest and support available for the game in business and media.

Ideas:

Circulate the Off The Pitch SABC program and probe for interest in sponsorship opportunities.

3) Determine an accurate cost projection for rollout and maintenance of Hitball in schools.

Ideas:

Determine required volumes of equipment, and a strategy for "rollout".

Research sponsorship opportunities in the private sector.

Determine training requirements for Coaches (teachers-in-charge) of Hitball in schools - numbers, accessibility (can they come to a workshop, or must it go to them).