Tchoukball
Tchoukball - a sport for all
Have you ever considered what makes a sport, a GOOD sport? Is it the amount of fun you have while you play it? Is it being able to take responsibility of your own game? Or maybe it is simply to be the best you can be at it? In tchoukball we think that what makes a good sport is obviously about fun, a little something about owning your own game, but mostly; it’s about being an inclusive sport where everyone gets to play their part and shine.
Now, you might not have heard of, or played, tchoukball before, but whether you have or haven’t, here are some highlights of why we think tchoukball is such a great sport – followed by a few aspects of how its played.
Mixed gender
Tchoukball is very unique in that it is set up to be played with both boys and girls playing together in one team. As you will see below, tchoukball is a non-contact sport so size and strength does not matter as much as in other sports. Rather, as a tchoukball player YOU are in full control of your own game. The better you are at the basic tchoukball skills of throwing and catching, and the more you practice and perfect those skills, the better you will perform against any opponent.
In our national tchoukball league, we play mixed with all teams featuring both women and men. We also have a big variation in age of players, so a 16-year-old boy can score past a 29-year-old woman, who at the next chance she gets scores past a 44-year-old man. It’s all about the skill and technique so get practicing and soon you’ll be shooting straight past your sister, brother, mum or dad in no time.
Non-contact
Now, have you ever been injured (or accidentally injured someone) playing sport? Having to sit a game out because you’re injured is no fun, and neither is knowing that someone else must sit out because you did an unfortunate tackle. Tchoukball is completely non-contact, which means that you don’t have to worry about an inury or injuring making it very enjoyable to play.
Of course, that does not mean there are no injuries... But at least they are far less common and normally limited to sprained fingers and a floor burn (which in theory could happen at any time and in any sport). Any seasoned tchoukball player could also tell you there is a certain possibility of taking a ball to the face – but the longer you play the better reactions you get learning to defend or dodge those shots!
Sound intriguing? Have a look at how it’s played below
Tchoukball rules and how to score - the highlights
To score, you throw the ball at the tchoukball “frame”. The frame is a metal square 1m x 1m with a special net on it like a rebounder you might use in PE. Around the frame is a semi-circular “D” line. If you throw the ball off the frame and it lands in the court without bouncing inside the D then you score. The other team must defend, catching the ball before it lands. If they get the ball or your team makes a foul, it’s their turn to shoot. Any player on your team can shoot the ball and it doesn’t matter if they are a defender or a shooter. If you shoot inside the D or straight out of court, the other team gets a point. Whoever just lost the point restarts the game behind the frame, just like basketball.
Tchoukball has lots of rules like any other sport, but easiest thing to remember is that almost all the rules work in 3s. There are 3 thirds of 15 minutes in a full game, you have up to 3 steps with the ball, up to 3 seconds with the ball, up to 3 passes before your team must shoot at the frame. You can score at either frame during a play, so if your team sees that all the opposition is at one end of the court, just pass to your teammates at the other end for an easy point!
If you’re intrigued and want to understand more you can always check out out website for more detailed rules!
Want to try tchoukball? Here’s what to do:
If you’re lucky, your PE teacher has already introduced tchoukball as part of your lesson plan; but if they haven’t, make sure you tell them about it: “T-c-h-o-UK-ball, Google it”. Then while you wait for them to contact us (and get a set of frames) you can ask to practice the basic skills for the game (mainly catching and throwing) by using some of our fun games in a lesson- you can find them here!
And BAM, you’re one step closer to learning a new sport and having all the fun while learning to master it. Who knows, maybe you’ll represent Team UK one day?
Want to be an international tchoukballer?
We’re a small but very friendly sport with lots of opportunities to play against teams from other countries. With enough practice and training, children and teenagers can get an opportunity to play for the UK at competitions. Some of our Team UK Youth squads went to Italy and Singapore in the last 4 years and there are other chances to play club tchoukball for under 18s throughout the year.
