The game of catch has arrived
U of G has just added “alternative sports” to its varsity athletics program which will be recognized under Ontario University Athletics (OUA) and U Sports. Students can now try out for and compete in a range of newly added sports. In this issue of The Contrarion, we take a closer look at some of these sports.
For the dorm room lounger, the timeless game of “tossing a ball back and forth to somebody” has arrived. Athletes will sit in a cushioned reclining chair and toss a ball back and forth to an opponent. The first player to drop the ball loses. Players can also play as a team to see how many tosses can be achieved in a row. It is a game of intense hand-eye coordination, often accompanied by mellow, lo-fi hip-hop beats.
The great game of “juggling three scarves in the air” has also been recognized as a varsity sport. Players line up in a row and try to outlast the competition in the iron-will challenge of keeping their scarves off the ground the longest. Often, it is a game lasting several hours until a winner is crowned. It is a game of endurance and concentration for athlete and audience alike. In an added dimension, the audience member to sit through the event the longest wins the “most loyal sports fan” award.
For fans of basketball, “ballbasket” has come to Guelph. Some history: “ballbasket” originated in the Swiss Alps in 1921 when Dr. Alexander Fridgeholder researched ways to pass time while working in an office. Contenders would sit in a spinny chair and take turns throwing paper balls from a distance into a wastebasket, while keeping score, often trying to block their opponent’s toss. Today, “ballbasket” takes its rightful place beside its basketball cousin. Players line-up their shots, from a spinny chair, and compete until somebody reaches 50 points, often while avoiding the impending doom of ignoring their responsibilities.
A major addition includes “shooting an elastic band at a target.” Like a bow and arrow, the elastic band is shot with eagle-eye precision. Athletes can expect to stand behind a firing line and take aim at targets a few metres away. The athlete to hit the most targets wins. Shots are analyzed in slow motion to confirm the most accurate shot rounded to one eighth of a millimeter. Safety goggles are required.
Next in line for varsity-level status includes: egg tossing, axe throwing, and tiger wrestling.
Photos obtained via flickr.