NSSA appreciates, National Games await

PUNE, Feb 14: Playing volleyball by tennis rules may sound a bit bizarre to the uninitiated, but Tennis volleyball' makes for interestin...

PUNE, Feb 14: Playing volleyball by tennis rules may sound a bit bizarre to the uninitiated, but Tennis volleyball’ makes for interesting viewing and playing. Though the rules for this hybrid game still need to be fine tuned, the game as it is today, is more volleyball oriented and remains competitive, fully recreational and economical a rare combination nowadays. Minimum equipment, space and technique requirements, make the newly devised game player friendly and is its USP.

Now for the game. Tennis volleyball is played on a court which measures 16X8 metres (smaller than a regulation volleyball court — 17X9). This is divided into two parts to form the playing arena. The net is brought lower to hang 1.10 metres above the floor. Interestingly, the service is the same overhead cross-court service as in tennis, with the short service spaced two metres from the centre. Being a hybrid’ game, the ball used (circumference 45 cm) is the same as that used in handball competitions, weighing 200 gms, with 0.40 lbs of air pressure.

The game can be played in both singles and doubles formats with the result of each match being decided on a best-of-three basis, with 15-point sets. Unlike volleyball, the game employs a one-touch return, which is to be executed either directly or aided by a single bounce using one or both hands. However, in doubles, the service rule veers away from tennis. If a player serving first loses service, the advantage goes to the hands of the opponent who gets his fair’ chance in the game. The service procedure thereafter alternates with the second player of either team serving. Keeping in mind the physical exertion involved, the game has a provision of three time-outs’ per set, while the other advantage includes substituting a player (in doubles only).

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Tennis volleyball was hit upon by accident’ by Prof. Venkatesh Wangwad, the head of department (Post Graduate section) at the Chandrashekhar College of Physical Education (CACPE). Says Venkatesh, “In 1985, when I was at NIS Patiala for an advanced course in Biomechanics, a colleague — Jagdish Zadbuke — and I decided to try out the idea.” Now 48-years-old, the professor was then an avid volleyball player, dedicating most of his leisure time to the game. However, one day, when his colleagues failed to turn up, necessity led to subsequent experimentation and a new game was born.

Ten years down the line, the game was a faint and distant memory until 1998, when it resurfaced as a demonstration during the National Sports and Science Association (NSSA) conference at Solapur. In its mature avatar, with a fair deal of rules, the game appealed to most of the representatives from seven states. What was then a raw, unprepared’ demo, won its first fans. “It was gratifying,” reflects Prof. Venkatesh, who now hopes that the game will gain popularity and hopefully feature as a demo at the sixth National Games, perhaps drawing Asian or Olympic recognition thereafter.

A 10-member rule fixing’ committee includes members from both the tennis and volleyball fraternity and headed by Prof. Venkatesh has been set up. “Some rules will be added and altered to render the sport incomplete,” Prof Venkatesh adds.

With a successful demonstration in the city recently, the game has the potential of following in the footsteps of badminton — as another gift to the sporting world from Pune.