Forget about the playground game that children play at recess.
If Monday香蕉视频直播檚 national team practice was any indication, the dodgeball played at this week香蕉视频直播檚 world championships at the Pan Am Centre in Markham, Ont., will be a wild, eye-darting experience.
The sport is a mix of power and deception combined with agility, defence and co-ordination.
香蕉视频直播淚f you really pay attention to it, it香蕉视频直播檚 a lot of intensity, it香蕉视频直播檚 a lot of athleticism and it香蕉视频直播檚 a lot of strategy,香蕉视频直播� said Canadian head coach Victor Gravili.
And mention the 2004 movie 香蕉视频直播淒odgeball: A True Underdog Story香蕉视频直播� at your peril.
香蕉视频直播淭he Dodgeball movie is like Caddyshack to golf,香蕉视频直播� said Dodgeball Canada vice-president Alex Svetlovsky. 香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檚 like asking Tiger Woods about the gophers on the golf course.香蕉视频直播�
For the uninitiated, live dodgeball is like the sporting equivalent of a multi-ball pinball game.
Balls fly around at breakneck speed. Players who aren香蕉视频直播檛 whipping balls are faking throws or doing their damnedest to get out of the way.
The ball itself weighs 140 grams, is seven inches in diameter, easy to grip and is soft and cushiony. The sound upon contact is much worse than the pain, which is minimal 香蕉视频直播攁lthough the occasional 香蕉视频直播漟ace shot香蕉视频直播� can sting.
Canada is a world powerhouse in the sport in both men香蕉视频直播檚 and women香蕉视频直播檚 play. The national men香蕉视频直播檚 team won gold at last year香蕉视频直播檚 world playdowns in Melbourne, Australia while the women香蕉视频直播檚 side took silver.
Big things are expected again at this year香蕉视频直播檚 championship starting Wednesday. The men香蕉视频直播檚 team is virtually identical to last year with all eight players from Toronto or surrounding area.
The women香蕉视频直播檚 side has four Toronto players with others from Elmvale, Ont., Charlottetown, Ottawa and Winnipeg. A second Canadian entry 香蕉视频直播� dubbed Team Maple Leaf 香蕉视频直播� has been added to both eight-team fields as a replacement for Pakistan, a late pullout due to visa issues.
The basics are fairly simple. In a broad stroke: get hit and you香蕉视频直播檙e out. Catch a ball and the thrower is out and one of your teammates returns to the floor.
Six players per team and six balls on the floor. When a team香蕉视频直播檚 players are all out, the opposing team gets a point. The team with the most points after 40 minutes wins.
香蕉视频直播淚 think the biggest misconception is people think that it香蕉视频直播檚 a bully sport that is really easy to be good at as long as you香蕉视频直播檙e strong, and that香蕉视频直播檚 not true,香蕉视频直播� said Canadian middle player Halen Sky. 香蕉视频直播淭here香蕉视频直播檚 plenty of people that have great arms but they can香蕉视频直播檛 dodge at all and they can香蕉视频直播檛 catch.香蕉视频直播�
The sport requires more than just a 香蕉视频直播済rip it and rip it香蕉视频直播� approach. The faking, ball-pumping and hesitation are all critical to a team香蕉视频直播檚 success.
香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檚 constant action, constant thinking, moving on your feet, lots of throwing,香蕉视频直播� said Svetlovsky. 香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檚 a great fun time.香蕉视频直播�
Many players started in local leagues and worked their way up to the elite level. Malaysia, the host of the first world championship in 2012, is also expected to contend.
The playoffs begin Friday and the finals are set for Saturday.
Gregory Strong, The Canadian Press
