Building on the success of Trinidad and Tobago’s short form cricket concept, Red Bull Quick Hit, the English summer is about to be introduced to Red Bull Catch 2:2.
Two teams, two players, two overs. What could be simpler and speedier to play? In honour of the game, which is being played in four cities across England this summer, we look at this and other games that take their inspiration from the streets.
Catch 2:2 is taking place in London, Birmingham, Bristol and Leeds and the highest scoring teams from each week, plus the next two highest scorers across the first three weeks will all return to play in the last week of July.
The winners from each region will come together for a day of fun at an England v Pakistan One Day International in September and compete to be crowned Red Bull Catch 2:2 2010 champions! Check out this video for more...
Not straying a hundred miles from cricket, Vitilla is a form of street baseball that uses a plastic bottletop in place of a ball. The game is hugely popular in the Dominican Republic and a number of vitilla players have even wound up playing Major League Baseball in the USA. It is the dream of every young vitilla player in the Caribbean island country to land a lucrative contract in America. Indeed, MLB player D'Angelo Jimenez will start off proceedings in the Clasico, an event featuring 14 top vitilla teams playing for an eventual prize of $1,400.
Back in Britain now and off to the Orkney Islands, Scotland for the sport of Kirkwall Ba’. Every Christmas Eve and Hogmanay householders and shopkeepers along the town’s central streets can be seen barricading doors and windows in preparation for the following days’ ba’ games. Kirkwall Ba’ is a mass-football game played in these streets every Christmas and New Year’s Day, with two rival 'factions' facing each other in a battle to score a goal and win the game. There are no official rules for the game, however, though it can be quite rough injuries to players are rare as tempers are held in check and foul play kept to a minimum.
Another football game with a twist is that played in Bourton-on-the-Water – Football in the River. Basically this is six-a-side football, played 15 minutes each way – in the knee-deep River Windrush. The game has been played for 70 years and the modern event attracts a number of local sides and hundreds of spectators. Goal posts are set up under the bridges and players have to brave the cold water wearing nothing but bright coloured football shorts or fancy dress. Hundreds of spectators line the river banks and cheer for their team in a splashy, noisy affair that spills out onto a cheery fête on the village green. To get a taster of River Football, have a look at this video from the 2009 event...
What do you get if you cross football with volleyball and then add a touch of gymnastics and kung fu for good measure? Why Sepak Takraw of course – one of Southeast Asia’s favourite pastimes. A number of variations of the game are played throughout the region, but the basic premise is to keep a hollow, grapefruit-sized ball from touching the ground. This is done by keeping it airborne using practically any part of the body except the hands. Takraw is popular with people of all ages in Thailand as all you need to play is a ball and an open space. The game requires a remarkable combination of flexibility, speed, power, mental alertness and acrobatic skill.
Finally we head to Sao Paulo, Brazil for our last game – Rebatida. Again, this is a variation of football, but with a uniquely Brazilian twist. Although the overall aim of the game is to score goals, players are rewarded for building moves first, and specifically for hitting the post, crossbar or the goalkeeper – rebatida means hit in Portuguese. Two teams of two face off against each other, taking it in turns to attack and defend. Each attack starts with a penalty, and the attacking side receives one point for scoring, plus an additional three for hitting the goalkeeper, five for striking the post, 10 for the crossbar and even 15 for hitting the frame of the post and crossbar. Watch the game in action below...
Learn more about Red Bull Catch 2:2 right here.
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