|
|
|
|
| GAME
PLAN |
|
Holy salkow, Batman, Miki’s back! Yes, Japan’s very own Babe on Ice, Miki Ando, roared back to form in the opening event of the Grand Prix figure skating series, not only winning October’s Skate America competition in Connecticut, but overshadowing younger teen star Mao Asada, everybody’s current tip for greatness. Ando, of course, was panned after finishing a disappointing 15th at the Turin Olympics, but she’s lost a bit of chunkiness and taken her skating to a higher level; maybe now she will start to fulfill her promise. Next up on the calendar is the NHK Trophy from November 30 to December 3 in Nagano. Japan’s women skaters are hot right now. Catch them while you can. FV See sports listings for details.
| By
Fred Varcoe
The right touch
|
|
Touch draws players form
the world over
Stripped down rugby draws a crowd |
Anyone familiar with rugby will have heard of the largely
non-contact version called touch rugby. This has now been
refined and developed further into a growing sport, known
simply as touch, which will stage its fifth World Cup in Japan
May 24-28. Touch's appeal lies in that it can be played
by anyone with a ball and a bit of space, and it's
this simplicity that has fueled its expansion. Touch is a
major sport in Australia, where it originated, and is growing
in Japan, where there are around 110,000 players, according
to Australian Kelly Eggers of the Japan Touch Association.
Eggers' involvement in touch and the hosting of the
World Cup is hardly incidental. Her father, Paul, was the
first president of the Federation of International Touch,
which came into existence in 1986 with representatives from
Australia, New Zealand, Canada and Fiji. Touch rugby had long
been used as a recreation and as a training exercise for rugby
players, so it was no surprise that it developed into a sport
in its own right. In 1968, the first touch organization was
formed in Sydney, and within 10 years regional bodies and
competitions had been organized around Australia, culminating
in the first National Championships in 1980. Within 15 years,
the National Championships involved 1,500 players and officials.
The first World Cup was held in 1988 and the second in 1991
(to avoid clashes with the Olympics). It's now held
every four years. Previous editions took place in Australia
(twice), New Zealand and Hawaii.
"The transition from rugby to touch happened years
ago," Eggers points out. "Now that transition
isn't there anymore because touch is popular in its
own right, and players now start out as touch players."
Which is not to say there isn't crossover. "It's
actually a non-seasonal sport," Eggers notes, adding,
"We get more players in the summer because a lot of
rugby players want to keep their fitness levels up."
Touch is played on a field measuring 50m by 70m-half
the size of a rugby pitch. There are no goalposts and no kicking.
Teams field six players each, and substitutions (a maximum
of eight are allowed on the bench) can be made at any time.
The rules are similar to those of rugby except that there
are no tackles, scrums or conversions. When players are touched,
they must roll the ball between their legs to a teammate for
the game to continue. Six touches and the ball is handed over
to the opposition. The scoring system is simplicity itself:
one touchdown equals one point. Games consist of two 20-minute
halves with a five-minute halftime break.
A unique aspect of the sport is the mixed-team event, where
men and women play on the same squad. "In Japan in
particular, touch is promoted as a sport that can be played
by either sex, anywhere, anytime," Eggers states. "And
a good player from one gender does not always make a good
mixed player. Basically, good touch players need speed, agility
and endurance as well as an ability to read the play."
This year's World Cup takes place at Kumagaya Rugby
Ground in Saitama Prefecture. In keeping with the developmental
nature of the sport, entry is free. Shuttle buses will run
from Kumagaya Station to the ground. Nations taking part include
defending champion Australia, India, Japan, New Zealand, Scotland,
Singapore, South Africa, Thailand, the US, and Wales. There
will be men's, women's, mixed and masters events,
with all the finals taking place on May 28.
For more info, see
listings.
Photos courtesy of the
Japan Touch Association
top |