For a game still in its infancy Spikeball -- a beach sport which looks like the love child of volleyball and tennis -- is already making global waves. The rules are simple: each team of two must bounce a ball slightly larger than a tennis ball on a flat trampoline-type net 36 inches (91 centimeters) in diameter: about the size of a hula hoop. Like in volleyball, a side can touch the ball a maximum of three times. There are no boundaries, and a point is won when the opposing team fails to hit the ball back to the net. In May, and again in July, the US sports channel ESPN2 even broadcast Spikeball tournaments -- and the game has also spread to Europe and Canada. It was created in the 1980s and original called Roundnet though its precise origins are unclear. The concept was reborn in 2007 when a young Chicago entrepreneur named Chris Ruder began to sell gear for the game from his company named Spikeball. Last fall he said he sold his millionth net and claims the company, which generated … [Read more...] about Spikeball: the US sport coming to a beach or backyard near you
Sport
Games shine a spotlight on future sporting stars
Children from across the country trained for months and competed to get to the Aldi Community Games national finals - the pinnacle of their young sporting lives. Memories were being made at the impressive University of Limerick stadium, where some of our future sporting stars were already shining brightly. Highly skilled soccer player Tara Desmond, who plays for under-13s girls' team Inter Kenmare FC, weaved her way across a sports hall and showed a determination and imagination that made it easy to picture her as a professional. The team defeated Kildare 9-0 yesterday and Tara and her mother, coach Betty Cremin, were at the centre of the action."This is a great team," Betty told the Irish Independent. "The girls train all year and are 100pc dedicated and for me it's about keeping young girls involved in soccer and sport." Other players of note yesterday included Saoirse Buckley, Grace Foley and Elena O'Donohue. Each girl beamed when talking about the Community Games and their heroes … [Read more...] about Games shine a spotlight on future sporting stars
Battyeford Sporting Club run charity football match in Mirfield girl’s memory
Two teams from Battyeford Sporting Club tackled each other last Sunday to raise more than £600 for the Meningitis Trust. The charity match was held in memory of Gracie Kerr, a little girl from Mirfield who died from the disease in February 2009, aged just two days.Gracie’s dad, Ben, was among the competitors in the match between the club’s open age side and a ‘Legends XI’ of former players, which ended with honours even at 2-2.Many of the players paid to take part in the game, while off the pitch a hard-working team including Gracie’s mum, Kelsey Bruce, made bacon and sausage sandwiches for the spectators.Kelsey paid tribute to Battyeford Sporting Club’s Nigel Saddington, who organised the match.She said: “It’s good that so many people are willing to help us raise funds. It was a great occasion and we’re very pleased with the result.“Nigel suggested putting on the match and did all the organising, so we’re very … [Read more...] about Battyeford Sporting Club run charity football match in Mirfield girl’s memory
Boxing session hits the target and proves a good ‘taster’ for the sport
The women and girls’ boxing fundraiser organised by Box 4 Fitness at Hebden Bridge Boxing Club achieved its aim of bringing in cash and offering an introduction to the sport. Held at the club’s Mytholmroyd headquarters, it included five hours of taster sessions and raised nearly £1,000.Boxing coach and event organiser Kate Dakers said: “Saturday’s fundraiser was a resounding success; we made almost £1,000 in five hours, which is more than we hoped for. “This will cover the costs of taking our female boxers to training camps every month for the rest of the season. “It secures our plans to take Hatty Nylan to the Elite Championships in Liverpool in April and the Haringey Box Cup, Europe’s largest tournament, held in London in June 2016.“It will also help get our youngest boxer, 12-year-old, Mia Kelly ready for boxing at club level competitions. Mia’s first competition will be at our club show in February 2016. … [Read more...] about Boxing session hits the target and proves a good ‘taster’ for the sport
Pornhub star Mia Khalifa turned sports presenter reveals she still receives death threats on a daily basis
FORMER porn star turned sports presenter Mia Khalifa has still receives death threats on a daily basis. And the 25-year-old says she “can’t go certain places alone” due to the sick messages. Khalifa made the admission four years after she was threatened by ISIS during her adult entertainment heyday. She told The Daily Star: “They (death threats) happened about four years ago. I still get them on a daily basis, just not from organised terrorists and organisations.” Khalifa, once voted PornHub's most-watched star, was believed to have been targeted after wearing a hijab in several of her movies before retiring in 2014. But her performances shot her to fame and helped to launch her career away from the porn industry – although she admits her stardom has come at a price. She said: “I was not expecting it but I'm not going to completely discredit that I'm social media savvy. “So it's taken work and it's definitely left me opportunities, my … [Read more...] about Pornhub star Mia Khalifa turned sports presenter reveals she still receives death threats on a daily basis