TARGET 111005

Cycleball

Wheel attack

Picture a sport where the players ride around on bicycles on a miniature basketball court which has ice hocky goals, but no goalies. You have to "kick" a volley ball into the net, but you can't kick with your feet - you have to use your bicycle wheels, but can also use your head, like in soccer. If, at any time, your foot touches the floor, the other team gets a free try at your goal.

If you look at the picture above, you will see that the bicycles have their handlebars pointed straight upwards, have an extra small chain sprocket and no brakes. Also, the pedals are "hard linked" directly to the rear wheel in such a way that if the wheels move, the pedals move. If the pedals move, the wheels move. There is no coasting. If you pedal backwards, the wheels go backwards. The only way to block your opponent is to ram him with your bike. The only way to hit or block the ball is to with your head, your body, or the bike.

Sound like fun? Oh, yeah!!! It is.

With the exception of blocking at the goal, you cannot touch the ball with your hands. Your foot can touch the ball, but not the floor. And sometimes, as in the picture above,you have to kick backwards in the opposite direction you're going.

Details for the intermediate and advanced viewers:

Cycle-ball is played on a wooden court 11 meters wide and 14 meters long, bordered by a wooden railing 30 centimeters high. The goal is a net, 2 meters square and at least 20 centimeters deep. The ball is 17 to 18 centimeters in diameter and is usually filled with horsehair. It can be moved by the action of the bicycle or the player's body, but not with the hands or feet.

The goal area is a semicircle, with a 2-meter radius, surrounding the goal. There are two players on each team, one of whom is a goalkeeper. Only one defending player is allowed within the goal area. However, the goalkeeper is allowed to use his hands to catch the ball in the act of defending his goal. A member of the attacking team can move inside the goal area only after the ball has already entered the area.

A game is made up of two halves of seven minutes each.

Cycleball has been a favored sport in parts of Europe for more than a century, but the sport has never been able to make many inroads in other parts of the world, except for Japan. And, of course, in Japan, the opening of the match begins with the bicycle version of a bow to the opponent.

If you got impressions for which this feedback is insufficient, you may find the feedback you need at the following web sites: for more:

The Official Cycleball web site
Hickok Sports page
Oddities central
Wired Magazine's web site (includes cycleball's history)
Wikipedia
Excellent video of the action