Newcomb Ball
Newcomb ball is a team sport that had its inspiration from volleyball but with much simplified game play. The sport was invented in the United States in the late 19th century by a physical education instructor as a means to provide a simple game to her students that can include any number of players.
The sport is played in a rectangular court separated by a rope at a fixed height that essentially acts as the net. The official ball used is specially designed Newcomb ball, however a volleyball can also be used to play. The objective of the sport is to throw the ball as hard as possible onto the opponent’s court such that the opponents are unable to catch the ball.
A match is played in two halves, and the duration of each half is what is accepted by both the teams prior to the match. Similar to volleyball, a play starts with a serve where a plays throws the ball into play from outside their playing area. The play continues with a catch and a throw back until one team scores a point. Points are awarded for a team, if the opposing team is unable to catch the ball or throw it back inbounds. The team with the most points at the end of the match is the winner.
Newcomb ball is a dying sport with hardly any competitive events conducted. It is primarily used as a recreational activity for less athletic, older and disabled people.
Similar Sports
There are a couple of other sports that are very similar to Newcomb Ball, basically volleyball but the players catch and throw the ball: Catchball and Throwball.
- Catchball — an easier version of volleyball in which players catch and throw the ball rather than hit it.
- Volleyball — a game for two teams of six players, in which a large ball is hit by hand over a high net, the aim being to score points by making the ball reach the ground on the opponent's side of the court.
- Throwball — a sport very similar to Newcomb Ball (a variation of volleyball) that is played in India.
- Hoover Ball — a version of volleyball invented for US President Herbert Hoover, in which a medicine ball is thrown over the net and caught before being thrown back (unusual sport).
- Fistball — an outdoor team sport similar to volleyball but you can hit the ball with your fist.
Related Pages
- Complete list of sports
- The Encyclopedia of Sports
- Sport in the USA
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