Headis

Headis is a mix of table tennis and the heading of association football. It is played at a regular table tennis table so it combines tactical elements of table tennis and the legwork of tennis. In summer 2016 the 11th Headis World Championship was held with players from twelve countries.[1][2]

Two Headis players at a final of a tournament in Göttingen, Germany

History

The sport Headis (head + the ending of tennis) was invented in 2006 by the at that time sport student René Wegner. A football pitch in Kaiserslautern, Germany was occupied but the table tennis table was available so they started playing a rubber ball only with their heads. [3][4] By 2016 there were international tournaments, World and European Championships[5][6] and an estimated number of players of 80,000.[7] Starting at Universität des Saarlandes the sport spread all over Germany. Several TV appearances and viral videos online increased the popularity within the last years.[8][9]

Initial spreading

Headis started spreading throughout german students. The Universität des Saarlandes was the first institution with regular Headis training. More and more universities added Headis to their schedule.[10][11] Besides universities there are also other possibilities to play Headis. The 1. FC Kaiserslautern[12] and the SV Darmstadt 98.[13] offer regular training.

Beginning of the tournament series

In 2008 the first Headis World Cup Tournaments were hosted.[14] In 2016 there were eleven World Cup Tournaments with more than 1,000 competitors.[15] Every year there are ten to twelve tournaments[16] that are the base for the Headis World Championship.[17]

Rules and gameplay

Two players play at a regular table tennis table and the ball must only make contact with the head. The table, however, can be touched by any part of your body. Playing a volley is allowed as well. After every ball played you have to touch the ground before heading the next ball.

Sets are played to eleven (11) points, with the exception that players must win by two (2) points. Games are decided by best of three (3) sets.[18]

Equipment
  • Table tennis table: Headis is played at a regular table tennis table. The measurements are the same. As the Headis ball is heavier than a table tennis ball the net is made of metal so it is more stable.
  • Headis ball: Headis is played with a special ball. It consists of rubber, weighs about 100 grams (3.5 oz) and has a circumference of 50 centimetres (20 in).[19]

Tournament Series

Setup of the Tournament Series

Every year there are ten to twelve Headis World Cup Tournaments held.[20] The results of these tournaments make the Headis World Ranking.[21]

Player names

The players don’t use their regular names at the tournaments. They choose names like "Headi Potter" or "Rolli der Schlächter".[22]

World ranking

The Headis World Ranking is compiled by the results of the Headis World Cup Tournaments. The players receive World Ranking points according to their ranking at the tournaments. The bigger the tournament, the more points the players get. The currently last 15 tournaments build the Ranking.[23] As of May 2017, the two top players in the World are Cornelius "Headsinfarkt" Döll (1624 points) and Margarita "Klausi" Marmol Fernandez (890 points).[24]

Most important tournaments

World Championship

The annual Headis World Championship is the most important tournament all year. It is the only tournament with unlimited players and it affects the World Ranking more than every other tournament.[25][26] At the World Championship 2016 there were players from 12 nations.[27]

Year World Champion (Men) World Champion (Women)
2006[28] Ronnie aus dem Osten -
2007[29] Fefe the Gripper das pulsierend pokernde Party Pony
2008[30] Marvelous 96 Shorey
2009[31] Marvelous 96 Hoshi
2010[32] Lord Voldehead Hoshi
2011[33] Marvelous 96 Hoshi
2012[34] Heineken Hoshi
2013[35] Headsinfarkt Headi Bobics junger Tatapan
2014[36] Heineken Red Hot Chili Headers Missing Pepper
2015[37] Headsinfarkt Red Hot Chili Headers Missing Pepper
2016[38] Headsinfarkt Klausi
2017[39] Sebastian Headdel Klausi
2018[40] Headsinfarkt Jana Kournikova

European Championship

Since 2015 a European Championship (EC) is hosted. The EC is the only tournament where men and women play the same competition. In 2015 four countries competed: Germany, Czech Republic, Switzerland and Belgium. In 2016 the Dominican Republic joined the tournament as well. The EC doesn’t affect the World Ranking.[41]

Year European Champion
2015[42] Sniper Schorsch
2016[43] Headsinfarkt
2017[44] Headsinfarkt

Headis Masters

Since 2011 the annual Headis Masters is hosted. The 18 best men and the eight best women of the last calendar year qualify for it. The starting field is completed by two wildcards each.[45]

Year Masters Winner(Men) Masters Winner(Women)
2011 Heineken[46] -
2012 Promilla[47] -
2013 Headbrötchen mit Zwiebeln[48] Hoshi[49]
2014[50] Lauchgesicht Red Hot Chili Headers missing Pepper
2015[51] Sniper Schorsch Headi Bobics junger Tatapan
2016[52] Headsinfarkt Headi Bobics junger Tatapan
2017[53] Headsinfarkt Klausi
2018[54] Pressure Pete Red Hot Chili Headers missing Pepper

Spread

Currently 18 German universities offer regular Headis courses.[55] 2010 and 2011 in Kaiserslautern there was the adh-Trophy Headis, which is the German University Headis Championship.[56][57]

Headis is also part of sports club. Among other the 1. FC Kaiserslautern and the SV Darmstadt 98 have regular Headis courses.[58]

The sport is popular in other countries than Germany as well. There are official partners in Switzerland, Belgium, the Netherlands, Czech Republic, the Dominican Republic, China, Australia and Japan.[59][60][61]

References
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