Teqball

Teqball is a ball sport that is played over a curved table combining elements of soccer and table tennis. Back and forth, the players hit a soccer ball with any part of the body except arms and hands. Teqball can be played between two players as a singles game, or between three or four players as a doubles game. The game is represented at an international level by the International Teqball Federation (FITEQ). A number of world-class footballers have been attracted by the game, and after being included at the African Beach Games, the sport is now aiming for Olympic inclusion.[1][2][3]

Teqball
Teqball tables (further back) alongside table tennis tables in Maklár, Hungary
Highest governing bodyFITEQ
First played2014
Characteristics
ContactNo
Team membersSingles/doubles
TypeInside/outside
EquipmentSoccer ball, teqball table
Presence
Olympicno

History

Teqball was invented in 2014 in Hungary by two football enthusiasts, Gábor Borsányi, a former professional player and Viktor Huszár, a computer scientist.[4][5]

Teqball table

The curved teqball table is unique to teqball. It measures 3 m in length and is 1.7 m wide with the highest point at 0.76 m in the middle of the playing surface where the net is installed separating the surface into two parts. The two outer edges of the width are 0.565 m above the ground.[6]

Rules

The teqball table is in the center of the playing field. While teqball can be played with any soccer ball, size 5 is the official ball. The ball has to be kept off the ground after only one bounce on the table. Two attempts are allowed for service and service changes every four points. Up to three touches are allowed for a ball return whereby no body part can be used twice in a row and touching by arms and hands is disallowed. A match is won by the best-of-three sets, a set going to 20 points. Touching the table or the opponent is not allowed. If the ball touches the edge of the table (edgeball), no point is given and a new rally starts.[7]

Competitions

Teqball World Cup

The Teqball World Cup is an annual competition organised by FITEQ.

The World Cup has both Singles and Doubles competitions with men and women participating together. The first Teqball World Cup was held in Budapest, Hungary in 2017 with more than 20 participating nations. The 2018 version of the event was held on October 12-13 in Reims, France with a total of 90 players participating.[8]

The 2019 Teqball World Championships played from 6 to 8 December in Budapest.[9] Around 158 athletes representing 57 countries competed across singles, doubles and mixed doubles events.[10]

African Beach Games

Teqball was included in the first African Beach Games in Sal, Cape Verde on 14-23 July 2019.[11] Cameroon won the title by beating Nigeria in the final.[12]

References
  1. Aloia, Andrew (9 October 2018). "Fiteq World Cup: England call up football freestyler who did not know teqball existed". BBC Sport. Retrieved 13 October 2018.
  2. "WATCH: Neymar and fellow Brazil stars play Teqball". Sky Sports. 8 October 2017. Retrieved 13 October 2018.
  3. "Teqball". Teqball. Retrieved 13 October 2018.
  4. Stuhl, Angelise Stuhl (25 May 2015). "Teqball Is A New Tabletop Sport That Allows Soccer Players To Perfect Their Skills". SportTechie. Retrieved 13 October 2018.
  5. "Teqball: The Hungarian, Football-Ping Pong Hybrid Sweeping the World Cup". Hungary Today. 15 June 2018. Retrieved 13 October 2018.
  6. "Teqball Table | Signs and Features | Free Sport Parks Map". Free Sport Parks. Retrieved 2020-03-11.
  7. Upsolution. "FITEQ - Coming soon!". FITEQ - Fédération Internationale de Teqball. Retrieved 2020-03-11.
  8. "Fédération Internationale de Teqball - Teqball World Cup 2018 - Events". fiteq.tournamentsoftware.com. Retrieved 2018-10-31.
  9. Upsolution. "FITEQ - Coming soon!". FITEQ - Fédération Internationale de Teqball. Retrieved 2020-03-11.
  10. "Ronaldinho set to star at third edition of Teqball World Championships". www.insidethegames.biz. December 5, 2019. Retrieved 2020-03-11.
  11. "Teqball joins 2019 SAL African Beach Games". Teqball.com. Retrieved 2019-08-27.
  12. "Cameroon win first ever African Beach Teqball Cup title". macesport.com. Retrieved 2019-08-27.
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