Ball sport from the UK From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
VX, originally Rock-It-Ball, is a ball sport from the UK. It evolved in North Yorkshire (Great Britain) and was launched in February 2006 at the Youth Sport Trust's Sports Colleges Conference. The sport was continually developed by the International Federation and in 2012 the Federation approved a move by the worldwide membership to rename the sport VX[1] to cater for its international development.
VX has continued to be popular in schools in the UK [2] and is now being adopted by universities,[3] colleges, youth organisations,[4][5][6] Street Games and the military.[7] It is also attracting interest from the Prison Service and Primary Care Trusts. It now has a foothold in 25 countries of which 15 have National Governing Bodies(NGBs).
VX is a gender-neutral sport.[8] Males and females play on a totally equal footing in all disciplines and at all levels. It is also accessible to players of all abilities. It is not an adaptation of any single sport however there are elements of several sports including dodgeball, lacrosse, basque pelota and hockey.
The sport, originally known as Rock-It-Ball, is a ball sport which originated from the British Isles. It evolved in North Yorkshire (Great Britain) and was officially launched at the Youth Sport Trust's Sports Colleges Conference in February 2006.
Rock-It-Ball spread through schools in the UK. It featured on four of the Youth Sport Trust's programmes, began to be played regularly in 17 countries,[9] and saw the establishment of an international federation and eleven national governing bodies[10]
Over time the international administrative body had taken the original game and further developed and extended it, setting up a full sports infrastructure. In 2012, in order to cater for the international growth, the sport was rebranded by the international community to VX. All the clubs and NGBs followed suit and now all leagues, tournaments and international competitions are under the VX banner.
In August 2017 VX gained international recognition as a sport at the General Assembly of the Sport Recognised Association.
VX is played by two teams of five players. The court is roughly the size of a sports hall with four badminton courts. In the US, basketball courts are used. Each player uses a VstiX. This is made up of a control bar and a thrower/catcher at each end. Players are not restricted to a certain area but can go anywhere on court. They must dribble by rock-ing the ball between the two ends, or by using one end of the VstiX to bounce the ball on the floor. Five balls are in play. One point is scored by hitting an opponent with the ball between the shoulders and the feet. Three points are scored by catching an opponent's thrown ball. When a player is hit (s)he must stand still, raise a hand and look to the referee. The referee records the point and tells the player to play on. The referee is assisted by two umpires positioned on the opposite side of the court. The role of the umpires is simply to look for infringements. All infringements incur a three-point penalty. Violence results in ejection from the game and disciplinary action. Examples of infringements are:
A player fails to acknowledge a strike.
Fishing (this refers to picking up a ball while waiting to play on after being hit)
Travelling, i.e. not dribbling. A player can take two steps and then must dribble.
Striking. A player is not allowed to strike either the ball or another player with the VstiX.
Illegal bodily contact - for example deliberately barging into an opponent.
Knocking the ball out of an opponent's VstiX.
Swearing
Formal matches consists of four quarters each of which lasts four minutes.
As part of the development of VX, the International Federation introduced Singles (V2), a 1v1v1 (V3) version and Doubles (V4)
V2 is played by two players on a squash court with three balls. This version is possibly the most intense of the official versions. A game lasts for two halves of four minutes each.[11]
V3 is also a singles version played on a squash court, however it is played by three players using four balls. V3 is played on the basis of ‘every man for himself.’ The winner is the player who concedes the fewest points. A game lasts for two halves of four minutes each.
V4 is also played on a squash court and is played 2v2 with four balls. A game lasts for two halves of four minutes each.[12]
The new versions were created by the International Federation to develop the sport and provide individuals with an opportunity to set up clubs more easily.
Current v2 National Rankings, England (senior)
Joe Willis
Scott Snowdon
Carl Alsop
Tom Hildreth
Matty Horsfield
Tom Burgess
Lena Fowles
Jess Porter
Chris Town
Iona Freeborn
Current v2 National Rankings, England (youth)
Oliver Stocks
Jak Foster
Andrew Davidson
Henry Pittham
Jhapin Shahi
Becca Fram
Cain Branton
Patrick Cavanagh
Trinity Benson
Will Seabourne
Emma Fram
Ellie Bowman
Current v2 National Rankings, England (junior)
Jonathon Ward
Toby Helferrich
Matthew Ayre
Charlie Fram
Ed Pharaoh
Antonia Evans
Ellie Torrens-Burton
Edward Dobbs
Tom Griffiths
Sam Griffiths
Jamie Pritchard
Current v2 National Rankings, England (masters)
Andrew Foster
Leigh Branton
Karen Bruin
Jill Stocks
Karen Evans
Ricky Gibson
Current v2 European Rankings (senior)
Carl Alsop (England)
Joe Willis (England)
Tom Hildreth (England)
Dan Raper (England)
James Foster (England)
Jess Porter (England)
Dan Shuker (England)
Egoitz Campo Gonzalez (Basque Country)
Scott Snowdon (England)
Current v2 European Rankings (youth)
Oliver Stocks (England)
Becca Fram (England)
Andrew Davidson (England)
Cain Branton (England)
Patrick Cavanagh (England)
Current v2 European Rankings (masters)
Leigh Branton (England)
Karen Bruin (England)
Jill Stocks (England)
Widen (Basque Country)
Current v2 World Rankings (senior)
Scott Snowdon (England)
Tom Hildreth (England)
Carl Alsop (England)
Matty Horsfield (England)
Charlie Ford (England)
Joe Willis (England)
Dan Raper (England)
Dan Shuker (England)
Tom Burgess(England)
Jess Porter (England)
Chris Town (England)
Iona Freeborn (Scotland)
Léna Fowles (England)
Frances Tse (Hong Kong)
Lai Ka Wan (Hong Kong)
Laddi Bhardwaj (India)
Lai Ka Wan (Hong Kong)
Harish Kumar (India)
Sharng (India)
Laddi Bhardwaj (India)
Osman Wong (Hong Kong)
Natalie Chan (Hong Kong)
Ching Nam Choy (Hong Kong)
Kagf Lam (Hong Kong)
Rahul (India)
v2 World Rankings (Youth)
Becca Fram (England)
Andrew Davidson (England)
Oliver Stocks (England)
Jak Foster (England)
Cain Branton (England)
Jhapin Shahi (England) and winner of the Cornerstones AWard
Parminder Singh (India)
Ellie Bowman (England)
Henry Pittham (England)
Patrick Cavanagh (England)
Matthew So (Hong Kong)
Emma Fram (England)
Trinity Benson (England)
Tsz Yan Lai (Hong Kong)
Shyamkin (India)
Samant (India)
Leah Drake (England)
Yoyo Chan (Hong Kong)
Sonia Lau (Hong Kong)
Karamjot Singh (India)
v2 World Rankings (Masters)
Leigh Branton (England)
Karen Bruin (England)
Andrew Foster (England)
Jill Stocks (England)
Sewa Singh (India)
Karen Evans (England)
Suman Shankar Tiwari (India)
Ricky Gibson (England)
Gurmukh Singh (India)
The International Federation was established in December 2006 but changed its name to Global VX when the sport was rebranded in 2012. Global VX administers the sport on a global basis, assists with the establishment and running of NGBs [13][14] and organises international competition. Global VX also runs the annual rules committee which takes place every January.
Global VX also has an awards programme. The annual 'Executive' Awards recognise the work of volunteers in the sport. 'The Person of the Year' Award is awarded to an outstanding volunteer who has done exceptional work to promote and develop the sport. The 'Person of the Year' and the Executive Awards are announced annually on Dec 31st
2010: Person of the Year: Conrad Broughton (England) 2011: Person of the Year: Matti Chasan Bergstein (Denmark) 2012: The first Person of the Year since the sport was rebranded: VX Uganda. Unusually, the award did not go to one individual but was presented to VX Uganda as a body to recognise the work and effort that had been made by several people to grow the sport in Africa 2013: Person of the Year: Eric Clark (Ripon Lions) & John Sheepy (Boroughbridge Lions) 2014: Person of the Year: Tony Notarianni (USA) 2015: Person of the Year: Dr Suman Shankar Tiwari (India) 2016: Person of the Year: Matty Horsfield (England) 2017: Person of the Year: Alessandro Foglino (Italy) 2018: Person of the Year: Dr Suman Shankar Tiwari (India) 2019: Person of the Year: Osman Wong (Hong Kong) 2020: Person of the Year: No awards made due to Covid 2021: Person of the Year: Carl Alsop (England) 2022: Person of the Year: Dan Shuker (England)
Any member affiliated to Global VX (e.g. player, coach, administrator) can nominate any other affiliated member who they consider to have made an outstanding contribution to the sport. Any nominee with three nominations passes to the next stage for voting by the committee. The Hall of Fame Awards generally takes place every two years. In 2010 the voting committee felt unable to differentiate between the 3 nominees who reached the voting stage and so, as an exception, voted to induct all three.
In 2008 the founders of the original sport (Paul Hildreth, Tom Hildreth, Craig Buttery) were honoured by inducting them into the newly established Hall of Fame.
2008: Tom Hildreth, Craig Buttery, Paul Hildreth
2010: Carl Alsop, Graeme Wood, Ian Crosby
2015: Helen Mackenzie
The 'Legends' Award and Gallery is reserved for players who have reached an outstanding level of achievement. This award was instigated in 2012 as a direct result of the achievements of Scotland's Scott MacMichael and is not intended to be an annual honour.
2012: Scott MacMichael (Scotland)
2013: Tom Hildreth (England)
2018: Scott Snowdon (England)
2022: Carl Alsop (England)
As the sport has grown its impact has started to be recognised by external bodies:
2009: Global VX (in its previous incarnation) was the only organisation to be nominated in three categories at the Cleveland Fire Service Safer Community Awards
2011: Dan Raper shortlisted in the Ripon Rotary Youth Volunteer Awards
2011: Paul Hildreth runner-up in the Sports Category of the Minster FM Local Hero Awards
2012: Tom Hildreth and Helen Mackenzie Olympic Torchbearers [15][16][17]
2012: Tom Hildreth shortlisted for the Ackrill Media Volunteer Oscars
2013: Easi-RockIts HellCats win Minster FM Team of the Year in the Minster FM Local Hero Awards [18][19]
2013: Tom Hildreth shortlisted for the Ackrill Media Volunteer Oscars
2013: Tom Hildreth runner-up as Player of the Year in the Hambleton District Council Sports Awards [20]
2013: Paul Hildreth runner-up as Coach of the Year in the Hambleton District Council Sports Awards [21]
2013: Easi-RockIts runners-up as Club of the Year in the Hambleton District Council Sports Awards [22]
2014: Jack Brown runner-up as Student Sportsperson of the Year in the Active York Awards
2014: Carl Alsop finalist as Sportsperson of the Year in the York Community Pride Awards
2014: Tom Hildreth finalist as Sportsperson of the Year in the Hambleton District Council Sports Awards
2014: Paul Hildreth finalist as Coach of the Year in the Hambleton District Council Sports Awards
2014: Karen Bruin finalist as Coach of the Year in the Hambleton District Council Sports Awards
2014: Hannah Smith runner-up as Junior Sportswoman of the Year in the Hambleton District Council Sports Awards
2014: Tom Hildreth 'Highly Commended' Award at the Harrogate Volunteering Oscars, Unsung Hero category
2014: Tom Hildreth 'Highly Commended' Award at the Harrogate Volunteering Oscars, Sports Volunteer category
2015: Jack Brown shortlisted as Sportsman of the Year in the Active York Sports Awards
2015: Charlie Ford shortlisted as Student Sportsperson of the Year in the Active York Sports Awards
2015: Jack Brown runner-up as Sportsman of the Year in the York University Student Union Sports Awards
2016: Scott Snowdon shortlisted as Sportsman of the Year in the Active York Sports Awards
2016: Tom Hildreth 'Highly Commended' Award at the Harrogate Volunteering Oscars, Sports Volunteer category
2016: Matty Horsfield finalist as Coach of the Year in the Hambleton District Council Sports Awards
2017: Matty Carr, runner-up in the Sports Officials UK Awards
2017: Hambleton District Council Sports Awards. 5 Finalists - Tom Hildreth as Sportsperson of the Year; Matty Horsfield as Coach of the Year; Karen Bruin as Volunteer of the Year; Matthew Leyshon and Becca Fram as Young Sportsperson of the Year
2018: Hoops Heroes. Paul Hildreth named as the third 'Hoops Hero' by Hoops Connect.[23]
2019: Orfi Heroes. Paul Hildreth named as the first 'Orfi Hero' by Orfi Active.[24]
2021: VX International 'Sports Organisation of the Year' in the Yorkshire Prestige Awards 2021/2022
2022: VX International 'Sports Organisation of the Year' in the Yorkshire Prestige Awards 2022/2023
The role of Official VX Ambassador was originally taken by Olympic Diver Jack Laugher.[25]
The latest Global VX Ambassador is Natalie Chan from Hong Kong.
VX's first patron is trail blade runner Phil Sheridan.
The patron of VX Kenya is Mr Cosmas Nabungolo
The patron of VX Uganda is Mr Isaac Ssekamwa
York VX Club: Teams - Phoenix, Raiders
Easi-Rock-Its VX Club: Teams - Hellcats, HellFighters, HellDivers
2016 European Champions: England. Runners-Up: Italy. Player of the Tournament: Diego Venturini (Italy); Cornerstones Award: Martel Martinez (Basque Country)
2016 V2 European Champion: Tom Hildreth (England). Runner-up: Scott Snowdon: England
2016 UK Club Champions: York Phoenix; Runners-Up: Ripon Vanquish. Player of the Tournament: Charlie Ford (Phoenix); Cornerstones Award: Paul Hildreth (HellFighters)
2017 V2 National Champion (England): Scott Snowdon. Runner-up Tom Hildreth. Cornerstones Award: Carl Alsop
2017 V2 Youth National Champion (England): Matthew Leyshon. Runner-up Jess Porter
2017 V2 Junior National Champion (England): Henry Pittham. Runner-up Oliver Stocks Cornerstones Award: Ewan Gilmore
2017 V2 Masters National Champion (England): Paul Hildreth. Runner-up Leigh Branton
2017 365 Invitational Challenge Cup: Winner Scott Snowdon. Runner-up Tom Hildreth. Cornerstones Award: Tom Hildreth
2017 English Open Knockout: York
2017 National Champions: York Phoenix. Player of the Tournament: Matty Horsfield (Northallerton); Cornerstones Award: Dave Snowdon (Northallerton)
2017 V2 World Champion: Scott Snowdon (England); Runner-up: Tom Hildreth (England)
2017 V2 Youth World Champion: Matthew Leyshon (England); Runner-up: Jess Porter (England) (Jess also winner of the Cornerstones Award)
2017 V2 Masters World Champion: Paul Hildreth (England); Runner-up: Leigh Branton(England)
2017 V2 Craig Buttery Trophy: Neil Young (England); Runner-up: Marco Marinetti (Italy)
2017 V2 Craig Buttery Trophy, Youth: Chris Town (England); Runner-up: Cain Branton (England)
Timothy Malingha, first V2 African Nations Champion who won the inaugural tournament in 2012 and went on to retain his title in 2013Tom Hildreth in action against Scott Snowdon in the 2013 V2 World Cup Final. Tom became the first player to retain the titleV2 Youth World Champion Tom Brown (in red) in action against Liam Leckenby in the 2013 V2 Youth World Cup FinalExternal Awards 2012: VX player Tom Hildreth who was awarded the honour of being an Olympic Torchbearer as a direct result of his achievements in the sport and his community work within the sportExternal Awards 2012: Helen Mackenzie who was awarded the honour of being an Olympic Torchbearer partly for her work in the sport of VXExternal Awards 2013: Easi-RockIts HellCats were awarded Team of the Year by Minster FM in their Local Heroes Awards
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