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Bernie DeKoven's JunkLog A production of JunkyardSports.com
I've been doing a bit of youtube (http://youtube.com) -scouring of late, searching for candidates for the world's first Post-Apocalympics (http://postapocalympics.blogspot.com/). I joke. About the Apocolympics. But not about YouTube, and what you can find there when you look for things like Homemade Games (http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=homemade+games search_type=) and similarly Homemade Sports (homemade sports) as well as Made-Up Sports (http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=made-up+sports search_type= aq=f) and likewise Made-Up Games (http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=made-up+games search_type= aq=f).And in a similar spirit, I invite you to make your own searches, find clips of games and sports that are new, or homemade, or half-baked, or just plan fun. And to share your findings with your very own Junkyard Sports community, here: My discoveries so far:
Racquet Bowling (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OmI1MLQF27Q) is not actually the name of this particular Junkyard Sport. It's called Last Game? (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OmI1MLQF27Q) - a kool game peter made up.
They (you know who) say that kids don't even know how to make up their own games anymore nowadays. You know, what with all that homework and moms on helicopters and sitting at the computer. That's what they say. Here (http://youtube.com/watch?v=CpbuBHrAjrk feature=related), contrary to all that common sense and conscientious concern, more evidence of the persistence of playfulness and the plethora of junk to play with: Waiting for the traffic to clear at MIS after the NASCAR race, we invented a little game to pass the time. You basically kick beer cans on to the other persons side of a line and try to keep them on that side.
Ping Pong Squash and Sky Soccer
People will tell you that the days of game invention, like those described on one of my favorite game sites, Streetplay (http://www.streetplay.com/), are over - that kids are spending all their of their precious childhood online or in Little League, and are bereft of opportunity or motivation. Well, don't waste your time mourning. The Internet virtually abounds with proof that the spirit that led the last generations to the creation of new games and sports and ways to have fun is as alive as you are. Witness Joe and Jord's Ping Pong Squash Game (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F2MKj7calt8), and, in like manner, Sky Soccer. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cVGio4uSde4)
They (you know who) say that kids don't even know how to make up their own games anymore nowadays. You know, what with all that homework and moms on helicopters and sitting at the computer. That's what they say. Here (http://youtube.com/watch?v=CpbuBHrAjrk feature=related), contrary to all that common sense and conscientious concern, more reassuring evidence of the persistence of play and the endless availability of playthings:
Codex of the Lost Ring (http://olympics.wikibruce.com/Codex_of_the_Lost_Ring), we hope to gather insight into the mystery and vasty significance of the The Lost Sport of Olympia (http://www.thelostgames.com/1/podcast.do). We seek further guidance from Ariadne (http://www.findthelostring.com/ariadne/detail.do?postId=1648), who says of herself: I woke up in a Labyrinth of Feb. 12. They call me Ariadne. Ariadne, should you consult the Wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ariadne%27s_thread_%28logic%29) deeply enough, also refers to: Ariadne's thread, named for the legend of Ariadne, is the term used to describe the solving of a problem with multiple apparent means of proceeding - such as a physical maze, a logic puzzle, or an ethical dilemma - through an exhaustive application of logic to all available routes. Ah. Ariadne's thread.The mystery deepens and at the same time widens. What actually is the Lost Sport? Where is Olympia? Who lost it in the first place?
Swing-Ball, a game played with a soccer ball, and, well, swings, thusly: ...the Red Team in the field (players 1 and 2) and the Blue Team on the swings (players 3 and 4). The game is divided into two halves, with each team spending one half on the field and one half on the swings. The two players on the swings have the option of choosing which direction to face and whether to swing in tandem or in opposing directions...The goal of the Red team is to pass the ball between the two poles of swingsets without the Blue team making contact with the ball. Each time this occurs, the Red team earns one point. Each Red player is allowed just two touches of the ball before their teammate must touch, or the ball is given to the Blue team. The Blue team, meanwhile, will attempt to block and gain control of player 1's attempted pass. They have an unlimited number of touches and may tap the ball to each other to set up a preferable kick.
Policy (http://www.powerizerz.com/policy.html) statement, you can not help note how they note: PoweriSers are safe to use, however we must state that www.powerizerz.com, its affiliates, owner / owners, supplier, or any other organization associated with it will not be held liable for any loss, injury, or death resulting from the use or misuse of PoweriSer / PoweriSers. You are advised to wear protective gear when you use your PoweriSers and you should also be in good health to use them. Use caution and rational judgement when operating the PoweriSers. PoweriSers are not suitable for small children nor are they recommended for children under age 10. Always supervise your children when they use their PoweriSer/PoweriSers.
Digiwall ...looks like a traditional climbing-wall but it’s actually a computer game you climb upon. Every climbing-hold is equipped with a sensor that registers hands and feet. In that way DigiWall can keep track on where on the wall the climber or climbers are. This opens up for a large number of games, exercises and competitions of various kinds. DigiWall is also a musical instrument.
Shootball ...is a new sport in ubiquitous computing. This game is playing with tangible ball that can control movies displayed in surrounding screens. This game is team sport played between two teams of 3 players each. The object of the game is to score by displaying movies of own team by throwing the ball at surrounding screens. The confluence of sports and computing has evolutionary potential for both spheres of human activity, for engaging mind and body, for bridging social and geographical boundaries. It is something to watch. Something to encourage. Something to celebrate.
Junkyard Sports in the Funny Paper
Getting the idea of Junkyard Sports to the masses, especially to the family masses, seems to be proceeding apace - a very slow pace, but proceeding nevertheless. The first big break was the article in Famly Fun Magazine (http://familyfun.go.com/games/healthy-fun/feature/ff0707-create-your-own-games/). The next, and most recent, is in a publication called Kid Scoop (http://www.kidscoop.com/).
Rock-it-Ball is played with something like a soft tennis ball and plastic sticks with scoops on each end. It's a combination of something like wall ball and, well, dodge ball. Here's the brief: Rock-It-Ball is a very versatile sport which can be played in a number of different ways. Each different game can be adjusted to take into account the skill level of the players. Getting started is easy – place a tennis ball in either scoop. Throw the ball against a wall, allow it to bounce once and catch it in either scoop. Next, try catching the ball as it comes off the wall and before it bounces. Do it again, but now try using an over-arm shot, gently at first and then gradually increasing the power of your shots until you are confident with your throw and catch technique.
Aesthletics (http://art.rutgers.edu/%7Erussotti/aesthletics/Aesthletics.html) with an brief critique of one of their sport-arts, StraightJacket Baseball. In the words of Warren Fry, of the Brooklyn Rail (http://brooklynrail.org/2007/10/artseen/tom) In this softball variant invented by Tom Russotti, founder of Aesthletics, the bases are actually members of the fielding team in arm restrictive garments. The player has a ten-yard circle within which to dodge opposing players trying to make it on base. Other than this, normal softball rules applied. It was decided, after a mid-game argument, that infielders couldn’t block runners as they tried to catch the base. Bases were allowed, however, to wear out opposing players by running in circles. Improvised strategies and sudden rule changes are part of the Aesthletic treatment of the sporting act—which stresses socio-creative dynamics over competitiveness and athletic virtuosity. Though we may not have heard of Aaesthletics, StraitJacket Softball, and Bosch on Ice, we are more than passing familiar with that other example of Aesthletic socio-creativity, by that, I mean, of course, no less than the now classic sport of Whiffle Hurling (http://www.deepfun.com/2007/07/whiffle-hurling.html).
Mystic Ball (http://www.mysticball-themovie.com/) (increasingly amazing just in the memory of what you've witnessed: the love, the play, the skill), when you get a glimpse of a few girls playing rope. Take a look. Click on the image if you want to see it bigger.Looks like they're playing Double Dutch (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Double_Dutch_%28jump_rope%29). Except the girl in the middle's balancing a ball on one foot. Balancing a ball one one foot and jumping two ropes at the same time!
It's called Leet (http://playleet.com/index). So, play the video (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VHTgTwclL-g eurl=http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=3510012) already. See those funny sticks - hollow, with a kind of scoopy end. They're pretty much key to the game. The sticks, and an understanding of Ultimate Frisbee, (http://www.upa.org/) or maybe Jai Alai (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jai_alai), even, a little.
Iditarod (http://www.iditarod.com/) is the famous long-distance race in which yelping dogs tow a sled across Alaska. Our Chiditarod (http://www.chiditarod.org/) is pretty much the same thing, except that instead of dogs, it's people, instead of sleds, it's shopping carts, and instead of Alaska, it's Chicago.
first wrote (http://www.deepfun.com/2008/02/chinlone-and-nine-other-ways-to-play.html) about the Myanmar game of Chinlone, I really only had minor intimations of how important that game was to become to me. It wasn't until I watched Greg Hamilton's movie, Mystic Ball (hhttp://www.mysticball-themovie.com/index.html), that I understood not only his profound passion for Chinlone, but my passion for The Well-Played Game.When I wrote The Well-Played Game (http://www.deepfun.com/WPG.htm), I described a pivotal experience I had, during a game of Ping Pong (http://www.deepfun.com/ping-pong.html). Later, I found a wonderful story by Bill Russell (http://www.deepfun.com/russell.html), in which he describes an experience of genuine transcendence, similar to mine, but in the highly competitive game of professional basketball. But in all these years of teaching, Mystic Ball, the movie, was the first time I've found the Well-Played game expressed so purely, understood so deeply, documented so thoroughly - in a game totally devoted to sharing that particular experience.
You ever hear of Bucket Ball (http://strange-games.blogspot.com/2008/02/bucket-ball.html)? At the start of the game each player stands facing the other a few yards apart. Both have placed their feet into plastic buckets, one on each foot. For children playing the game a standard bucket is usually perfect – for adult players you may need to search a garden centre for larger specimens. Players hold in their hands an equal number of small balls. The aim of the game is to throw and get as many balls as possible into either of your opponents buckets whilst avoiding too many in your own. via Strange Games (http://strange-games.blogspot.com/2008/02/bucket-ball.html)
As inventor of the [Junkyard Sports TableTop Olympics] and in my capacity as Bernie DeKoven, Junkmaster, (index.php?option=com_contact Itemid=71) I hereby award the creators of Tabletop Sailbording permanent position in the Junkyard Sports Hall of Games (index.php?option=com_content task=blogsection id=4 Itemid=55) . It was at the CPRS 2008, Long Beach conference (http://www.cprs.org/conference-education.htm) . And I was facilitating a bit of Tabletop Olympics amongst 5 tables of people who run parks and games all throughout California. Many most-remarkableTabletop Olympics moments were shared. Many, many events of noteworthy notability and truly silly competitiveness. But there was this one table (I'd really like to learn your names if you were a tablemate) that happened to have, amongst its various shared personal treasures, some significant conference swag. Namely: a couple of battery-operated hand-held fans, and some Lego pieces, and a finger skateboard. And they put their stuff together to create Tabletop Sailboard, I guess it's what you'd call something made out of the fingerboard, a couple of Lego pieces, a toothpick and a scrap of paper. And their Olympic Event was a hand-held-fan-powered Tabletop Sailboard event that proved to be at least as funny as it was demanding of Olympic-like concentration and skill.
The Vienna Vegetable Orchestra
Watch (http://music.guardian.co.uk/video/2007/nov/28/vegetable.orchestra). Questions (http://www.gemueseorchester.org/index.php?option=com_content task=view id=11 Itemid=29)?via Robin and Michael
Everything I Learned About Life, I Learned on the Playground
Junkyard Sportster Rod Jurado (index.php?option=com_comprofiler task=userProfile user=727) has contributed a new article to the Forum. It's called: Everything I Learned About Life, I Learned on the Playground (index.php?option=com_fireboard Itemid=50 func=view id=78 catid=8) It's a worthwhile read. Hopefully, one you'll find worthwhile enough to think about, maybe even respond to. I'm the Junkmaster, and I approve this message.
Milk Carton Hockey is not an Olympic sport (not yet anyway) there is no National League governing its play nor do its’ stars adorns the cover of Sports Illustrated or the front of a Wheaties box. But, Milk Carton Hockey is an amazing game that can be played by kids of all ages and most importantly MCH can be played by kids of different ages. The rules are simple, the same as ice or field hockey. Put the puck in the opponents’ goal. In MCH the puck is an empty (and cleaned) plastic milk carton. The goals are spaced apart to fit the appropriate ages, wider goals for older kids and smaller goals for the younger players. The “Rink” can be anywhere, a driveway the backyard or local park. Its numbers can range from two to ten and all the “league commissioner” needs in the way of equipment is the aforementioned plastic milk carton and a stick or broom for each player.
Neatorama (http://www.neatorama.com/2008/02/01/10-strange-versions-of-soccer/) points us to this article (http://haha.nu/amazing/10-strange-football-mods/) describing 10 Strange Football Mods. So I clicked. And I read. OK, so it's not about what I, American that I am, think of as football. It's about what the world thinks of as soccer. But that's neither here nor there. Or both. And, speaking of soccer, it does in fact point us two 10 different, highly soccer-like, but arguably non-soccer games, which is something in which I, as your local Junkmaster (http://junkyardsports.com/index.php?option=com_contact Itemid=71), seeker of the sport-variant, have significant and public interest.What I wasn't prepared for, however, was the very first soccer-like game I read about - a game called Chinlone (http://www.mysticball-themovie.com/aboutthefilm.html) or Mystic Ball (http://www.chinlone.com/) - a soccer variant that is so beautiful and so beyond soccer that it is the subject of a most lovely-looking movie (http://www.mysticball-themovie.com/aboutthefilm.html). Chinlone, the movie site explains, is a combination of sport and dance, a team sport with no opposing team. In essence chinlone is non-competitive, yet it’s as demanding as the most competitive ball games. The focus is not on winning or losing, but how beautifully one plays the game. A team of six players pass the ball back and forth with their feet and knees as they walk around a circle. One player goes into the center to solo, creating a dance of various moves strung together. The soloist is supported by the other players who try to pass the ball back with one kick. When the ball drops to the ground it’s dead, and the play starts again.
Helping Children Respond Creatively to the Needs and Rights of the Disabled
Making playground building and design a collaborative activity, one that includes children with different abilities, makes a playground that celebrates community and humanity.
Wikipedian (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fairy_chess), is a term in a chess problem (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chess_problem) which expands classical (also called orthodox) chess problems which are not direct mates (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Direct_mate). The term was introduced before the First World War. While selfmate dates from the Middle Age, helpmate was invented by Max Lange in the late 19th century. Thomas Dawson (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Rayner_Dawson) (1889-1951), pioneer of fairy chess, invented many fairy pieces and new conditions. He was also problem editor of The Fairy Chess Review (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Fairy_Chess_Review) (1930-1951). On the other hand, comments the Funsmith, Fairy Chess is an invitation to a cornucopious collection of what can only be called Variant Chess Games (http://homepage.ntlworld.com/gpjnow/VC-GG.htm), or, shall we say, more ways to play chess than you could shake a pawn at. Fairy Chess, continues the Funsmith, eyes akimbo with conceptual glee, is, in fact, the chessular embodiment of Junkyard Sports, New Games and every one of those nobly playful efforts to return the power of play to the hands, hearts and minds of the players. See also, the Piececlopedia (http://www.chessvariants.org/index/mainquery.php?type=Piececlopedia orderby=LinkText displayauthor=1 displayinventor=1 usethisheading=Piececlopedia)
The JunkLog is a production of JunkyardSports.com. Copyright ©2004 Bernie DeKoven. |
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