BOATBALL WEST FORK 6:00pm 7/20/2010

[Victor Caballeros]

I'm in for some boatball tomorrow. Justin you have the gear are you coming? and who else is in??

Jeff SORRY ABOUT YOUR ARM!

[DMG]

I think I'm going to give boatball a break for a while. Y'all have fun!

~Dave

[Schildwache]

I'll be there.

[jermdog]

Me and a few others are in. Don't be scared Dave. Plus it's my last boatball for at least 2 years. Not out of fear, mind you, I just will be living 16 hours away and that even beats Victor (so many of us have beaten him though).

[Sir Kayakalot]

Where you moving to jermdog?

Tommy

[justin.payne]

I guess i'll be there since Jeremy is leavin us

[TonyC]

May be there. Trying to find a roommate, and need one fast. If no leads, I'll be there. Or, if any paddlers are needing a convenient place to live right down the hill from UofA campus, gimme a yell and lets talk at boatball!

-Tony

[DMG]

That's not the reason, Jeremy. I'm just not into formalized atheletics, which is what boatball seems to have become. Perhaps I'm overreacting. Anyway, If I don't make it down there to shake your hand, I wish you and your family all the best out west.

~Dave

[unicorn]

Formalized athletics? Now, granted it's been a couple of weeks since I've been to boatball - but I don't remember anything too formal about it. Hell - I don't even know the rules.

[Victor Caballeros]

DAVE? We just haven't got our BEER, or DO the DEW sponsorship yet! Maybe next week you'll come.

[wiredforsound]

That's not the reason, Jeremy. I'm just not into formalized atheletics, which is what boatball seems to have become. Perhaps I'm overreacting. Anyway, If I don't make it down there to shake your hand, I wish you and your family all the best out west.

~Dave

Dave - Not sure I follow your thinking here. Below is an excerpt of the rules for boatball, which don't seem too formalized to me. The only rule we've been trying to do a better job of is less boat grabbing, of which I have been one of the worst offenders, well except for Victor My personal feeling is less boat grabbing will make us better paddlers. The goals of boatball are fun, improved paddling technique, & exercise.

THE RULES: Remember, we are dealing with kayakers-there are not many.

1. THE MAIN RULE: No paddling with the ball. Once in possession of the ball, a player can only pass or "dribble." A dribble is simply throwing the ball ahead on the water and paddling to it.

2. No "mauling." Mauling is interpreted by the nature of your particular group. This would be analogous to "personal fouls." Common sense and good sportsmanship are the keys here. Boat collisions are inevitable and blocking a boat with a boat is okay. Paddle blocking a pass or a reception is okay. However, players should avoid amidships collisions, which could result in spearing. Blocking should be done on the ball, not on hands.

3. No "grabbing". Pushing off another boat or paddle with the hands is okay...just do not "grab" skirts, loops, paddles etc. This would be analogous to "holding" in football.

4. No paddle throwing.

That's all the rules. The rest is simply common sense. In deference to my son, the kayak instructor and law student, all players must wear a PFD and helmet....duh! Players should know and consider the paddling skill levels of others. Excellent paddlers are more aggressive with other expert paddlers and lay off beginners. If another capsizes a player, good sportsmanship would dictate helping him up and giving him the ball. There are no referees, and violators of the rules are subject to the "shame" and ridicule of everyone. Repeat offenders of the rules and poor sports should be taken into the parking lot and beaten senseless.

Here is link to more info. on the game if anyone is interested.

http://www.arkansascanoeclub.com/Defaul ... eId=655904" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

My shoulder is better. Still sore. Go to Doc today to find out when I can be back in play.

[wiredforsound]

Good news from the doctor today. Prognosis was a shoulder strain/sprang (ie, torqued the biceps tendon at the shoulder a little too hard).

With a couple of weeks physical therapy he said I should be able to get back in the game by mid August.

Have fun tonight!

Jeremy, we'll miss you!

Watch those shoulders if you attempt a boat rescue.

[DMG]

Good news about your shoulder, Jeff! And I've had a word with myself and decided that I was the one being childish, if anyone. I'm the guy who has hit thousands of baseballs and played hundreds of hours of catch but has never set foot on a baseball diamond because, while batting, throwing, and catching all strike me as fun and useful skills which build strength and coordination, the idea of combining them into an actual game seems to me so absurd that even today a cannot fathom why anyone would ever want to play it. I guess the reason I've liked boatball so much is that it's underlying skills, the rolling and the various paddle strokes which it takes, are intrinsically more fun to me than throwing, catching, or batting a baseball, so much so that the game aspect of boatball doesn't bother me that much. So I guess if everyone else enjoys the structure of naming teams, having goal lines, and competing with the intention of scoring while preventing the other team from scoring rather than just paddling around randomly in a big gaggle throwing the ball and thrashing each other, I'm cool with it! Maybe I'll even grow as a person by learning a little sportsmanship. It's about time! So please disregard my original tantrum; I don't know what I was thinking.

I couldn't have made it tonight anyway, but I hope y'all had fun!

~Dave

[Schildwache]

I never know what the score is, or if there is one. Hell, half the time I'm not sure who's on my team. Each possession is unique unto itself, offense or defense.

[Kurt]

Who's been keeping score? Knock it off or provide beverages for the rest of the players.
Jeremy, Good luck on the journey. Hopefully I'll see you on the river somewhere.
Jeff, Good news on the injury. I'm still months away with mine.
I miss boatball.
Kurt