INVENTING a new sport is not enough – now it’s time to take it to the world.
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Lifeball, a team ball game created by Jindera’s Colleen Wilson-Lord, continues to be played each week by Albury Falcons Lifeball Club.
The club hosted a fun and friendship carnival at Albury's Lauren Jackson Sports Centre on Wednesday, attracting players from Rutherglen, Myrtleford, Wangaratta, Benalla and Deniliquin. In July a group of members demonstrated the walking pace sport to an international audience at the World Congress on Active Ageing in Melbourne.
Mrs Wilson-Lord’s husband Brian Lord, who led the presentation, said it had been a success.
“It was wonderful and all of the delegates from all over the world joined in playing the game,” he said.
Dr Lord said his wife aimed to remove the dangerous elements found in other sports such as netball, basketball and football.
“The intention was to make a safe game, so there’s no running, no jumping, no throwing the ball too high, no bounce passes,” he said.
“She also wanted to make it an inclusive game so that everybody in each of the three zones must touch the ball before it goes to the next zone.
“It took a while to develop with a lot of people contributing ideas.”
Albury Falcons president Brian Rowe said Wednesday’s carnival mixed players up from the various clubs.
“People are playing alongside one another and they’ve never met, it’s really social,” he said.
“You play to your own abilities; while there’s set rules and things, we’re flexible.”
Albury Falcons began playing 12 years ago, one of more than 70 lifeball clubs in NSW, Victoria, South Australia, Western Australia, Tasmania and Queensland.
The sport has no age limits but it appeals to older players. Dr Lord said children were often surprised when their grandparents proved better at the game.
Mr Rowe, a former cricket umpire, encouraged more men to become involved.
“It’s enjoyable, gets you out of the house,” he said.
“Oh yeah, the women are very competitive.”