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Medal winners of the last tournament which was held 17-18 June 2007
Rules of the Game & Main features
Below is given a brief description taken from the patent application which was filed on 2 May 1985 (GB 2174307B) in the UK:
This invention relates to an apparatus which is used in playing a new sport.
We all know that the best way to keep fit is by playing an individual or a collective sport. In any sport, one needs to acquire a more or less expensive equipment and have enough passion and determination to carry on practicing. However, many people give up playing in the very beginning for a variety of reasons, namely, the sport is too hard to play, expensive, boring or simply not suitable.
Palm ball can be played by one or more players in a simple area like a room. The equipment used is: one target-board fixed on a wall, an electronic counter linked to the target-board, and a ball.
There are numerous features which characterize palmball:
1 There is no special additional equipment needed by the players apart from a ball. The target-board and the counter can be shared by any number of players.
2 Players can evaluate their performances accurately from the counter.
3 Accuracy of scoring enables undisputed records to be established.
4 Palmball can be played by all age groups and it would help improving performances in other sports.
5 Safe, exciting and symmetrical sport.
The play starts by serving as in ping-pong using either the right or left-hand palm. When the ball rebounds from the target it should be returned with the other palm, and the play continuous by hitting the ball alternately with both palms. The aim of the game is to strike the ball against the board and score as many points as possible within an agreed period set by the electronic counter. The counter is incremented by a certain number each time the ball hits the target.
The board is fixed on a wall approximately at average chest height from the floor, and the counter is put in a safe and clearly seen place by both players and spectators.
It took about seven years from 1983 to 1989 to optimize the design of the apparatus used in playing palmball.
1986. The first official practicing sessions were held at Nottingham University Sports' Centre:
The same year a video explaining the components of the apparatus and the rules of the game was made by a company called Insight Productions which was owned by both my supervisor Dr M.D.Waller from Mining Department and a PhD student, J. Carter.
1989. The last prototype was made. The counter was designed on the assumption that the scoring should be made very simple: if the player hits the target it scores one point, if the ball falls outside the target area the score is zero.
1989. Participated with Palmball in a small-business exhibition, which was held at Basingstoke, England.
1990. The project of Palmball put on ice for the first time.
1994. The first official tournament was held at Jijel University, Algeria. An important rule was added: Players must stand at a fixed distance from the wall. The first world records were established for the distance of 1.5 metre from the wall, and for a period of 5 minutes. First world champions:
Women: S. Amora, scored 342 points
Men: A. Taibouk, scored 271 points
1995. The project of Palmball put on ice for the second time.
2006. Design of few target-boards and getting in touch with some electronic companies from the far east.
Exhibition of the game to students at Jijel University, Algeria.
2007. The breakthrough happened with the design of a computer interface for Palmball. It does all the work of scoring, with visual and sound effects, and just the target remains the same.
There is no doubt that Palmball has got a tremendous appeal for both men and women.
This has been proven at all levels and in two different countries so far: England and Algeria.
Demonstrations are planned all over the world!
Official launch in Algeria
The game of Palmball has been officially launched in Algeria (Jijel university) on 21 May 2007.
More information:
E-mail: bouhadjera@mail.univ-jijel.dz