Spikeball, a new sport, is being played in the Saddleback quad
Buddy Hammon,Bryce Clifford, Austin Fraker and David Quick playing a game of spikeball (Shirley Smith)
Collage guys reaching out to high school kids after school
Buddy Hammon, Bryce Clifford, Austin Fraker, David Quick and Austin Sodaro are regular college guys but you can catch these guys on quad turf every Wednesday from noon to 2 p.m. playing their favorite pastime sport called Spikeball.
“Spikeball is like volleyball. You spike the ball like you spike a volleyball, and has been around since 1989,” said Hammon. “The name of our division is West Coast Spikeball.”
The game is played with a palm size ball and bounced on a small trampoline net that resembles a Hula Hoop on very short legs. Two teams of two players spike the ball off the net to their teammates in three hits. If they miss, the other team scores. Rim balls are the same as miss. The first team to get 21 points wins.
It is a polite game, if there is any question about the point, they just do it over. The only debate is in the serving style, some people like to serve hard, some like to serve soft.
The game is generally played at the beach, but if the weather’s not great they come out on the grass.
“West Coast Spikeball just sponsored a tournament in Manhattan Beach. We had over 20 teams. We had teams travel down from Seattle, Chico, New York, Arizona. We had teams from all over.” Hammon said.
The team plays in tournaments all over. San Francisco, Chicago and New York,
Hammon and friends are doing a big charity tournament held in Pismo Beach for Lifewater International; a non-profit development organization that believes all people should have safe water for life.
“Newcomers are welcome and women do very well. The trampoline folds up and fits in a backpack,” said Hammon. “My girlfriend, Karissa Hartman, attends Azusa Pacific University also plays in tournaments. She made it to the semi-finals at the Manhattan Beach tournament playing with Austin Fraker.”
West Coast Spikeball teams have gotten some of the colleges interested in the game and have sold sets to various gyms and coaches.
Spikeball philosophy. 50% physical, 40% mental, and 10% philosophical, according to facebook.com/spikeball.
“We go to college at Saddleback, but we hit other colleges two or three times a week to promote the game. Fullerton, San Marcus, San Diego,” said Hammon.
“We are reaching out to high schools this semester to the kids after school. We send out representative to every high school in our local area,” said Hammon. “We got over 100 likes yesterday from just the high schools.”
West Coast Spikeball facebook relates an invite for Saddleback Valley and Capistrano Valley District HIGH SCHOOL players! Message this page with a tagline of what school you attend.
Spikeball is a high energy game, but one that anyone can play.
For information about the game, tournaments, videos and equipment visit:
Facebook.com/westcoastspikeball or visit spikeball.com for t-shirts, hats and other clothing. Ten percent off code: dive 35