August start for Rocball eyed

Rocball founder Jim Feger is hoping that the 2004 World Organized Rocball Interscholastic and Community League will finally commence next month at the Marianas High School Gymnasium and outdoor courts.

The MHS sports director said prior commitments and the venue’s unavailability has moved the start of Saipan’s indigenous sport from its original February start-off date to August.

“We will probably get started in August. We need to get the community league started and completed before the end of the year,” he said.

Last year, three-time finalist Brothers stunned everyone by shocking top seeds Shag and HardKor en route to claiming their first championship crown.

Feger began organizing and writing about the sport while in Japan in 1979. After two years of experimenting, the sport finally progressed into a tournament in 1983.

He said Rocball is the first game ever to develop and incorporate unrestricted hitting, offensive and defensive scoring, backcourt scoring, multiple point and penalty point scoring, goals and the quarter/set system of play in a team net sport.

In related news, Feger said that Rocball has gained popularity in India and people in the world’s second most populous country are very interested in joining the league.

“Interested people in India are still in contact with me. They want and have received an invitation for the next international games next April or May,” he said.

Feger, however, doesn’t see that happening anytime soon since at a logistical standpoint bringing all those players and people to Saipan and participate in Rocball competition would be very hard.

“They will have to finance any such venture on their own. They should either send a person over here to get a more in-depth understanding of the game or have me flown to India so I can advise them. And, finding sponsors is something they will have to do on their own. At this stage of the proposal, I don’t see much happening. We will wait and see how things develop,” he said.

Last year, the sport also attracted interest from the United States and Europe. Feger said he received inquiries from companies like Eurosport, a popular sports channel, and Crackerjax, an Arizona Sports Theme Park, inquiring about the sport.

All interested teams in joining the 2004 World Organized Rocball Interscholastic and Community League are encouraged to contact Feger at 664-3810 or 288-8722.
August start for Rocball eyed