Segwaypolo

Segwaypolo is a team sport in which a traveling on a Segway player a ball by Mallet must hit into the goal of the opposing team.

History

The first official Segway Polo match took place in the United States. It was a two-on - two game, which was attended by, among others, the Bay Area Segway Enthusiasts Group ( Bay Area SEG). It all started was the fact that Jonathan van Clute suggested in the mid-term of an American football game of the Minnesota Vikings the Bay Area SEG to organize a polo match against each other. A member of the Bay Area SEG tried the polo games from a Segway for transportation and found that it worked and was fun. After a few months it was on 11 July 2004, a first official game. In the following years the fame of the sport grew. There were based teams in New Zealand, the United Arab Emirates, France, Germany and Switzerland. A first set of rules was created. Under the name " Woz Challenge Cup " 2006 tournaments were first held, since 2008, co-organized by the International Segway Polo Association (ISPA ). Tournament name Woz Challenge Cup is derived from the nickname of the self-playing Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak.

First Segwaypoloverein in Germany, took part in a Segway Cup tournament, were the Funky Move Turtles from Lohmar - Wahlscheid near Cologne.

From 16 to 18 July 2010, the first open Segway Polo Championship was held in Hemer on the grounds of the State Garden Show.

Regulate

The rules are quite close to the Polo. However, the two opposing teams of five players each to play. The speed of the Segway is controlled only by the weight transfer of players on the Segway, the direction of travel - depending on the Segway model - by lateral swinging of the handlebar ( Gen2 ) or by a twist grip on the left side of the handlebar ( Gen1 ).

Equipment

It is played on a Segway in its original condition, the tire pressure must be 0.06 to 0.08 bar above or below the prescribed pressure at the factory. The speed of the electrically-powered vehicle shall not exceed 20 km / h top.

Players must wear a helmet with chin strap.

The dimensions of the stick are a length of not more than 106.68 cm and restricts a stem diameter (shaft) of 2.54 cm. The blow head at the end may not exceed a diameter of 7.62 cm and a length of 22.86 cm. He must not weigh more than 283.50 grams. The clubhead is ( 6 mm thickness ) padded with a closed-cell foam to prevent injury to the players.

The ball has a diameter of 10.16 cm. It consists of compressible foam, so no players injured and are served on the vehicles no damage.

Pitch

The playing field has a size of 61 m × 39 m with lateral boundaries. It is divided into quarters whose imaginary lines are relevant for the initiation and various penalty kicks. Centrally located at the gateway between the end lines. The goalposts are to each other at a distance of 2.44 meters and is 1.5 meters high. The goal posts must be made flexible so that the player can safely run over and then straighten up again quickly without help.

Umbrella organization

The International Segway Polo Association (ISPA ) based in California, is the umbrella organization for the international SegwayPolo sports. Objective of ISPA is to coordinate the sporting activities, to provide a uniform set of rules and helping to build new Segway polo teams. The ISPA chairman Olaf spark that Funky -Move Turtles captain from Germany, takes care of the development of European teams. SegwayPolo Germany promotes eV, established in Lohmar and coordinates the sport in Germany.

Men

Teams at a World Cup ( World Cup ), European Championship ( EM) or the German Championship ( DM) have participated are: