Pattball: where there’s a wall there’s a way!

Old school street game bounces into London

Emdad Rahman

The only time many young people get to be active and play sport is at school break-times – and, as we all know, inactivity can lead to obesity, with its related health risks. Unfortunately, break-times are short, and often take place in limited space – so, also because they need expensive equipment, sports like tennis, golf and cricket are not usually played. Contact sports are restricted or banned in some schools as children can get hurt.

Moynul Ahmed from the Pattball Foundation has come up with a solution. He is developing a popular game which is already being played in schools and wider communities. That game is Pattball – a non-contact, hand-eye co-ordination ball game. Players hit or pat the ball (usually a tennis ball) against a wall via a bounce, and a rally commences between players. The game has been around for decades, being played unofficially – but now pattball.com is working to change this. Pattball will be having a public launch on Saturday, 13th June, frin 2-5pm at Nisbet House Estate, Homerton, E9 6AJ. Everyone is invited to attend, meet the team, take pictures, ask questions and participate in a game.

Moynul said: “Pattball is a fun and enjoyable game. It’s cheap, very easy to set up and accessible to everyone. I am hoping we can take this product and reintroduce this to young and old, sports people and communities.”

•For more information about Pattball, go to: www.facebook.com/pattballtv

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