Whenever someone mentions handball, I immediately reminisce about gym class in high school, when I spent many afternoons banging a Wiffle ball across the room with a paddle. The first time I played the game, I assumed our teacher was simply making it up to keep us busy, but as it turns out, handball has been around since the 1960s.
Currently, pickleball cruise ship is on the rise, with some lines offering dedicated rugby fields, scheduled playtime and even on-board lessons and equipment sales.
If you’re curious about this new sports craze, which attracts players of all ages and levels, you’ve come to the right place. I’ll tell you all you need to know and help you find a cruise ship where you can begin your next journey.
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What is a pickle?
Pickleball, loosely interpreted as a combination of badminton and tennis, was created by a U.S. congressman in the summer of 1965 when his family and some house guests got bored and Can’t find badminton equipment. Instead, they lowered the net they had and used ping pong paddles, thereby creating a whole new sport.
It uses a similar concept of using a paddle to hit an object—in this case, a plastic polymer ball with holes—on a low net close to the ground, unlike what you see in badminton and shorter nets are used for tennis.
The game can be played one on one, but matches are usually conducted two against two, with members of the same team standing on the same side of the net. The ball is passed back and forth until the foul is committed, determining whether the serving team gets the point or must turn the serve.
cruising in the sky
Which cruise ship has a rugby field? Given the recent popularity of rugby — big names like Mark Cuban, Gary Vaynerchuk, Drew Brees, LeBron James and Tom Brady are owners of professional rugby teams — it’s no surprise when cruise lines want to participate in this activity.
Most notable is Holland America, which has provided handball on its ships for many years, proving that they are ahead of the curve. In late 2022, it becomes the official cruise line of the Professional Football Association, which annually hosts one of the two major football touring competitions in the United States.
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“Pickleball has become incredibly popular in the travel and leisure business categories because it’s uniquely accessible, compatible with multiple brands, and crosses multiple age and lifestyle groups,” said Connor Pardoe, commissioner. PPA Tour member and CEO, said in a statement from Holland America.
As part of the partnership, the carrier has added brand new handball courts to all the ships in its fleet. It also now sells PPA equipment in its on-board stores, and its fitness staff offers beginner lessons for anyone looking to learn how to play.
Other lines have also realized the value of adding handball to their activity list. Currently, many of the major cruise lines’ ships offer some version of it on their existing basketball courts, but others have added official handball courts to some ships. Their on-board handball supply lines include:
Some specific ships where you can find handball opportunities include the Carnival Conquest (dedicated yard) and most others festival train; foreign celebrities, the pinnacle of celebrity, Celebrity Constellation, Celebrity Eclipse, Celebrity Equinox, Celebrity Infinity, Celebrity Millennium, Celebrity Solstice, and Celebrity Summit language; MSC World Europa and MSC Euribia; And Norwegian Prima.
The upcoming MSC World America and Norwegian Viva will also feature rugby courts.
You can also play on Princess Cruise’s Enchanted Princess, Sky Princess and discovery princess; Regent Seven Seas Cruises’ Seven Seas Explorer, Seven Seas of Glory and the upcoming Seven Seas Grandeur; many of Royal Caribbean’s newest, largest ships, including Oasis of the Seas, Allure of the Seas, Symphony of the Seas, Odyssey of the Seas, Harmony of the Seas, Anthem of the Seas, Wonders of the Sea, Liberty of the Seas, Freedom of the Seas and others; and maiden voyages’ brave lady.
How to play badminton
The rules of handball are pretty simple, with the most complicated parts involving who serves and from which side of the court. Below is a brief overview provided by USA Pickleball, the governing body for professional pickleball play in the United States (For full rules see USA Pickleball’s official law book.)
serve
- The server’s arm must move in an upward arc when hitting the ball.
- Do not contact the paddle with the ball above waist level.
- The tip of the paddle should not be higher than the highest part of the wrist at contact.
- A “drop serve” is also allowed, in which case none of the above applies.
- At the time of hitting the ball, the server’s foot must not touch the court or outside an imaginary extension of the touchline or mid-court line and at least one foot must be behind the end line on the playing surface or face. land behind the end road.
- The serve is made diagonally across the court and must land within the confines of the opposite diagonal court.
- Each server is only allowed to make one serve.
Order of service
- Both players on the doubles serve have a chance to serve and score until they commit a foul.*
- Each side’s first serve is taken from the right/even court.
- If a point is scored, the server will switch sides and the server will start the next serve from the left/odd portion of the court.
- As further points are scored, the server continues to switch back and forth until an error occurs and the first server loses serve.
- When the first server loses serve, the partner will serve from the right side of the court (except in the first serve sequence of the game*).
- The second server continues to serve until his or her team commits a foul and loses serve to the opposing team.
- After serving to an opponent (outside), the first serve is from the right/immediate court and both players on that team have a chance to serve and score until their team commits two fouls. error.
- In singles, the server serves from the right/even court when his or her score is even and from the left/odd when the score is odd.
*At the start of each new game, only one partner on the serving team has a chance to serve before the foul, after which the serve is passed to the receiving team.
Mark
- Points are scored only by the serving team.
- Games are usually played up to 11 points, requiring a 2 point win.
- Tournament games can be 15 or 21 points, requiring a 2 point win.
- When the serving team’s score is even (0, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10), the first serving player in the game for that team will be on the right/even side of the court when serving or receiving. ; when odd (1, 3, 5, 7, 9) then that player will be left/odd when delivering or receiving.
Rule of two exits
- When serving, the receiving team must let the ball bounce before returning it, then the serving team must let the ball bounce before returning it, hence two bounces.
- After the ball bounces once in each team’s half of the court, both teams can either pass the ball (hit the ball before it bounces) or hit the bounce (hit the ground).
- The two-bouncing rule eliminates serve and volley advantages and prolongs rallies.
line call
- A ball that touches any part of any line, except the no-pass area line on the serve, is considered “in”.
- A serve that is in contact with the non-volley zone line is short and is an error.
Non-volleyball area
- The no-pass zone is the area of the court within 7 feet on either side of the net.
- Volleyball is prohibited in the no-pass area. This rule prevents the player from making smashes from one spot in the area.
- It is a foul if, when passing the ball, a player steps onto the no-pass area, including the line and/or when the player’s momentum causes them or anything they are wearing or carrying to touch the no-pass area. pass the ball, including related lines.
- It is an offense if, after volleying, a competitor is forced to enter or touch the un-volleyed area, even if the volleyed ball is declared dead before this occurs.
- A player may be in the legal no-pass area at any time other than during the pass.
- The non-volleyball area is often referred to as the “kitchen”.
error
- An error is any action that stops play due to a rule violation.
- An error by the serving team results in a point for the serving team.
- The serving team’s error results in the server losing service or disqualification.
Determine the service team
- Any fair method (such as a coin toss) can be used to determine which player or team has the right to choose sides, serve or receive first.
bottom line
Whether you’re already a football fan or are hoping to catch up on the latest trends by trying it out for the first time on your next cruise, there are plenty of ships that offer everything from pitches and equipment to beginner lessons.
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