VX, originally Rock-It-Ball, is a ball sport from the United Kingdom. It developed in North Yorkshire, England, and was launched in February 2006 at the Youth Sport Trust's Sports Colleges Conference. In 2012 the sport's international federation, now called Global VX, renamed it VX to suit its international growth.Leeds Today (television programme). Leeds Trinity College, Leeds. 8 August 2012.

The sport is played in schools in the UKBBC Breakfast (television programme). BBC, Harrogate. 3 November 2012. and has been taken up by universities, youth organisations, StreetGames and the military. Global VX says that it is played in 25 countries, 15 of which have national governing bodies.

VX is played by men and women on equal terms in all disciplines. It is not an adaptation of a single sport but draws on elements of dodgeball, lacrosse, basque pelota and hockey.

History Rock-It-Ball spread through schools in the UK. It featured in four Youth Sport Trust programmes and was played regularly in 17 countries,"Rock-It-Ball – the Fastest Growing Sport in the World". Government Business 17 (8): 62–63. 2010. and an international federation and eleven national governing bodies were set up. The federation was established in December 2006. In 2012 it renamed the sport VX, and clubs and national bodies followed, so that leagues and tournaments now run under the VX name.

In August 2017 the sport was recognised at the General Assembly of the Sport Recognised Association.

Rules

VX is played by two teams of five players on a court about the size of a sports hall with four badminton courts. Each player carries a VstiX, a control bar with a thrower/catcher at each end, and can move anywhere on court. Five balls are in play. Players must dribble by rolling the ball between the two ends of the VstiX or by bouncing it on the floor with one end.

A player scores one point by hitting an opponent with the ball between the shoulders and the feet, and three points by catching an opponent's thrown ball. A player who is hit stands still and raises a hand until the referee records the point. Two umpires assist the referee by watching for infringements, each of which costs three points. Violence leads to ejection and disciplinary action. Infringements include: failing to acknowledge a hit picking up a ball while waiting to play on after being hit ("fishing") travelling: a player may take two steps and must then dribble striking the ball or a player with the VstiX illegal contact, such as deliberately barging an opponent knocking the ball out of an opponent's VstiX swearing

Formal matches have four quarters of four minutes each.

Versions The federation introduced three further versions to develop the sport and let individuals set up clubs more easily: V2 (singles) is played by two players with three balls on a squash court, in two halves of four minutes. V3 is played by three players, each playing alone, with four balls on a squash court. The winner concedes the fewest points. Games last two halves of four minutes. V4 (doubles) is played 2v2 with four balls on a squash court, in two halves of four minutes.Skizzy (television programme). Uganda TV, Kampala. February 2013.

Federation Global VX was established in December 2006 as the International Federation and took its present name when the sport was renamed in 2012. It supports national governing bodies"VX: Spreading Like Bushfire". New Vision. 1 January 2014. p. 37.Game On (television programme). Urban TV, Kampala. 27 December 2012. and organises international competition. Its rules committee meets every January.

Recognition In 2012 two players, Tom Hildreth and Helen Mackenzie, carried the Olympic torch."Rock-it duo over the moon at Olympic call to arms". York Press. 16 December 2011."Lighting the way – Ripon's own Olympic torchbearers". Ripon Gazette. 16 December 2011."Rockiteers to Carry the Olympic Torch". Easingwold Advertiser and Weekly News. 24 December 2011. In 2013 the Easi-RockIts HellCats team won Team of the Year at the Minster FM Local Hero Awards."Local Heroes are honoured at Minster FM Awards Ceremony". York Press. 18 February 2013."Award for HellCats". Easingwold Advertiser and Weekly News. 23 February 2013.

The diver Jack Laugher was the sport's official ambassador from 2013.

World championships

V2 (singles) World Champions and runners-up: Year Champion Runner-up 2010 Carl Alsop 2011 Scott MacMichael (Scotland) 2012 Tom Hildreth (England) Scott MacMichael (Scotland) 2013 Tom Hildreth (England) Scott Snowdon (England) 2014 Jack Brown (England) Carl Alsop (England) 2015 Scott Snowdon (England) Carl Alsop (England) 2016 Scott Snowdon (England) Tom Hildreth (England) 2017 Scott Snowdon (England) Tom Hildreth (England) 2018 Tom Hildreth (England) Dan Raper (England) 2019 Scott Snowdon Tom Hildreth 2023 Tom Hildreth Ka Lok The V2 World Championships were cancelled in 2020, 2021 and 2022 because of the COVID-19 pandemic. In the team World Cup, Scotland won in 2007 and 2011, with England runners-up in both years. England won the VX World Championships in 2015 (runners-up India) and 2019.

References

External links Global VX VX England VX India VX Scotland