Rocball back in the mix

Spikers, diggers, setters get ready.

Rocball, the sport created by Saipan’s very own James Feger, is steaming back into action after a long lay off.

According to Feger, the 2004 World Organized Rocball Interscholastic and Community League is scheduled to unfold later this month and interested teams are urged to register.

Play in the league normally occurs at the start of the year, but never got going this year due to conflict of scheduling with other sports involving high schools and the sport’s main venue—Marianas High School Green Court and gymnasium.

In an interview yesterday, Feger said the league is currently in its practice round stage (see story on page 27), with the regular season expected to begin sometime in the third week of the month.

“We started our practice round, and already completed two games,” he said. “The regular season was originally planned to begin in the first week of September, but because of the typhoon, I don’t see that happening.”

So far, two teams have confirmed participation in the 2004 season, while three more have expressed interest.

“I have the Ghasias Brothers and Shag signed up already, and three teams from within [Marianas High School] are already being formed,” he said.

Games will be played between 12:15 and 1pm at the school campus. Also, teams, which may include players who are not students, are not required to pay an entrance fee.

Rocball play this time of the year normally deals with its Intramural segment, however, Feger indicated that because the Interscholastic and Community league has yet to crown a 2004 champion, the decision to shift the scheduling of both leagues was necessary.

“We still do not have a 2004 champion for the Interscholastic, and once we get that done, then we will move to the Intramurals,” he said.

Feger said the Intramurals, which in the previous years features various teams from within the four grade levels at MHS, may kick off sometime in January of February of next year.

Rocball was organized by Feger in 1979. After two years of experimenting, the sport finally progressed into a tournament in 1983 at Hopwood Junior High School. Since then, Rocball has ranked as one of the top sports students would engage in during their lunch break.

It has also been getting attention from around the world, including India, which already has a Rocball organization that hosts games each year.

The sport was also recognized by Eurosport TV, the most widely available sports channel in Europe, and Cracker Jax, an amusement park in Arizona. Also, a match was filmed for Fox Sports a few years back.

For more information or to register, please contact Feger at 664-3810 or 288-8722.