Slippery Balls Or Sticky Balls?
I am talking about the Rugby World Cup and the impact of playing in humid conditions. The ball was changed many years ago from leather to a synthetic plastic/rubbery coated ball.
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Notice the little pimple like effect on the surface.
There were a few reasons behind it mainly the leather ball got very heavy and slippery when it was wet and made handling very difficult. It was sometimes like catching a bar of soap. Another reason was the goal kickers were going past the 60 m mark and most of the points being scored during a match were from kicks and not tries. A goal kicker can still obtain these distances with the wind at his back mind you as the ball is lighter and gets carried a lot further.
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I am sure this company has seen a surge in sales as the teams must have stocked up heavily with this cream.
Today and throughout the world cup the humidity has made the handling of the ball awkward. Sweaty hands and fingers catching a damp ball is still creating problems for the players. Some players are using sticky cream (hand ball) and others using tape on their fingers.
I was thinking why don't they have a ball for wet conditions or humid conditions and then use the normal ball for dry conditions. The players are in the entertainment business and creating less mistakes and speeding the game up is what it should all be about.
My mind is saying instead of some players using a sticky cream why not make the ball surface sticky. That to me makes more sense and the technology is already out there today. The Select company has come up with a Maxi Grip ball that has a sticky surface. The ball doesn't have to be overly sticky as it would hinder passing, but enough to make it less slippery. I expect to see this introduced at some point as that seems the most logical thing to do.
This ball would make it more about the skill again and less with luck or whatever creams you are using or rubber bands etc. The Sharks Rugby team based in Durban actually train with wet balls. The reason behind it is during February and March Durban is very humid and visiting teams struggle with the handling. The Sharks have used these conditions to their advantage. It just makes sense to come up with a ball that helps and assists players for the different conditions.
The rugby ball has come a long way since the days when an inflated pig’s bladder was encased in leather. But while the materials used to make the ball are more modern, the ball still has elements that date back to its original roots.
Traditionally, rugby balls were created by stitching four panels of leather by hand around a pig bladder, although sometimes six or eight panels were used instead. The bladder was then inflated with air and sealed. This led to a wide variety in the shape and size of rugby balls when the game was being finalized. Most had a roughly oval or round shape given by the pig's bladder, but there was no set standard for shape and the oval cast of modern rugby balls was beyond the skill of original leather workers.
I don't agree with the "sticky ball" idea, it would take some fun out of the game, this randomness of making mistakes due to physics and weather conditions is a part of the game that I enjoy.
I just hope it won't ever turn into american football...
That would be a disaster as i for one struggle watching any American sport due to the excessive advertising breaks. I lose track of what I am watching and just don't enjoy it. I was watching a live race through a US broadcaster and I worked out you lost about 20 percent of the coverage through adverts alone.
If I watch any american sports, it is usually recorded and without the adds :)
I tend to agree with you as you should adapt to all conditions. I can see them changing at some point in the future though. Players are spoiled with body padding today which was a shock when it was introduced.
So they train with wet balls in order to get better grip when it's play time? Not bad definitely not bad if you ask me. I basically think a universal ball for all weather conditions is rather preferable. I didn't really knew slippery balls were the balls used.
Only slippery when your hands and the ball is wet. This ball is better than what was used in my days. I didn't like it as I couldn't kick it as far anymore, but passing you can throw it 20 meters very accurately.
Well we could say it's only vulnerable and not so good when wet.
Well we could say it's
Only vulnerable and
Not so good when wet.
- josediccus
I'm a bot. I detect haiku.
I'm not an avid follower of rugby. I'm not sure if it should be changed as I think the weather should have an affect on the game. Teams from certain areas may have an advantage, but it is on the coach and the team to prepare for these situations. If you play an outdoor sport then you should expect the conditions to be less then ideal.
Even if the ball is changed weather could affect the field conditions and the team that practices under those conditions will still have some type of advantage.
I like having tricky conditions as it makes for a more interesting game overall. We used to play against a team that was in a windy area and you had to play to the conditions. Teams should be prepared especially as it is a professional sport and they are professional athletes.
I think having a ball that can cause so many many mistakes is actually part of the game if rugby.
Living in Wales, I've played 75% of my rugby in the rain. What with conditioning coaches, skill coaches, technical coaches all being afforded by the wealthier countries, sometimes the weather and ball handling can be an advantage to the "poorer" countries and be of help to make the game a fairer contest.
#donttouchmyballs
I do agree with you and I don't want them to go this route. Just today they were saying how the teams are combating the slippery ball with sticky cream and was wandering if their was a sticky ball. I just now the RFU though as they will wreck it and most likely go this route at some point.
Definitely the ball still need to be changed to something more easier for the players to handle
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It does seem like it would be much harder to police when you are allowing players to use all different kinds of things to enhance their game. It seems like settling on a standard ball makes the most sense.
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