The “Play it!!” Story
It was the summer of 1962. For me they were the golden days when I discovered girls, the freedom of ridding bike almost anywhere and playing tennis at the neighborhood association courts. Tennis, swimming and the local soda fountain filled my days.
At the courts when hot rallies commenced and the girls watched on, sometimes the ball would fly over the net and land just out of bounds. I would dash to return it and in the process yell “play ya for 2!". However, my opponents never quite grasped the concept and the ball would fall to their court with no response except for a dumbfounded look. After all I had already won the point. Besides the tennis book of rules did not include playing for 2 points.
Many years later my son and I were playing badminton and the birdie got stuck in a tree; we grabbed a super market play ball and some old tennis racquets and Eclipse Ball was born. In games and in life we play by our own rules and it was the same with Eclipse Ball. Playing for 2 points on a error was as important then as it was when I was 14 years old. Thus, when we finally committed the rules for Eclipse Ball to paper we made sure the “Play it!!” rule was included in writing.
Why “play it”? I love the feeling of the volley, the excitement that evolves when a player decides to put the ball back into play. Everything goes up a notch, the excitement, the reflexes, the fun and the activity! It gives the underdog a chance to recover, score and maybe even win! When points add up by two every time “Play it!!” is called the whole level of play is changed. Whether it is the gamble or the excitement of activity in the heat of an exciting volley, calling “Play it!” makes the game more exciting, competitive and fun!
In the Spirit of Fun and Goodwill,
Donald Benson
At the courts when hot rallies commenced and the girls watched on, sometimes the ball would fly over the net and land just out of bounds. I would dash to return it and in the process yell “play ya for 2!". However, my opponents never quite grasped the concept and the ball would fall to their court with no response except for a dumbfounded look. After all I had already won the point. Besides the tennis book of rules did not include playing for 2 points.
Many years later my son and I were playing badminton and the birdie got stuck in a tree; we grabbed a super market play ball and some old tennis racquets and Eclipse Ball was born. In games and in life we play by our own rules and it was the same with Eclipse Ball. Playing for 2 points on a error was as important then as it was when I was 14 years old. Thus, when we finally committed the rules for Eclipse Ball to paper we made sure the “Play it!!” rule was included in writing.
Why “play it”? I love the feeling of the volley, the excitement that evolves when a player decides to put the ball back into play. Everything goes up a notch, the excitement, the reflexes, the fun and the activity! It gives the underdog a chance to recover, score and maybe even win! When points add up by two every time “Play it!!” is called the whole level of play is changed. Whether it is the gamble or the excitement of activity in the heat of an exciting volley, calling “Play it!” makes the game more exciting, competitive and fun!
In the Spirit of Fun and Goodwill,
Donald Benson
Donald Benson calling “Play It!!” at the Pheasant Run Resort summer camps convention in St. Charles, Illinois.
