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Projected Outline for Development
Celebration of Sport – Celebration of Life
Neighborhood to the Olympics
VISION STATEMENT
Love thy neighbor as thyself
The vision is to establish and promote a sport whose fundamental qualities instill in children of all ages and cultures a sense of equality, universality, and enthusiasm for a better world.
The founding principles of Total Ball are to create a sport that would allow girls and boys to play together equally and competitvely, thus creating a model of the egalitarian and benevolent society we aspire to cultivate.
It is the historic birth of a sport which by its very nature will transform and redefine the concept of sport as we know it.
QUICK PITCH
Love thy neighbor as thyself
Just when you thought all was said and done in sports, something comes along and redefines everything. Total Ball is a sport that has virtually no limitation… constant movement from one end of the field to the other; and what is even more spectacular, boys and girls, men and women, can and do play together. It seems to have the essence of many sports like basketball, football, rugby, and soccer, yet it is distinct from all of them. This may very well be the ultimate sport having universal appeal that cuts across gender, culture, and social class. The concept is so basic that it can catch on around the world in a flash. It took James Naismith’s basketball, since its invention in 1891, 45 years to become an Olympic sport. In today’s Internet-connected world, there is no cap on how fast and how far a new sport like Total Ball can go.
Total Ball is a sport that embodies very specific ideals of equality and benevolence and is focused on using the popularity and enthusiams of sport as a means to unite people and work collectively to improve the life of millions at every level.
Definition of the Sport
Total Ball is played on a football or soccer field, which you find everywhere, and you use a soccer ball, which are readily available. The object is to put the ball through the “ring-goal” which is found on both ends of the field. You can use your whole body to carry the ball. The only basic rule is that you cannot hold or grip the ball. Any movement is allowed as long as the ball is in constant motion. It is this constant movement without limitations that makes for very creative and dynamic play in a high-scoring, eye-opening spectacle.
The FUTURE of SPORT - The IMPACT of INNOVATION
Being the historic birth of a new world sport, Total Ball has enormous worldwide potential in new apparel manufacturing, marketing and advertiseing. And more importantly, it is a great vehicle for fomenting and celebrating the true egalitarian and humanitarian spirit of sports for generations to come.
New Athletic Heights
The impact of Total Ball is to be felt in many facets. Because of its innovative manner of play with no set restrictions, it pushes sport to new athletic heights, creating a high-scoring dynamic visual spectable. The fact that this manner of play allows for men and women to play together, competitively, challenges the concepts of established sport by making equality a practiced fundamental, not just a wishful idea or theory. This is a basic non-negotiable principle that allows women to interact from a very young age as equals with men. It provides an experience and perspective that then transfers to the workplace, academic centers, and the political arena.
World Community Through Sport
As a world sport, Total Ball goes hand in hand with the Internet connecting individuals and communities around the world. The sense of "oneness" within all the diversity, the sense of being a "world citizen" is the pivotal essence of the vision of Total Ball. Local communities will have a chance to partake in an activity as a whole - together girls and boys, women and men, entire families cultivating a strong sense of good fellowship and solidarity.
ONE COMMUNITY, ONE WORLD
From the Community to the World
The universality and non-political nature of sport provides the ideal platform for bringing people together to generate a sense of solidarity that will allow peaceful realtions and development.
Development will vary in accordance to the specific needs of a country or community. In general terms, a basica vision for Total Ball is that it be introduced and developed at a grassroots level encompassing the entire community and inviting the support and sponsorship of institutions and businesses. This will range from elementary schools, high schools, and colleges to sports organizations, ultimately setting up a national and international network. At the same time, sports companies will be contacted to partake as apparel and equipment suppliers as well as league and tournament sponsors.
BLUEPRINT - Neighborhood to the Olympics
The working blueprint for Total Ball is to start locally and gain grassroots interest with a strong community infrastructure. When enough people are practicing, teams are formed and exhibition games are played. When there are enough teams, a league is formed. This pattern unfolds at a local level, then moving to a national, and ultimately to an international level including the Olympics.
Essentially, this is the way Total Ball is projected to develop except in a more dynamic way since in today’s world many more resources are available, namely those of worldwide real-time communications. Because of the Internet, the organization and development of Total Ball can be active in many spheres simultaneously and it need not be linear. At the same time as school children are brought together to play a game, a proposal for sponsorship of a youth Total Ball league can be presented to a sports company.
Structure for Growth
The basic essentials to launch Total Ball are an interactive web site and the equipment to begin playing locally. Initial funding will be used for these purposes. Once there is (1) a web site, which functions as an information and resource center as well as an interactive platform to organize and coordinate activities, and (2) practice and exhibition games are being played, then potential sponsors can be contacted as well as the media to generate interest and further funding allowing for the creation of more teams and a league. A well-designed web site would provide a versatile platform from which Total Ball can grow by being an interactive forum for organizing events and exchanging ideas, as well as a vehicle of advertising, which would be another welcomed source of funding.
Easy Set-Up ~ Equipment
The initial equipment needed is very basic and readily available. Soccer balls are used to play, and, initially, a few team sets of practice jerseys will suffice to form teams and begin playing games. The only thing that would require special attention is the making of the “ring-goal.” It is a simple design that can be made from metal, wood, or any other material that works. (The “ring-goals” you see in the photos were made in a metal shop simply welding the parts together.) If possible, it would be very useful to make it portable - easy to disassemble - so it can easily be moved from one location to another. Another practical idea is to simply make the “ring” which can be attached to the cross bar of a football field goal or a soccer goal.
PERSPECTIVE OF MISSION AND HISTORY
Children First
A concern for Total Ball is that, because of its innovative manner of play, it becomes a quick sensation growing too fast initially and then fading in the long run. For this very reason calculated steps are taken for it to grow at a grassroots level where the community is involved. Total Ball is a visionary and egalitarian sport for the benefit of people, especially under-resourced children. Therefore, it must be rooted first in local youth, with their families, and then developed nationally and internationally.
Historical Perspective of Sport
By the same token, because Total Ball will develop at a grassroots level, it may take some time for it to catch on to become a world sport and Olympic sport. For this reason it is very important to keep a historic perspective on how all the other world sports developed. There is a gradual process that by speeding it up may not necessary mean a better outcome. Basketball took 45 years to become an Olympic sport – from 1891 to 1936. The first rules for soccer were established in 1863, and it did not become popular around the world until the turn of the century. Of course today we live in fast paced world, but nevertheless we must adhere to the basic principle of sport for ultimately we are trying to create a better world and leave a rich legacy for future generations.
Celebration of Sport ~ Celebration of Life: Olympic Perspective
Through a disciplined and well-organized effort, adhering to the athletic and humanitarian ideals of Total Ball and keeping a historical perspective on the development of sport, it is very likely that Total Ball will become an Olympic sport in a short time period. The Internet provides unlimited potential, and when grassroots interest is fostered involving schools, families and the entire community, there is really no limit to what can be achieved.
Sport is a great vehicle for publicity, and Total Ball, being such an innovative sport with visionary principles, can be a marvelous vehicle to make a significant difference in the lives of many people.
At whatever pace Total Ball develops, it is of the utmost importance to maintain the egalitarian and humanitarian principles on which it was founded.
The Economics of a Better World
The intention of Total Ball is to work with organizations, schools, and companies who are aware of the influencing power of sport and consciously apply it to make this world a better place.
The worldwide economic potential of Total Ball, as an advertising vehicle and as a source for creating a new market of sports apparel, will attract visionary sports companies and institutions. This mutual collaboration will help fund and promote its development, which directly linked with the development of humanitarian projects.
Economics for the Benefit of All People
As visionary sport companies and organizations join in the development of Total Ball, sport and sports apparel can become more inclusive oriented to both men and women of all ages. In the same manner as Total Ball is a great vehicle for these companies to substantially grow from a new market of sports equipment and merchandising, there will be a collaborative effort to make sure that all manufacturing and sales are in accord with the criteria set forth by the Fair Trade Foundation. Great emphasis will also be placed on having economic transactions go through organizations that provide an infrastructure of economic growth and marketability coordinated with humanitarian aid around the world.
The vision and intention of Total Ball is to work with sports companies who are commitment to grassroots athletics around the world, as well as committed to providing jobs for domestic workers and an uncompromising policy of Human Rights Production Standards guaranteeing fair wages and that all their products are Child Labor Free.
With such ethically conscious sport companies, it is hoped to create a prosperous relationship in developing Total Ball to its highest potential with a distinct line of apparel and an exuberant passion for celebrating sport.
THE FOUNDING PHENOMENON
In the winter of 2000, I, Jose E. Garcia, went to my father’s place of origin in El Bierzo, Spain, to launch Total Ball. It was a gesture of historic homage to him, Jose Marcelino Garcia, being the inventor of Total Ball. Funds were raised to build the “ring-goals” and buy uniforms, balls and other necessary equipment. It was a very successful campaign breaking new grounds that aroused the interest of the media and the awestruck curiosity of those who were skeptical that there could be anything so innovative and visionary in this day and age.
CHILDREN: Greater Self-Esteem / Citizens of the World
Most spectacular of all, it was proven beyond the shadow of a doubt that women can compete with men at every level when given a chance. It was also fascinating to see how young children began to develop self-esteem when they felt they were part of a global movement.
Weekly practices and exhibition games were organized setting a working model for future development. The local and regional newspapers were quick to attend and report on Total Ball. This confirmed unequivocally just how enthusiastically the media responds to an innovative sport. It also presented a sample of the enormous potential Total Ball can have in the media worldwide.
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