Unicycle football
nachowayne
Since this is my first post, I'll start off by introducing myself. My
name is Mitch, and I used to unicycle when I was a kid. I started
trying to do it when I was about 10 or so, and over a few years,
Starting and stopping(I would put it away for months), I learned to
ride pretty well(never could ride backwards or idle though). I stopped
when I was in high school, and sold my unicycles in my early 20's. I
really regret this now. I had the 24" Schwinn and the Schwinn Giraffe
you can see in my avatar. I would love to have those now.
Well a few weeks ago, I started seeing this group of people on
unicycles in the parking lot behind a local coffeehouse. I finally
stopped last weekend and asked what they were doing, and found out
there is a unicycle football league here in San Marcos. They get
unicycles at cost from an Austin Bike shop, I guess kind of a
sponsorship deal. Well I went back a few days later and gave Them my
money, and this past Friday, my new Torker LX came in. I've been riding
again and I am determined to get better than I ever did as a kid. I
haven't joined a team yet, but I plan on it soon.
I've been reading a lot of posts on this site and watching a lot of
your videos, and I am very impressed with everyone here and I really
like the sense of community that this site has. I'm curious to see what
you all think of this sport.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3v8ZXncY3SQ
Before anyone says anything, I've already bought a helmet and knee and
elbow pads. I'm also going to get some gloves and possibly some shin
protection before I start playing with them. Some of this looks really
painful, and I'm not as young as I once was.
Thanks for looking and thanks for the great site.
Mitch
--
nachowayne
------------------------------------------------------------------------
nachowayne's Profile: http://www.unicyclist.com/profile/17078
View this thread: http://www.unicyclist.com/thread/69707
Posted Via Usenet.com Premium Usenet Newsgroup Services
----------------------------------------------------------
http://www.usenet.com
Unisykolist
uniing at 10, cool. 1 day be4 my 11th birthday (April) I got my first
unicycle and i was I loved it. for 6 months in intervals i stopped and
it would just be laying around the house but now that i know about
everything about unicyclig like diffrent stles of riding and diffrent
unis, and i got a KH trials im hooked again and i reckon ill be uniing
for the rest of my life! I hope to be as good as shaun J. And if you
think that i just wont gt their i reckon I will! ill just have to fly
overseaeas and enter comps and stuff.
--
Unisykolist
Sticky Tape fixes EVERYTHING :D
Street & Trials }-360-unispin-'O,
Nimbus Trials 20" ISIS
I juggle 3 balls and do lots of tricks. I also juggle 4 for 10 secs and
learning to juggle 5!
BLUE CAP
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Unisykolist's Profile: http://www.unicyclist.com/profile/16930
joemarshall
You guys seem to stop all the time, is that because it is American
Football, or is that something to do with the unicycle element of it?
A lot of people play unicycle hockey, which is much more flowing and
fast paced. There are even leagues in a few countries. Quite a few
people play basketball on unicycles too, but I've never heard of
American Football on unicycles, that is wacky.
Joe
--
joemarshall
my pics http://gallery.unicyclist.com/albuq44
------------------------------------------------------------------------
joemarshall's Profile: http://www.unicyclist.com/profile/1545
hobo_chuck
So wait, how are you playing football on a unicycle?
Unless it's american football, having your feet on the pedals would
raise some major issues.
I guess I should watch the video.
--
hobo_chuck
-"If there's one thing I would like to be remembered for it would be for
passion and enthusiasm. Conservation is my job, my life, my whole
being"-
*~Steve Irwin*
*The revolution has already begun.*
------------------------------------------------------------------------
hobo_chuck's Profile: http://www.unicyclist.com/profile/14113
jamessd
hobo_chuck wrote:
> So wait, how are you playing football on a unicycle?
> Unless it's american football, having your feet on the pedals would
> raise some major issues.
>
> I guess I should watch the video.
If it was English football, you could ride one footed! (although it's
very hard to kick a ball and ride one footed, I admit).
From what someone said above, it is american football.
--
jamessd
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BCsb3y-YOSk
Add me, but tel me who you are :p:
mop...@hotmail.com
Kieron wrote:
> I tell u wat they would have to be a very commited pedo to learn to ride
> a unicycle in order to mingle with us, steel one of us and rape us in a
> bush.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
jamessd's Profile: http://www.unicyclist.com/profile/15102
hobo_chuck
jamessd wrote:
> ! (although it's very hard to kick a ball and ride one footed, I admit).
i know, i've tried:p (edit: it's easier to do idling one footed than
riding)
Yet it's even harder to keep control of the ball while even the
shabbiest of defense comes at you
( a light pole, for example )
--
hobo_chuck
-"If there's one thing I would like to be remembered for it would be for
passion and enthusiasm. Conservation is my job, my life, my whole
being"-
*~Steve Irwin*
*The revolution has already begun.*
------------------------------------------------------------------------
hobo_chuck's Profile: http://www.unicyclist.com/profile/14113
hobo_chuck
You guys certainly need practice;)(might stop the stopping that i
stopped to read when i saw the guy who posted above me stopped to post,
maybe add a little fluidity)
Yea, a great idea though... I've never heard of it and it's unicycle
related:D
hobo_chuck
nachowayne wrote:
> Yeah, most of these guys never unicycled before this so I think they're
> doing pretty well. We have 2 teams now, with a third team(no name yet)
> practicing for their first game tomorrow against the Hot Dogs(Who beat
> the Unipsychos last Wednesday). I'll probably be on the fourth
> expansion team.
freemounting on their first ride?
neat trick there
jamessd
hobo_chuck wrote:
> i know, i've tried:p (edit: it's easier to do idling one footed than
> riding)
>
> Yet it's even harder to keep control of the ball while even the
> shabbiest of defense comes at you
> ( a light pole, for example )
I spose if you could get some kind of attachment for a uni that's like
a plough, you could keep the ball in possession, then if you wanted to
pass it you could stop and let it roll out so your other players could
catch it in their... plough thing? That would work, no?
--
jamessd
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BCsb3y-YOSk
Add me, but tel me who you are :p:
mop...@hotmail.com
Kieron wrote:
> I tell u wat they would have to be a very commited pedo to learn to ride
> a unicycle in order to mingle with us, steel one of us and rape us in a
> bush.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
jamessd's Profile: http://www.unicyclist.com/profile/15102
nachowayne
hobo_chuck wrote:
> You guys certainly need practice;)
>
Yeah, most of these guys never unicycled before this so I think they're
doing pretty well. We have 2 teams now, with a third team(no name yet)
practicing for their first game tomorrow against the Hot Dogs(Who beat
the Unipsychos last Wednesday). I'll probably be on the fourth
expansion team.
--
nachowayne
------------------------------------------------------------------------
nachowayne's Profile: http://www.unicyclist.com/profile/17078
nachowayne
joemarshall wrote:
> You guys seem to stop all the time, is that because it is American
> Football, or is that something to do with the unicycle element of it?
>
> A lot of people play unicycle hockey, which is much more flowing and
> fast paced. There are even leagues in a few countries. Quite a few
> people play basketball on unicycles too, but I've never heard of
> American Football on unicycles, that is wacky.
>
> Joe
Yeah, it probably is pretty wacky. And you are right, all the stopping
and starting is just American football. But it's a lot of fun. At least
the practice was. I went to practice last night on my lunch break and
spent 20 minutes or so riding around a parking lot with about 7 or 8
other guys on unicycles, passing the football around. That was FUN! I
want to get there earlier in my lunch next time so I can spend more
time(actually, next practice I'm off!!). They probably worked on plays
later on, and I'm sure that was fun too, but the warm up session was
awesome.
--
nachowayne
------------------------------------------------------------------------
nachowayne's Profile: http://www.unicyclist.com/profile/17078
nubcake
honestly i'd get bored pretty quick just from all the stopping. I think
(although I'll need to check my manliness certificate back at the desk
after saying this) I think a version of netball on unicycles is far
more realistic and potentially enjoyable. I don't think it'd be too
hard to enforce the rules either... you just have to idle when you have
the ball and can't ever do a full rotation until you get rid of the
'ball' and also to stop some nubcake (what? oh wait that was me) from
trying to exploit that rule and 'idle' all over the court in a zig-zag
you would just enforce a 3 second rule. Or maybe even better and to
cover both those angles enforce something like a 5 forward-backward
rock rule after which you are fouled for not disposing of the ball.
Food for thought.
(you could still call it football, but just say it's "Aussie Rules"
football which if anyone was to be honest is basically Netball but with
dudes who like to touch each others behinds)
--
nubcake
------------------------------------------------------------------------
nubcake's Profile: http://www.unicyclist.com/profile/15954
nachowayne
hobo_chuck wrote:
> freemounting on their first ride?
>
> neat trick there
Not before this -video- Chuck. :p Before this phenomenon swept
through San Marcos.
Seriously though, we probably have about 30 new unicycle riders in town
since the league has started.
--
nachowayne
------------------------------------------------------------------------
nachowayne's Profile: http://www.unicyclist.com/profile/17078
hobo_chuck
jamessd wrote:
> I spose if you could get some kind of attachment for a uni that's like a
> plough, you could keep the ball in possession, then if you wanted to
> pass it you could stop and let it roll out so your other players could
> catch it in their... plough thing? That would work, no?
I prefer my real feet to a "plough thing"
But yes, that would work for the better riders
I call our new sport "ummmmmmm"
I need to go make some "ummmmmmm" equipment
My welder is out of town so it will involve tape
lots and lots of tape.
EDIT: What happens to the plough thing in case of UPD?
What happens when you need to lean your uni forward(such as in
acceleration)?
--
hobo_chuck
-"If there's one thing I would like to be remembered for it would be for
passion and enthusiasm. Conservation is my job, my life, my whole
being"-
*~Steve Irwin*
*The revolution has already begun.*
------------------------------------------------------------------------
hobo_chuck's Profile: http://www.unicyclist.com/profile/14113
tholub
It's Texas. They're going to play American football, it's what they do
there.
(There's an annual football game, Texas vs. The Nation, where the top
high school prospects from Texas face off against top prospects from
the rest of the country).
I think it looks like fun. It also looks a bit brutal; a lot more
falling than either basketball or hockey. But that's appropriate for
football. If I find myself down that way I'll definitely stop in to
play.
--
tholub
------------------------------------------------------------------------
tholub's Profile: http://www.unicyclist.com/profile/804
lewis_shaw1
english foot ball would be really hard and you would need alot more
riding skill
--
lewis_shaw1
------------------------------------------------------------------------
lewis_shaw1's Profile: http://www.unicyclist.com/profile/17076
johnfoss
Is it supposed to be full contact, touch, or catch-and-fall-off
football? :)
Anyway, playing any game on unicycles is a great way to increase your
riding skills. What looks pretty rough in that video can turn into much
longer plays as the riders' skills increase. But I guess as American
football the play will start and stop a lot.
If you wanted to play rest-of-the-world football you don't need a
plough like on a bulldozer. Just a little bar around your wheel that's
around the radius height of the ball. That'll let you push it around
and still pedal, lean, crash, etc.
Also don't be averse to making up your own rules or variations to make
the football game work better on the unicycles. We make a few changes
for basketball and lots of changes for hockey.
Also your riders might consider shorter cranks if they specialize in
football. Everybody seems to be moving pretty slow with those longer
cranks, which you don't need for flat-ground riding. You could also try
24" wheels, but bigger wheels also take up more space so you might have
fun keeping the wheel size consistent. Also that one guy in the video
really needs to lower his seat!
--
johnfoss
John Foss
Email: "jfoss" at "unicycling.com" -- www.unicycling.com
-----------------------------------------------
Man with broken collar bone say: "Have you checked your shoelaces
lately?"
------------------------------------------------------------------------
johnfoss's Profile: http://www.unicyclist.com/profile/832
nachowayne
I'm expecting a lot more completed passes and longer plays as everyone
gets better. I might try shorter cranks on mine. If it helps a lot,
then I'm sure it would spread around the league. Is it a real pain to
change them out? And how would it effect my efforts to learn to idle
and ride backwards?
--
nachowayne
------------------------------------------------------------------------
nachowayne's Profile: http://www.unicyclist.com/profile/17078
tholub
nachowayne wrote:
> I'm expecting a lot more completed passes and longer plays as everyone
> gets better. I might try shorter cranks on mine. If it helps a lot,
> then I'm sure it would spread around the league. Is it a real pain to
> change them out? And how would it effect my efforts to learn to idle
> and ride backwards?
I actually find idling slightly easier on 125mm rather than longer
cranks on a 24"; backwards is probably slightly easier with longer
cranks. But it really doesn't matter that much. Shorter cranks are
definitely better for uni basketball and hockey, and I expect that's
true for football as well; more speed and smoother riding.
--
tholub
------------------------------------------------------------------------
tholub's Profile: http://www.unicyclist.com/profile/804
Unicycho
I'm the team captain for the unicychos. Due to the fact most everyone in
the league has been riding about a month, it has been pretty much catch
and fall off football. Officially it is supposed to be flag football
since we play on pavement, but you are just as likely to get pushed off
your unicycle as you are having your flag pulled. Last night was the
first game for the Narwals (the third team) an one of the Narwals was
on his back, on the ground, and reached up to grab the ankle of the
rusher to tackle him as he rode by. Good stuff! The rules are still
being adapted, and at some point we will have full contact games in the
grass. Instead of the coin toss to decide initial possession we joust.
The vid on you tube was only the second game played, and the play has
gotten more intense with actual plays being run instead of the just get
open and hope to catch the ball of the vid. If you are in Texas, start
a team. We need road games. John, if you can describe the guy who has
too high a seat, I'll let him know that John Foss himself said to lower
it. :p As far as wheel size, there has been talk of limiting wheel size
to 20" I rode my 24 with 127mm cranks last night (playing for the
Narwals) and my speed was unmatched. A couple other guys have 24's but
much longer cranks. I have 102mm cranks coming for my 20. I'm going to
try a few options n see what I like.
--
Unicycho
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Unicycho's Profile: http://www.unicyclist.com/profile/15521
joemarshall
johnfoss wrote:
> We make a few changes for basketball and lots of changes for hockey.
>
Unicycle hockey is pretty close to roller hockey rules, at least when
I've seen people play roller it seemed very similar. SUB =
hooking/tripping, the rest is pretty similar. We don't have so many
foul rules or such harsh penalties maybe because people are less
inspired by ice hockey, so don't foul so ingeniously.
Joe
--
joemarshall
my pics http://gallery.unicyclist.com/albuq44
------------------------------------------------------------------------
joemarshall's Profile: http://www.unicyclist.com/profile/1545
Unicycho
Thanks for the sumo tip John. I'll do that at our next practice. In
addition to general uni skills it will help our linemen.
We do have the rule about being mounted, however we also have a ref
that is generally biased twards the underdogs, and is also bribable. He
let the ankle grab illegal tackle go because it was that teams first
game, everyone was noobs, and also for the sheer comedic effect of the
grab. I don't think he even lifted up his head from the ground to do
it. Just flat on his back like a dead man but the hand came up. It was
classic.
Nacho, The final score was 54 to 48 with the hot dogs winning by a
touchdown scored in the last 20 seconds. It almost went in to overtime.
It was the highest scoring game yet. There were three Unicychos playing
for the Narwals in the second half though. Marcus had to come in after
all to make sure his team didn't lose to the newbies.
--
Unicycho
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Unicycho's Profile: http://www.unicyclist.com/profile/15521