MARINE CORPS RECRUIT DEPOT SAN DIEGO, Calif. --
Ten teams kicked-off this year’s Commanding General’s Cup wallyball season at Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego’s racquetball court Oct. 5.
Wallyball is an indoor sport that uses the same concept as volleyball, except players can bounce the ball off walls or launch themselves from the walls to help score a point.. It’s played with two to six players on a racquetball court.
“We thought it would be fun to incorporate (wallyball) into (the CG’s Cup) several years ago,” said Rachel Dickinson, intramural sports coordinator, SemperFit. “It is one of our best events on the calendar – we always get a good turn out.”
Dickinson added that this year they had the most participation they’ve seen in awhile, with a total of ten teams participating.
“Wallyball is fun because of the randomness of never knowing where the ball is going,” said Lance Cpl. Nathan Steele, Team Finance. “It’s an exciting sport that anyone can pick up pretty easily.”
CG’s Cup wallyball matches consist of two games. If there is a tie, a third game will be played to determine the winner. A team wins when they reach 21 points. Teams play by the United States Wallyball Federation Rules.
Many strategies used in volleyball can be applied to wallyball, but there are several unique rules. When the ball is served it may hit one wall on either side of the net, but it can’t hit the back wall or two walls in a row. The ball can’t hit the ceiling when it’s crossing the net.
Each team gets three hits to get the ball back over the net. During those three hits the ball can make contact with any number of walls including the back and ceiling.
“The best part about playing wallyball is working together to get a great spike down,” Lance Cpl. Taylor Sams, Team Finance. “I expect us to all have a lot of fun and work as a team to win.”
Many players were getting familiar with the game rules and strategies during the season kick-off.
“For opening day I think a lot of teams were just getting their feet wet, as we have quite a few new teams,” said Dickinson.
While some teams were new to the sport, others had the upper hand because they were veterans to the sport.
“We would play it for office (physical training) sometimes,” said Steele. “So we already knew how to play it.”
Finance and Armory faced-off in one of their first games of the season. Finance squeaked by, winning both games 21-17, 21-18.
“I play wallyball to help support Finance’s ever-growing trophy collection,” said Steele. “It’s a fun sport; it can get pretty intense at times.”
Wallyball play-offs are slated to kick off Nov. 2.
“I think that Finance will win the wallyball play-offs,” said Sams. “Once we get all of our starting four players we will be unstoppable.”
The next sports coming up in the CG’s Cup include racquetball and a three-on-three basketball tournament; both are scheduled to begin in November.
The Commanding General’s Cup is an annual intramural sports program that incorporates leagues and one-day events. It’s open to all active duty Marines, coast guardsmen, sailors and Department of Defense employees aboard the depot.
Throughout the year teams can earn points for their command based on their placing in sports tournaments. The command with the most points at the end of the year wins the Commanding General’s Cup of Excellence and $300 from Marine Corps Community Services and SemperFit towards their unit funds.
Headquarters and Service Battalion, Recruit Training Regiment, Medical and Dental, 12th Marine Corps District, Maritime Safety and Security Team and Pacific Tactical Law Enforcement Team are the commands competing for the CG’s Cup.
“(The CG’s Cup’s) purpose is to encourage command camaraderie, sportsmanship and teamwork,” said Dickinson. “Most of all it is for fun.”
The CG’s Cup culminates at a field meet at the end of the year, so the final teams can duke it out for those last precious points.
People interested in learning more about the intramural sports program or signing up should contact Rachel Dickinson at (619) 524-0548 or e-mail dickinsonr@usmc-mccs.org.