Headis
{{Short description|Ball game}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2021}}
Headis is a mix of table tennis and the heading of association football. It is played at a regular table tennis table so it combines tactical elements of table tennis and the legwork of tennis. In mid-2016, the 11th Headis World Championship was held with players from 12 countries.{{citation|periodical=Sport.de|title=Headis: Mit dem Kopf und mit Köpfchen|language=de|url=http://www.sport.de/news/ne2327438/headis-mit-dem-kopf-und-mit-koepfchen/|access-date=22 March 2017
}}
History
Headis (head + the ending of tennis) was invented in 2006 by the at that time sport student René Wegner. A football pitch in Kaiserslautern, Germany was occupied but the table tennis table was available so they started playing a rubber ball only with their heads.{{citation|periodical=HEADIS|title=Geschichte • HEADIS|language=de|url=http://headis.com/de/fragen/geschichte/|access-date=8 March 2017
= Initial spreading =
Headis started spreading throughout German students. The Universität des Saarlandes was the first institution with regular Headis training. More and more universities added the sport to their schedule.{{cite web|title=2006 im Saarbrücker Totobad erfunden: Trendsportart Headis wird deutschlandweit gespielt|url=http://www.saarbruecker-zeitung.de/aktuell/aufmacher/Saarbruecken-Totobad-2006-im-Saarbruecker-Totobad-erfunden-Trendsportart-Headis-wird-deutschlandweit-gespielt;art27856,4722625|access-date=8 March 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171214085808/http://www.saarbruecker-zeitung.de/aktuell/aufmacher/Saarbruecken%2DTotobad%2D2006%2Dim%2DSaarbruecker%2DTotobad%2Derfunden%2DTrendsportart%2DHeadis%2Dwird%2Ddeutschlandweit%2Dgespielt%3Bart27856%2C4722625|archive-date=14 December 2017|url-status=dead|last=Saarbrücker Zeitung|language=de}}{{cite web|title=Headis|url=https://www.unisport.uni-kl.de/Headis.aspx|access-date=8 March 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171212195334/https://www.unisport.uni-kl.de/Headis.aspx|archive-date=12 December 2017|language=de|url-status=dead}}
Besides universities there are also other possibilities to play Headis. The 1. FC Kaiserslautern{{cite web|title=Abteilungen: 1. FC Kaiserslautern|url=http://fck.de/de/1-fc-kaiserslautern/der-fck/vereinsstruktur/abteilungen.html|access-date=8 March 2017|language=de}} and the SV Darmstadt 98{{cite web|title=Headis: Darmstadt 98|url=http://sv98.de/home/verein/abteilungen/headis/|access-date=8 March 2017|last=SV Darmstadt 1898 e. V.|language=de}} offer regular training.{{citation|title=HEADIS-Vereine • HEADIS|url=http://headis.com/de/kooperationen/headis-vereine/|periodical=HEADIS|language=de|access-date=24 March 2017}}
= Beginning of the tournament series =
In 2008, the first Headis World Cup Tournaments were hosted.{{citation|periodical=HEADIS|title=Geschichte • HEADIS|language=de|url=http://headis.com/de/fragen/geschichte/|access-date=8 March 2017
}}
In 2010 and 2011 in Kaiserslautern, there was the adh-Trophy Headis (Allgemeiner Deutscher Hochschulsportverband), which is the German University Headis Championship.{{cite web|title=Ausschreibung der adh Headis Trophy 2010|publisher=allgemeinder deutscher Hochschulsportverband|url=http://www.adh.de/uploads/tx_cal/media/HEADIS_adh_Trophy_2010_Ausschreibung_CD.pdf|access-date=23 March 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171212193353/http://www.adh.de/uploads/tx_cal/media/HEADIS_adh_Trophy_2010_Ausschreibung_CD.pdf|archive-date=12 December 2017|language=de|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|title=Aussschreibung der adh Headis Trophy 2011|url=http://www.adh.de/uploads/tx_cal/media/HEADIS_adh_Trophy_2011_Ausschreibung_CD.pdf|access-date=23 March 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171213010051/http://www.adh.de/uploads/tx_cal/media/HEADIS_adh_Trophy_2011_Ausschreibung_CD.pdf|archive-date=13 December 2017|last=allgemeiner deutscher Hochschulsportverband|language=de|url-status=dead}}
In 2016, there were eleven World Cup Tournaments with more than 1,000 competitors.{{citation|periodical=HEADIS|title=Unser Headis-Tagebuch – Dezember • HEADIS|date=9 January 2017|language=de|url=http://headis.com/de/2017/01/unser-headis-tagebuch-dezember/|access-date=8 March 2017}}
= Recent history =
Several TV appearances and viral videos online increased the popularity within the last years.{{citation|surname1=DWDL.de GmbH|periodical=DWDL.de|title=Stefan Raab macht Headis-Wettbewerb bei "TV total" – DWDL.de|language=de|url=http://www.dwdl.de/nachrichten/48037/stefan_raab_macht_headiswettbewerb_bei_tv_total/|access-date=8 March 2017}}{{cite news|title=Headis: Der beste Ballwechsel beim Tischtennis mit dem Kopf – WELT|newspaper=Die Welt|date=27 January 2016|url=https://www.welt.de/sport/video151542059/Der-beste-Ballwechsel-beim-Tischtennis-mit-dem-Kopf.html|access-date=8 March 2017|language=de}} Currently, 18 German universities offer regular Headis courses.{{citation|periodical=HEADIS|title=Spielplätze • HEADIS|language=de|url=http://headis.com/de/kooperationen/spielplaetze/|access-date=23 March 2017
}}
By 2016, there were international tournaments, World and European Championships{{citation|periodical=HEADIS|title=Das Fest des Jahres! Die Headis Weltmeisterschaft 2016! • HEADIS|date=28 July 2016|language=de|url=http://headis.com/de/2016/07/das-fest-des-jahres-die-headis-weltmeisterschaft-2016/|access-date=8 March 2017}}{{citation|periodical=Headis European Championship|title=die deutsche Qualifikation – Headis European Championship|date=29 March 2015|language=de|url=http://www.headis-ec.com/de/die-deutsche-quali/|access-date=8 March 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160805091435/http://www.headis-ec.com/de/die-deutsche-quali/|archive-date=5 August 2016|url-status=dead}} and an estimated number of players of 100,000.{{Cite web|title=Trendsport 2019: Beim "Headis" braucht man Köpfchen|url=https://www.rnz.de/panorama/magazin_artikel,-trendsport-2019-beim-headis-braucht-man-koepfchen-_arid,428478.html|access-date=17 September 2020|website=rnz.de|language=de}} Starting at Universität des Saarlandes the sport spread all over Germany.
The sport is popular in other countries than Germany as well. There are official partners in Switzerland, Belgium, the Netherlands, Czech Republic, the Dominican Republic, China, Australia and Japan.{{cite news|title=Headis: Dieser Sport ist in der "Höhle der Löwen" durchgefallen – WELT|newspaper=Die Welt|date=11 October 2016|url=https://www.welt.de/sport/trendsport/article158668045/Dieser-Sport-ist-in-der-Hoehle-der-Loewen-durchgefallen.html|access-date=23 March 2017|language=de|last1=Saatmann|first1=Timon}}{{citation|website=ispo.com|title=Headis-Offensive in China|language=de|url=http://www.ispo.com/trends/id_77134682/headis-erobert-den-chinesischen-markt.html|access-date=24 March 2017
}}
Every year there are 10 to 12 tournaments{{citation|periodical=HEADIS|title=Geschichte • HEADIS|language=de|url=http://headis.com/de/fragen/geschichte/|access-date=8 March 2017}} that are the base for the Headis World Championship.{{citation|periodical=HEADIS|title=Rangliste • HEADIS|language=de|url=http://headis.com/de/fragen/rangliste-2/|access-date=8 March 2017
}}
Rules and gameplay
Two players play at a regular table tennis table and the ball must only make contact with the head. The table, however, can be touched by any part of your body. Playing a volley is allowed as well. After every ball played, you have to touch the ground before heading the next ball.
Sets are played to eleven (11) points, with the exception that players must win by two (2) points. Games are decided by best-of-three (3) sets.{{citation|periodical=HEADIS|title=Regeln • HEADIS|language=de|url=http://headis.com/de/fragen/regeln/|access-date=23 March 2017
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Equipment
- Table tennis table: Headis is played at a regular table tennis table. The measurements are the same. As the Headis ball is heavier than a table tennis ball, the net is made of metal so it is more stable.
- Headis ball: Headis is played with a special ball. It consists of rubber, weighs about {{convert|100|g|oz}}, and has a circumference of {{convert|50|cm|in}}.{{cite news|title=Headis: Spieler springen kopfvoran auf die Platte – WELT|newspaper=Die Welt|date=10 September 2015|url=https://www.welt.de/regionales/nrw/article146211142/Spieler-springen-kopfvoran-auf-die-Platte.html|access-date=22 March 2017|language=de|last1=Bröker|first1=Jürgen}}
Tournament Series
= Setup of the Tournament Series =
Every year there are 10 to 12 Headis World Cup Tournaments held.{{citation|periodical=HEADIS|title=Geschichte • HEADIS|language=de|url=http://headis.com/de/fragen/geschichte/|access-date=23 March 2017
}} The results of these tournaments is the basis for the Headis World Ranking.{{citation|periodical=HEADIS|title=Rangliste • HEADIS|language=de|url=http://headis.com/de/fragen/rangliste-2/|access-date=23 March 2017
}}
= Player names =
The players do not use their regular names at the tournaments. They instead choose joke names like "Headi Potter" or "Rolli der Schlächter".{{cite web|title=Headis – Tischtennis mit dem Kopf: Wenn 'Headi Potter' und 'Rolli der Schlächter' um Titel kämpfen|url=http://www.rp-online.de/sport/andere/headis-wenn-headi-potter-und-rolli-der-schlaechter-um-titel-kaempfen-aid-1.5140314|access-date=23 March 2017|last=RP ONLINE|date=5 June 2015|language=de}}
= World ranking =
The Headis World Ranking is compiled by the results of the Headis World Cup Tournaments. The players receive World Ranking points according to their ranking at the tournaments. The bigger the tournament, the more points the players get. The last 15 tournaments build the ranking.{{citation|periodical=HEADIS|title=Rangliste • HEADIS|language=de|url=http://headis.com/de/fragen/rangliste-2/|access-date=8 March 2017
}} As of May 2017, the two top players in the world are Cornelius "Headsinfarkt" Döll (1,624 points) and Margarita "Klausi" Marmol Fernandez (890 points).{{citation|periodical=HEADIS|title=Rangliste • HEADIS|language=de|url=http://headis.com/de/rangliste/|access-date=8 March 2017
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= Most important tournaments =
== World Championship ==
The annual Headis World Championship is the most important tournament all year. It is the only tournament with unlimited players and it affects the World Ranking more than every other tournament.{{citation|periodical=HEADIS|title=Einfach ALLES zur Headis WM 2016 • HEADIS|date=10 July 2016|language=de|url=http://headis.com/de/2016/07/alles-zur-headis-wm-2016-2/|access-date=22 March 2017
}} At the World Championship 2016 there were players from 12 nations.{{citation|periodical=HEADIS|title=Das Fest des Jahres! Die Headis Weltmeisterschaft 2016! • HEADIS|date=28 July 2016|language=de|url=http://headis.com/de/2016/07/das-fest-des-jahres-die-headis-weltmeisterschaft-2016/|access-date=23 March 2017
}}
== European Championship ==
Since 2015, a European Headis Championship (EC) is hosted. The EC is the only tournament where men and women play the same competition. In 2015, four countries competed: Germany, Czech Republic, Switzerland and Belgium. In 2016, the Dominican Republic joined the tournament as well. The EC does not affect the World Ranking.{{citation|periodical=HEADIS|title=Rangliste • HEADIS|language=de|url=http://headis.com/de/fragen/rangliste-2/|access-date=23 March 2017
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== Headis Masters ==
Since 2011, the annual Headis Masters is hosted. The 18 best men and the eight best women of the last calendar year qualify for it. The starting field is completed by two wildcards each.{{citation|periodical=HEADIS|title=Rangliste • HEADIS|language=de|url=http://headis.com/de/fragen/rangliste-2/|access-date=23 March 2017
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References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [http://www.headis.com/ Official website]
- [http://headis.com/en/questions/rules/ Official rules] (in English)
- https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Teqvoly