Downball: The popular sport you need to know about

Footy, soccer and cricket lay claims as Australia’s favourite sporting pastimes. But there’s one more, played in countless schoolyards around the nation, that should be bounced into the mix.

Downball is serious business in schoolyards across Victoria.

You’ve probably heard cricket or football described as Australia’s favourite pastime.

The popular, and seemingly never-ending debate centres around whether these sports or soccer — the world game — should be classed as Australia’s number one.

You’ll hear people cite TV audience figures, participation numbers and financial bottom lines to make a case for their chosen sport.

THE LATEST COACH AND PLAYER MOVES IN OUR OFF-SEASON HQ

FORMER BOMBER LANDS VAFA COACHING ROLE

THE REGION OF MELBOURNE WHERE WOMEN’S FOOTY IS BOOMING

If you’re sick of the rhetoric and politics of this debate, consider the simplest of sports. Downball.

I know what you’re thinking. Is this guy serious? But hear me out.

This sport engenders as much passion in most schoolyard as rises at the MCG during footy finals.

Take that from someone who once lost a shoe on a school roof playing a fierce lunchtime game of downball.

The downside of downball. Get eliminated and there goes your lunchtime in line.

Here’s how that story goes. A check of the watch suggested the bell was imminent, and with just minutes left before class, I had a chance to finish in the coveted king position and take bragging rights into the next day of play.

I was wearing new shoes which were half a size too big, and upon throwing a boot at the ball to bring it into play, I kicked with such force it landed on the school roof.

The next time I saw the shoe was midway through class when the assistant principal retrieved it. It was as embarrassing as it sounds.

I went to school in Geelong, where downball was the sport of kings for those aged 12-18.

You only have to watch the video of Belmont High School students playing in 2012 to realise how much this game means.

>> DO YOU HAVE A FAVOURITE DOWNBALL MEMORY? TELL US BELOW.

The students put $200 and ‘bragging rights for life’ on the line in a battle for the ages.

A crowd of about 100 fellow students gathered around to watch, such was the importance of the prize at stake.

The winner was hoisted onto the shoulders of his vanquished opponents like royalty at the end of the epic final clash.

Could downball be Australia’s most underrated sporting pastime?

There was once a change.org petition to make downball a professional sport, which suggested: ‘If water polo is in the Olympics, then why isn’t downball?’

And it’s such serious business at some schools, trophies are awarded and the year’s downball champion has his or her achievements broadcast on official social media channels.

Students at other Melbourne schools have reportedly petitioned for more courts, such is the fight for space.

Congratulations to our Year 12 Downball Champion of the year.. Josh Buttler..what an action shot. pic.twitter.com/Gfbi6PnFaJ

— Assumption College (@ACKilmore) October 15, 2015

Downball seems like a reasonably tame sport.

For those unfamiliar with the concept, a player occupies one square and is required to hit the ball in their own square and then into another player’s.

As players higher ranked than you are knocked out, you move forward and attempt to take the king (or top) position.

There’s variations on how that can happen — two bounces and up, three bounces and a kick etc.

This game is anything but tame.

My high school memories of downball revolve around often-heated clashes, taunting and one classmate flinging himself into a newly-plastered wall to retrieve an unlikely shot.

His imprint was in that plaster for weeks.

GREENVALE BATSMAN SCORES HISTORY-MAKING HUNDRED

PROMISING ENGLISH QUICK SET TO IGNITE NORTHCOTE

GIBBONS THE HARD-LUCK STORY OF THIS YEAR’S AFL DRAFTS

YOUR ULTIMATE GUIDE TO THE TWENTY20 VIC SUPER SLAM

Here’s the true beauty of this unheralded sport — people of all ages can play and it brings everyone together. Downball doesn’t discriminate.

I often see children from all over my neighbourhood gather en masse at the local park for a game. It’s a truly joyful throwback.

Donald Trump this, Brexit that, but did you ever have a downball playing PM tho? https://t.co/fqWi2uY0h6

— DAN🇦🇺 (10-3-0) (@Scouse_Maestro) November 18, 2018

The cost of children’s sport — when membership fees, equipment and travel are factored in — can be significant, as many parents know.

To start a game of downball, all you need is concrete, a tennis ball and one mate. It’s that simple.

So what are you waiting for?

>> DO YOU HAVE A FAVOURITE DOWNBALL MEMORY? TELL US BELOW.