Teqball puts football and table tennis together. Created in Hungary in 2012, it has become a competitive sport worldwide. It is played on a curved table with a football at reduced pressure, in singles or doubles, under rules close to those of table tennis.
What teqball is
It combines football and table tennis skills, and was created in 2012 in Hungary by Gábor Borsányi, György Gattyán and Viktor Huszár. It has drawn attention worldwide for the mix of skill, speed and strategy it demands.
Where it came from
Three school friends who loved both football and table tennis wanted to join them into something new. After several prototypes they arrived at the curved table that now defines the sport.
Since then it has spread worldwide, backed by well-known footballers and included in major competitions.
The table and the ball
The table is curved, with a rigid net across the middle. The curve produces a bounce nothing else does, which is both the fun and the difficulty of it. The ball is a regulation football at reduced pressure, which slows the game and gives players time to think.
The rules
Here is how the game is played.
Matches and sets
Matches are singles or doubles, best of three sets. Each set runs to 12 points, and the first to reach it takes the set. Two sets win the match.
Scoring
You score when the ball bounces on the opponent’s side and they cannot return it within the rules. The ball must bounce on the table before touching anything else, and it can only be returned with the feet, the head, the chest or any other part of the body except the hands.
What is not allowed
- Touching the table with any part of the body, hands included.
- Touching your opponent.
- There are two serves, and the first is decided at random.
- A player must keep at least one foot on the ground except when jumping to return the ball.
- Striking the ball twice in a row with the same foot.
- If the ball touches the net, the point is lost; if it touches the net and crosses to the other side, play continues.
- If the ball leaves the table, over the edge or over the surrounds, the point is lost.
Those are the basics; there are further rules covering safety and the integrity of the game.
Competitions
The sport is played competitively worldwide. Some of the main points:
The world championship
Held annually since 2017, with singles and doubles competitions for men, women and mixed pairs. Players qualify through national and regional events. The current champion is Hungarian, and has won every singles title since the tournament began.
Europe, Asia, Africa and Latin America
The world championship is the main event, but there are competitions across all four regions. The organisers have made a deliberate effort to spread the sport, and the company has offices in the key territories.
The Olympics
This has been discussed for several years. The Olympic Council of Asia has recognised teqball as a sport, and it has been included in the 2023 European Games and the 2021 Asian Beach Games. Its supporters hope for Los Angeles 2028.
Teqball at the top level
It has spread worldwide on the strength of that combination, and it remains one of the more unusual sports there is.
The names behind it
Messi, Ronaldinho, Marcelo, Luis Suárez and Neymar are among the footballers who have promoted it. Beyond its appeal to professionals it is accessible to anyone, which is a large part of why it has travelled so far.
Partnerships
Growth has been rapid. In 2023 the Gallur sports centre in Madrid hosted the third qualifying round for the European championship, and the sport was included in the 2023 European Games and the 2021 Asian Beach Games.
The other games
The company has developed four further games played on the same curved table: teqis, teqpong, qatch and teqvoly. Each variation draws a different kind of player.
The company
Teqball is the company that developed the table and the ball, and that offers the four related games. It was founded in 2014, employs around 130 people and operates in Europe, Africa, Asia and Latin America.
How it is organised
Teqball was founded in 2014 and has grown quickly since. It has around 130 employees across product design and development, manufacturing, marketing and sales, administration, finance and human resources.
Common questions
¿Qué es el Teqball?
El Teqball es un deporte que combina el fútbol con el tenis de mesa. Se juega en una mesa curva especial llamada Teq table, que tiene una superficie similar a la de una mesa de ping pong. El objetivo del juego es pasar la pelota por encima de la red usando cualquier parte del cuerpo, excepto los brazos y las manos. El Teqball es un deporte divertido y desafiante que requiere habilidades técnicas, coordinación y agilidad.
¿Cuántos jugadores participan en un partido de Teqball?
El Teqball se juega principalmente en formatos individuales (uno contra uno) o en equipos de dobles (dos contra dos). En ambos casos, hay un máximo de cuatro jugadores involucrados en el partido.
¿Cuáles son las reglas básicas del Teqball?
Las reglas del Teqball son similares a las del tenis de mesa. Los jugadores deben golpear la pelota por encima de la red y hacerla rebotar en la superficie curva de la mesa hacia el lado del oponente. Cada jugador tiene un máximo de tres toques para devolver la pelota. La pelota no puede tocar la misma parte del cuerpo dos veces consecutivas. El objetivo es ganar puntos haciendo que el oponente no pueda devolver la pelota correctamente.
¿Es necesario tener habilidades avanzadas en fútbol para jugar Teqball?
Si bien tener habilidades en fútbol puede ser ventajoso, no es necesario ser un jugador de fútbol profesional para disfrutar y participar en el Teqball. El deporte es apto para personas de diferentes niveles de habilidad y experiencia. Además, jugar Teqball también puede ayudar a mejorar las habilidades técnicas y la coordinación necesarias para el fútbol tradicional.
¿Cuáles son los beneficios de jugar Teqball?
Jugar Teqball tiene varios beneficios. Ayuda a mejorar la coordinación mano-ojo, la agilidad, la velocidad de reacción y la habilidad técnica. También es un ejercicio físico que ayuda a mejorar la forma física general, la resistencia cardiovascular y la fuerza muscular. Además, el Teqball es divertido y social, lo que lo convierte en una forma emocionante de mantenerse activo y conectarse con otros amantes del deporte.
¿Dónde se puede jugar Teqball?
El Teqball se ha vuelto cada vez más popular en todo el mundo y se puede jugar en diferentes entornos. Puede jugarse en instalaciones deportivas, gimnasios, parques o incluso en el hogar si se cuenta con una mesa de Teqball. Además, existen competiciones y torneos a nivel local, nacional e internacional para aquellos que deseen participar a un nivel más competitivo.
In this article from GoRandom we have gone through what teqball is, how to play it, the rules, the competitions, the company behind it and its Olympic ambitions. Give it a try.
