The push to turn a backyard tackle game into a global sport

“Defender is ready?” Calls the host.

Thumbs up and a moment later, two turbulent men – without protective equipment – run each other before they conflict, an unmistakable meat and bone sound.

The audience broke out in collective scrimening, some cheering, other remarse.

This is the moment that they were waiting for – and it is the energy floor of the adrenaline organizers that IT championship league is banking to help what they call “the most common world, new collision, in a global audience.”

It is a top version of one on one on one correction that was created in the courtyards and school playgrounds of Australia and New Zealand – namely in the Defense Pacific Islander.

One person who wears the ball must “run directly” on the defense counsel, which also sprints towards them: they are not allowed to preserve, stop or switch to the utensils.

Videos of the game recently went viral, and the founders of the shopping IT league – they say that they received millions of views online, they won over thousand fans, attracted sponsors for a great name, and even inspired rival competitions.

They held Jources in Melbourne and Auckland, and another in Dubai Arena, the winner of confiscation of money in the amount of $ 200,000 (98,000 pounds) will occur on Saturday. The following on their agenda is spread in the UK and us.

But the ground floor of the support for the league is increasingly burdened with critical voices. Medical professionals and sports figures take care of the influence of the game of physical and mental health in the game – who became and a broader social civilian median, which was already accused of claiming it for one life.

“It’s like a baby shaking,” says Peter Sattterwaite, whose teenager nephew died after copying games at the party.

The goal of the game is simple: be a person who “dominates” contact, which considers the Commission of three judges.

Two weekly co-founder leagues, Brandon Tauaa’a and Stephen Hancock, tell the BBC that they have darling memories to play the game as teenagers in Melbourne.

“I used to” constantly start “in Brandon,” says Hancock, he was joking that a couple would usually try to avoid each other.

It will not be none of that this weekend, when eight finalists are competing for that gigantic cash prize in the United Arab Emirates.

Hancock insists that it’s “skill game” – “[It’s] All about the leg “- but does not have a negative violent nature.

Quick Scroll on Computer Social Media League accounts shows dozens of fast shot for quick shooting, and they all hone on explosive action of two collisions.

In other videos, which circulates from the event, several competitors were expelled and requires immediate medical help.

Tauaa’a admits that sport comes with risks, but it says League has security protocols to minimize them.

Competitors are presented, subjected to medical evaluation – such as blood tests and physical exam – and they also have to send recent video themselves playing sports that deals with sports dealing. Medical staff is also on the margins of the event.

“There is an element of danger with surfing, with boxing and many other sports,” Tauaa claims.

For Champ Betham – who beat $ 20,000 on Saturday at the beginning of this month in the Title in Dubai on Saturday – the danger element is secondary consideration.

“This is a mass blessing in the entire crowd of us to pretty much try and win 20k or whatever in the work is a few hours,” he said at that time to New Zealand.

“We need to repay some debts and stocks of refrigerations and lockers, food for our small, especially with such an economy and things here in New Zealand. Nothing is cheap these days.”

The money involved for the league that was only six months, is impressive. In addition to the prize fund, costs and accommodation costs are paid. 1,600 seat aren are reserved. The league has a smooth social media account, PR representative and a bunch of promoters – including antipode sports stars.

Its initial financial signing are described only as a “group of local investors who believe in the product”, but the days before Dubai’s event, announced that League has announced that it has been banned in key markets such as Australia and Great Britain.

Talks also undergoing contact with potential American investors, including a contact associated with US Podcaster and UFC heavy Joe’s Rogan, which Tauaa’a will “definitely help you” league in the United States will be built in the United States.

High supports are needed to suit their ambitions for the competition, which are claimed to be more than the transit trend of social media.

“This could actually state into a sport that could sit [in a class] With MMA and Box, “says Hancock.

But like Tauaa’a and Hancock focused on future ambitions of competition, more and more votes call her security.

“They could put smoking as a legitimate sport,” says Neuroznontionontista Alan Pearce.

Speaking with the BBC from New Zealand City of Palmon North, Peter Satterthvaite is unequivocal.

“It’s not a sport,” he says. It’s a “dangerous activity” designed exclusively “to hurt the guy in front of you”.

Hirgenny Nezak Ryan celebrated 21. Birthday with friends in the local park when they decided to try the game they saw around the whole food.

Ryan is two bar. Neither he or his friend fell or clashed their heads. But while he left, he told his friends not to feel good, his uncle was recounted.

“[Ryan] She was a bite bite, then lay down and his eyes were just returning to his head. “

Friends rushed him to the hospital where the doctors had to “reduce a large piece from the skull” to mitigate the pressure caused by the swelling of the brain, says Sattatchwaite.

“I saw him on the fan, his breast moved up and down while he was breathing and it was like” get up! Open the eyes “.”

On Monday night, only the day after playing with his friends, Ryan’s life support was excluded in the hospital room filled with the loved ones.

“It was just a harmless conflict,” says Ryan Uncle, “and it just shows you how fragile life is and how fragile is your brain.”

Running it says that understands the dangers of contact sports and takes security seriously. The week after Ryan’s death, the League announced the video saying that the game “not for the yard, not the street.”

“Don’t try this at home,” they said.

But Sutterthwaite doubts that the warning will have a lot of influences.

“I think there’s a sport in the world that people don’t work on the beach or in their backyard or park.”

These are not just physical influences worrying Shenei Panaya.

Like Samoan who grew up in Australia, would often see school units that play the game like a little fun. But mental health workers is afraid to enhance the “version of masculinity on which the silence is forces, and violence is proof of pride.”

“Sends about the dangerous message to young men that their value is based on how much pain they can take. Yes if you are not solid, you do not belong.”

And the League attempt to turn that into a lucrative sporter’s lucrative sport counter, the values ​​of many in the Paciti’s Island community, says Penaya.

“We are learned to watch out for each other … and that decisions give more than just ourselves.”

Their concerns resonate the packaging of shaking experts and sports personality.

For more than a decade, the world of high-stroke sports introduces security measures because research develops in brain injuries.

Official bodies, including Rugby Australia, New Zealand Rugby warned people not to participate, and the new Prime Minister Novi Zealand also applied, saying it was a “stupid thing”.

Neuroscientist Pearce claims that the “most violent aspects of our established sport”, while the security protocols are a little small to minimize any risk. Blood tests and physical exams cannot predict brain injuries, and catastrophic damage can happen even without direct impact in the head, he says.

“I don’t see how it runs at 25km, one hour, without stopping it is safe,” says BBC. “It’s just like that.”

There is a risk of current shaking, Dr. Pearce says, delayed back brain injuries like Ryan Satterttrachalopathy and chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) – degenerative disease caused by repeating trauma on the head. They can lead to cognitive damage, movement disorders, dementia, depression.

“[They’re] Basically using a collision as a fun worth, which, in fact, commercializes the concussion, “concluded.

But the League spokesman – who claims that “not masculinity”, but “strength and skill” – they say that organizers do not intend to slow down and not too worried about their critics.

Tauaa’a says that they are happening in their competitions “not too differently” to what you see on television rugby matches and – with their protocols – it is far safer than many games played in yards in the courtyards.

“It’s quite new for viewers and may need some time to get used to see what we put together.”