SALT RIVER PIMA MARICOPA INDIAN COMMUNITY — The atmosphere inside the Salt River Pima Maricopa Indian Community rec center is buzzing with anticipation at the start of a two-day tournament featuring 24 teams from three states. I was standing.
Team captains gathered around a long table to hear the rules from team organizers and referees for one of Indian Country's most popular games.
“I don't curse.”
“Stop yelling at officials.”
“No spikes.”
“Headphones or earphones are not allowed. You must pay attention to what your teammates are saying.”
“If the player stands up, falls off the chair, or the chair is out of bounds, the ball is considered 'out'.”
And perhaps the most important rule: “Always keep your butt on the chair. The “one cheek” rule does not apply here. ”
That's right, butts in chairs These teams were itching to start playing the 2nd Annual Salt River Senior Chair Volleyball Tournament, dubbed “The Big One.”
Teams with names like Tribal Roots, Puma Puma, Native Chaos, Fort McDowell Firebirds and Blackwater Jackrabbits competed against each other and against tribal teams from Arizona, California and Nevada.
The Soboba Band of Luiseño Indians transported seniors from their reservation in Southern California on buses, with other seniors riding along to the rec center. Some athletes used wheelchairs or electric scooters. Some wore colorful T-shirts with their team names and logos on them.
The game provides physical and mental exercise for seniors aged 55 and above, as well as an opportunity to interact with other Indigenous peoples. It also gives these silver athletes a chance to win gold or at least continue playing the sport after retirement.
Health and social effects of chair volleyball
Chair volleyball is taking the senior centers of India by storm. Over the past decade, dozens of teams have been formed and seniors can be found honing their skills, serves and game strategies in tribal communities across the region. One tribe in Washington state even held a chair volleyball match with tribal council members as part of their tribal meeting. tribal elders.
It's more than just fun and games for a set 55 years later. Chair volleyball helps elderly people with illnesses and to maintain optimal mobility and health.
Jennifer Viaco, a family physician with Phoenix-based community health provider Native Health, said chair volleyball has many benefits for seniors.
“It helps older adults reach their goal of getting 150 minutes of exercise each week. It also supports cardiovascular health, increases upper body strength, promotes hand-eye coordination and stretching, and improves self-esteem.” It also helps to improve,” she said.
Chair volleyball is a great way to get seniors out of the house, especially after the COVID-19 pandemic forced them to stay home, said David Willis, athletic manager for Salt River City's Community Recreation Services Department. It's also an opportunity for him to take her out.
“I'm looking forward to seeing them be active,” he said. “Our seniors are out playing and traveling every weekend.” During the tournament, the seniors hold karaoke nights and other social events, and “they go out and see each other.
“They are more active than our young people!”
“It’s like a class reunion.”
Brian Smith, a member of the Salt River Tribal community, leads the Meow Tosh team. “These are the names for 'sun' in Pee Posh and Pima,” said Lewis, 64. “So we are the sun.”
Smith designed team T-shirts that reflect the sun and earth. Previous shirts reminded us of dusk or basket designs. Today's shirts have faded from bright red to a muted teal.
Smith, a former firefighter, said he played all kinds of sports, including baseball. Chair volleyball wasn't high on his list of games.
“I didn't want to do it at first because I didn't want people to think I was getting old,” he said. But thinking he could continue playing the sport as he gets older, he joined the chair volleyball team about two years ago.
Smith said after having a great experience at a chair volleyball tournament in Pala, Calif., home of the Pala Band of Mission Indians, the Salt River seniors wanted an event of their own. Participation was limited to 24 teams this year due to construction, but he said they are hopeful. It grows as more space becomes available.
Large tournaments, such as those held at the Fort Mojave Indian Tribe's Abi Casino Resort in Laughlin, Nevada, draw nearly 70 teams, but Smith said relatively new teams are competing at the Abi Casino Resort in Laughlin, Nevada. He said he was proud to have placed fourth out of 67 teams vying for the tournament's top honor.
Camaraderie ranks high among Smith's goals for his chair volleyball team He said he started playing with people he knew from the community.
“People come up and say, ‘I used to play softball with you.’ It’s like a reunion,” he said.
Willis said the game helps build social bonds within the senior community beyond the tournament. “They're spending more time with their friends,” he says. “They go to dinners and yard sales.”
And the people, personalities and characters of Salt River's community of more than 1,000 Elders make it fun to come to work, Willis said.
From social hour friends to competitors
Once social etiquette is gone, upperclassmen play hard to move up the bracket.
Competition began in earnest on Saturday morning in the gymnasium. Chair volleyball teams use a regulation court, but with a lower net, and use regulation beach balls instead of traditional volleyballs.
Teams play best two of three matches, with each match lasting 10 minutes or once either team has earned 15 points.
Most of the rules are similar to regular volleyball All player chairs must face forward and all four legs must be firmly planted on the floor Some chair volleyball teams allow players to Although only partially allowed to rest on the seat, Salt River athletes must ensure that their entire back rests firmly on the chair. In case of violation, points will be awarded to the other team. The wheels of your wheelchair or electric scooter must be locked down. Rolling play is not allowed.
After two days of intense competition, one winner moved up the standings. The Turtle II from Pala, a team based in northern San Diego County, wore bright green and yellow shirts with the logo of Pala His Elder, a turtle adorned with feathers.
Willis said plans are underway for the third tournament and he hopes 40 teams will participate.
“It's great to see older people getting more energetic,” he said. The Tribal Recreation Department serves tribal members from ages 3 to 99, and they didn't want to exclude older adults.
Smith said Nya Soshu plays to win, but they also play to lift each other up.
“We developed a friendship with different strengths,” he said, “and I told the team we don't have the worst players, we're all in this together.” ”
Debra Kroll reports on indigenous communities at the intersection of climate, culture, and commerce in Arizona and the Intermountain West. Please contact Krol at debra.krol@azcentral.com. Follow her on X (previously her Twitter @debkrol).
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