Push to turn the game in the back yard into a global sport

“The defender is ready?” causes the owner.

The finger up and in a few minutes, two coarse men – without a protective gear – running at full speed for each other before they face, unmistakable sound of the flesh and bone.

The crowd breaks out in collective rumble, some vigor, other muzzles.

This is the moment when they were waiting – and it is this energy that protrudes from the adrenaline, the organizers of the IT championship championship to help bring what they call “the most violent in the world, a new sport of collision” for a global audience.

This is a superpowered version of the game alone, which emerged in the yards and school playgrounds of Australia and New Zealand, namely in the Pacific Islands.

One person who carries the ball should “run it directly” on the defender, which is also a sprint to them: they are forbidden, disgraced, interfere or go into shells.

Recently, video games became viral, and the founders of the Run IT have taken advantage of interest – they say they got millions of views on the Internet, won more than thousands of fans, attracted great sponsors and even inspired competitive competitions.

They conducted Jousses in Melbourne and Ouckland, and on Saturday another will take place in the arena Dubai, the winner who takes the prize money of $ 200,000 (98,000 pounds). Further on their agenda is the expansion in the UK and the US.

But the basis of the league support is increasingly referring to critical voices. Medical experts and sportsmen are worried about physical and mental health in the game – which also became more enthusiastic about social media, which is already accused of stating one life.

“It’s like a trembling of the baby,” says Peter Satervait, whose nephew died after copying the game at the party.

The purpose of the game is simple: be a person who “dominates” in contact, according to a panel of three judges.

Two of the Seven League co -founders, Brandon Tauaa and Stephen Hanko, say BBC that they admire the games as teenagers in Melbourne.

“I used to keep it right,” says Hancok, joking that the couple usually tries to avoid each other’s strokes.

There will be nothing like this when eight finalists compete for this giant monetary award in the United Arab Emirates.

Hanko insists that this is a “game of skill” – “(this) all about the work of the legs” – but it is impossible to deny a rigid nature.

Fast scrolling accounts in the social media league shows dozens of quick videos leading to explosive activities of two men.

In other videos distributing, several competitors are knocked out and require immediate medical attention.

Tauaa admits that the sport comes with risks, but says the league has security protocols to minimize them.

Competitors undergo examination that undergo medical evaluations – such as blood tests and physical examination – and they also have to send a recent video about playing the sports. Medical staff is also on the sidelines of events.

“There is an element of danger with surfing, with sides and many other sports,” says Taua.

For the Beathham champion – who won $ 20,000 earlier this month at the Occlade competition and is engaged in the title in Dubai on Saturday – an element of danger – a secondary consideration.

“This is a mass blessing for a whole pile to greatly try to win 20,000 or anything for a couple of hours,” he said at the time of New Zealand.

“We need to pay off some debt and accumulate refrigerators and cabinets, food for our little ones, especially with the economy and similarly here in New Zealand. These days are nothing cheap.”

The money associated with the League, which has only existed six months, is impressive. Along with the prize fund, the cost of travel and accommodation is paid. 1600 places were registered. The league has a smooth account in social media, a PR representative and a bunch of promoters – including antipoda stars.

Its initial financial supporters were described only as “a group of local investors who believe in the product” but there are great names: a few days before the event in the Dubai League announced that it provided the main sponsor in the Internet Platform, which is forbidden in key markets such as Australia and UK.

Negotiations with potential American investors, including contact related to American Podcaster and UFC in the Superbacco weight Joe Rogan, which, according to Taua, will “help” the league to build presence in the USA.

They will need great fans to match their ambitions for the competition that they claim are not just a fleeting tendency of social media.

“It can actually be in a sport that can sit (in class) with MMA and boxing,” says Hanok.

But since Tauaa and Hancok are focusing on the future ambitions of the competition, more and more votes are questioned by its safety.

“They can also set up smoking as a legitimate sport,” says neurologist Alan Pierce.

Speaking in front of the BBC from Novy Zealand Palmeston -northern, Peter Satervit is unambiguous.

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

His 19-year-old nephew Ryan celebrated his 21st birthday with friends in a local park when he decided to try the game they saw in all their social media.

Ryan made two tackle. Neither he nor his friend fell or face his head. But when he left, he told his companions that he was not feeling well, and his uncle recounts.

“(Ryan) was a little agreed, then he lay down, and his eyes just rolled back into his head.”

Friends sent him to a hospital where doctors had to “cut a significant piece from the skull” to alleviate the pressure caused by brain swelling, Satervait says.

“I saw it on the vent, the chest go up and down when he was breathing and it was like to get up! Open your eyes. “

On Monday night, just a day after he played with his comrades, Ryan’s life support was disabled in a hospital room filled with loved ones.

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

Launch, it is said that it understands the danger of contact sports and perceives security seriously. A few weeks after Ryan’s death, the League posted a video stating that the game is “not for the back yard, not for the street.”

“Don’t try this home,” they said.

But Satterthwaite doubts the warning will have a great influence.

“I don’t think there is a sport that people do not play on the beach, in their yard or in the park.”

These are not just the physical consequences that are worried about the granas Panai.

As a self -growing self -growing in Australia, she often see schools playing this game as a little fun. But the mental health worker fears that this enhances “a version of masculinity, where silence is force, and violence is proof of pride.”

“It sends a young message dangerous that their value is based on how much pain they can take. This is if you are not harsh, you don’t belong.”

And the League attempt to turn this into a profitable sport spectator contradicts the values ​​of many in the Pacific Islets, says foam.

“We are taught to look for each other … and make decisions that serve not only.”

Their concern is repeated with the turn of the brain and sports figures.

For over ten years, the world of high impact is imposed on security measures as brain injuries.

Official bodies, including Rugby Australia, New Zealand Rugby warned people not to participate, and the Prime Minister of New Zealand also weighs, saying it was a “silent business”.

The neurological pier claims that it increases the “most stringent aspects of our created sport”, while the security protocols minimize any risk. He says blood tests and physical examinations cannot predict brain injury, and catastrophic damage can occur even without a direct blow to the head, he says.

“I don’t see how it works at 25 km per hour right on each other without stopping, it’s safe,” he says BBC. “It’s so simple.”

D -R Pierce says that the risk of immediately concussion, delayed brain injuries such as Ryan Satertveit, and chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) is a degenerative disease caused by a recurrent head injury. They can lead to cognitive impairment, movement disorders, dementia, depression.

“(They) mainly use a collision as an entertainment value, which essentially commercializes brain concussion,” he concludes.

But the League press secretary – who claims to be “not about masculinity”, but “strength and skill” – they say that the organizers do not intend to slow down and do not worry too much for their critics.

Taua says that what is happening at their competitions is “not too different” to what you see on television rugby – and – from their protocols – is much safer than many games that played in the yards around the world.

“It’s brand new to the audience, and it can take some time to get used to seeing what we have collected.”