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From Peacocks to Bearadactyls, Hooverball gets ready
by Norv and Mary Coblentz · Sports · August 03, 2017
Plans are in place for the 2017 Hooverball National Championship Games to be held Aug. 5 beginning at 9 a.m.
There are 18 adult teams registered so far for the 30th annual competition.
Registration will be open the morning of Aug. 5 beginning at 8:30 a.m. although preregistration through the Iowa Games website is preferred.
This is the second year the Hooverball Championship will be part of the Iowa Games.
“(The partnership) works pretty good,” Hooverball Commissioner Brad Reiners said. “We’re working on building it up some more.” Iowa Games can promote events statewide and have outreach avenues already in place.
“This year, (Iowa Games) had (former University of Iowa quarterback) Chuck Long do a promotion on the radio,” Reiners said.
Part of the fun each year is the creative names for some of the teams.
The Hoover Presidential Foundation is making an effort to keep the names “family friendly” this year.
Examples of this year’s teams include Three Brothers, Three Championships; Anytime Fitness; I Guess I’ll Play; Light on the Busch; Sore and Out of Shape; the Heave Ho’s; Peacocks; and Short Shorts, Long Shot.
The Foundation also has an eye to the future, and youth games will be played this year on Aug. 4 from 4 to 6 p.m. on the Village Green.
Instructional workshops have been held to educate new players on rules and strategies for the game. There are three youth divisions: Division I is for youth entering fourth and fifth grades. Division II (which is full) is for those entering sixth and seventh grades. And Division III is for youth entering eighth and ninth grades.
Examples of team names in the youth division are Dominators, Solon Crushers, and Bearadactyls. There are 81 youth registered so far. A third net has been set up for the Youth games to allow more participants.
Two sponsors will have booths set up at the Saturday games. Integrated Therapy Specialists will have a booth to help with any injuries, and McDonalds of West Branch will have a booth with games and McDonalds prizes. In addition to these two sponsors, Urban Acres Real Estate and the West Branch Lions Club also sponsor the event.
“We’re going to play rain or shine, as long as there is no lightning,” Reiners said.
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