Interested in a low-cost sport that ticks all your boxes?  A mixed and inclusive sport that is accessible to the disabled? A sport that increases participation and gets non-sporty children involved? A sport you can play from scratch in 10 minutes? With discounts for schools? Of course you are!  Let me tell you about VX!

Only 14 years old, VX is probably the fastest-growing sport in the world.  It has had a massive impact in schools across the UK and has a foothold in 26 countries.  It can be played as a team, singles or doubles and has an impact like nothing you’ve ever seen!

It’s the simplest sport there is - there are no goals, no markings, no zones, no targets.  Players can move anywhere and they score points by hitting an opponent with a ball (scores 1 point) or catching a ball (scores 3 points). It can be played as a team, singles or doubles but is flexible and versatile enough to meet all local conditions

It’s gender neutral at all levels in all disciplines and is an inclusive sport that is also accessible to players with a wide-range of physical and cognitive impairments. It increases participation and gets both sporty and non-sporty children involved and beginners can be playing at a fast pace in just ten minutes.

Sitting squarely in the National Curriculum and suitable for all ages and abilities VX emphasises honesty and integrity in sport.  Schools use it in the curriculum, for after-school clubs and to increase participation, target specific student groups, and give students responsibility.  It involves a massive amount of both aerobic and anaerobic fitness,– but the youngsters don’t realise how hard they are working.  As the Director of Sport for Ripon Schools says: “VX – it’s got the lot”

 

Please contact us for receive a report about VX in schools

Right from the start, VX has had an impact in schools, from Primary School Reception classes through to Sixth Form enrichment.

Schools are using VX in a variety of ways:

•     as part of the curriculum
•     to target specific student groups - we have schools using it to target year 9 girls,  kids who don't get anything from mainstream sport, non-sporty kids, kids with behavioural issues, for example
•     we have helped some schools run VX as part of the PE GCSE
•     for after-school clubs
•     for lunchtime clubs
•     as part of charity week
•     as part of school fundraising
•     for staff team-building
•     for inter-school competition
•     for intra-mural competition
•     to provide competition for less-sporty pupils
•     to support other sports eg with hand-eye co-ordination, spatial awareness, speed, reflexes, agility, reactions ...

Teachers tell us they like VX because it is

    * in line with the Schools National Curriculum – VX sits squarely in the ‘Games’ strand of the curriculum and covers the three techniques of (a) outwitting opponents (b) performing at maximum levels in relation to speed, height, distance, strengths or accuracy, (c) Exercising safely and effectively to improve health and wellbeing
    * Varied – it can be used for a whole range of sports. As well as ‘pure’ VX there are different official disciplines eg V2 (two players on a squash court – very intense and gladiatorial – and great fun), V3 (3 players on a squash court, every player for himself) and  V4 (pairs, also played on a squash court – incredibly fast and intense).  There are also derivatives which we tend to use in training sessions - Combat VX, Target VX, Short Target-VX.  People are also making up their own and letting us know – Hockey-VX, Pred-It-Ball, even a VX version of Quidditch etc.
    * Robust – the equipment was developed through a detailed design process and tested thoroughly. The materials mix was carefully selected to be robust and long lasting.  It should outlast most other pieces of sports equipment in an organisation, despite the abuse sports equipment can suffer.  Teachers told us they were sick of replacing equipment so we use a premium product which is guaranteed for three years
    * Flexible – although there are official rules which have to be abided by in official competition it is designed to be versatile and flexible so you can make it do what you want it to do.
    * Inclusive.  It can also be played by players of all abilities and most abilities.  We have seen people with some disabilities playing against able-bodied players on an equal footing.  A wheelchair version is also being developed.  One teacher said he likes it so much because it is a ‘no blame game’ and so is particularly attractive to the less-sporty youngsters.
    * Mixed Gender– VX is played by males and females on an equal basis.  The 2012 Youth World Champion was a 17 year old girl from Scotland.  The current hottest prospect in the sport is a 14-year old girl who is now training with the top players in the world.
    * Fast – players get an exhausting work out – they don’t realise how hard they are working, however it is versatile enough to be played at different paces in different formats and so can be included in any sort of fitness regime.
    * Popular – the overwhelming feedback is that the sport is incredibly popular amongst youngsters and is having an amazing impact.
    * Structured – although there are new skills to be learnt we get beginners playing the game at a fast pace within five minutes and then stepping back to do skills in a structured way as required.
    * Encouraging – VX gives a real feeling of achievement.  Although it is not something which is picked up immediately, ie it has to be worked at, it is something in which players can develop skills.  The skills can be built up in a very structured way allowing users of all abilities to feel a degree of success.
    * Suitable for all ages – when demonstrating VX we have youngsters of all ages wanting to play.  We have worked with children as young as 4 and adults as old as 82!!  The sport is being used to great effect in primary schools, secondary schools, colleges and at university level.
    * Safe  - We have one school that bought VX specifically for its behavioural unit. We even have the prison service implementing VX! They explain that it allows for ‘controlled release of aggression in a safe environment’.  A lot of attention has been paid to the Health and Safety aspects and VX has been shown to be one of the safest sports available.
    * Transferable Skills – for example we have rugby, football, hockey and lacrosse coaches using VX for spatial awareness, reflexes, balance, hand-eye co-ordination, agility and conditioning training.
    * Providing Opportunities – as this is such a young sport there are many opportunities to get involved and make an impact.  We pride ourselves on giving responsibility to young people and having an effect in the community.
    * Driving Participation – because there is nowhere to hide and yet the focus is not on individual players, the sport also appeals to less-sporty youngsters.  We have been told on several occasions by parents that this is the only sport their child will play – it helps increase sporting participation by attracting the less-sporty players, too.