A new national coaching program is being launched in 2021. Materials have been developed for Gateball Levels 1,2 and 3
Coaches accredited under the old system have their accreditation continued until the new one is launched in their state
The links to accredited coaches will be updated as the new program is rolled out
Queensland click here
New South Wales and Canberra click here
Victoria click here
South Australia Barry Haydon, Leah O’Neill, Robert O’Neill, Graeme Thomas..
Some resources are listed below.
FOUNDATION SKILLS
An introduction to the game. The World Gateball Union has some useful introductory material. Follow the Lets Play Gateball and What’s Gateball links to get to this material. The WGU produces a booklet callled Spark Gateball A to Z. Lesson 1 describes the game, court and equipment, lesson 2, stroking, passing gates and finishing and lesson 3, touching sparking and outballs. These are great to print out for absolute beginners. Lesson 4 and 5 deal with simple strategy Please note that, in the latter document, a preferable name for a Block Ball would be an Attack Ball and a Sacrifice Ball would probably be called a Helper Ball.
Stroking. Developing a sound routine for stroking is important. State Croquet Association’s websites often have an introduction to the four elements of a stoking routine. For example, these links are to the CNSW website: Grip , Stalk , Stance and Swing.
Anthony Dask has produced some great videos for us illustrating stroking specifics for Gateball. See Swing Series (Croquet Stance)
Although most players are encouraged to adopt a croquet swing, Anthony introduces different aiming methods, including the Golf Style, in a video called Gateball Aiming Methods . More details on Golf Style and Chinese style are also available.
For absolute beginners, a game without sparking is an idea. See Aussie Gateball
Touching and sparking are the key to success. Developing a routine for sparking is as important as a stroking routine. See Sparking Tips
For left handers, Philip Brown of Victoria documents the process for those who need a left handed instructor.
Basic Skills to practise. Skills cards have always been a useful tool to use. These activity cards match the Skills cards They can be set out on a court with the required equipment and players circulate from activity to activity during a session.
Coaches often develop their own and these two sets of activities were used in Rockhampton and at Pine Rivers.
This card was developed at Canberra. There are some quite demanding activities on it: Skills Carnival
Practice Routines are important. There is an old saying that a game is not practice!
Anyone who develops variations of these basic skills is invited to send them to info@gateball.com.au for posting on this website
A useful series of videos has been produced by Satoshi, a JGU friend of Gateball Australia. They could be watched on court with a phone. See his videos:
| Court and Equipment | Passing Gates and Making an Agari | Touch and Spark |
| Sparking+ | Touch Pass | Slide Touch |
| Outball | Bombard | Common Fouls |
| Jumping Touch | Pass Touch |
DEVELOPING CONSISTENCY
Activities were developed and trialed in 2019 by Gateball Australia. In most cases they require sequences of strokes and sparks that a player needs to carry out to succeed in a competition. Email info@gateball.com.au for access to this material
MORE ADVANCED PLAY
Gateball Australia continually updates a strategy document. The latest version can be found here: Strategies
Gateball Australia has also produced a summary of skills which can be forwarded on request. More videos illustrating some higher level skills include: Gateball Jump Touch, Gateball Jump Spark and Gateball Spark Swing Theory
Scenarios are a great way to train a team for a competition and to develop higher level skills and understanding. It is important to play and discuss them and not just see them as a pencil and paper puzzle. A scenario and a link to others can be found on this website. Play them, reflect on what happened and give GA some feedback. Anyone who responds with their thoughts and a description, can, in some cases, be sent some discussion notes. Do please also forward further scenarios for inclusion on our website.
A really useful app to allow players to consider strategy is available on the Gateball.Asia website
Further materials can be accessed through this link
