In the year 2000 A.D. a Japan researcher went into the library of the JVA (Japan Volley Ball Association) and took an old dark brown type script: “Volley Ball; Players Of Relative Short Stature”
“What is this? Well, it’s Mr. Chew of Indonesia who is the author. What kind of nonsense does he write. Relative short players in Volley Ball are unfairly treated. I’ll prove this nonsense.”
So, he went to the statistical bureau and asked the data of the average height of men and women in Japan. He then measured the height of players of clubs, national players during competitions, championships and compared this with the average statures in the statistics.
“Damned! Mr. Chew’s observations seem correct.”
Then he measured short players with the highest vertical jump and compared this with tall players also with the highest vertical jump. These players jumped even higher than the short players. He shook his head, wiped his eyes in unbelief.
After having done many investigations, he experimented with “weight lifting” on short players. Their vertical jump increased and reached 120 Cm. Experiments with tall players even reached still higher to 130 Cm. Knowing the result of his investigations he cried and jumped in elation.
“Mr. Chew’s information is right, he only doesn’t give a scientific prove. Why is JVA so stupid to keep this document untouched for almost 20 years?”
“His proposal for classification according to stature is a jewel, a pearl just before us. The classification according to age groups, in boxing, … has been successfully realized. We don’t need to seek and find another solution in the sea of difficult, studied, confusing rules and when we found one, it’s perhaps not as good, effective as this simple one.
In Japan people cried “Banzai” celebrating the introduction of the new playing rule.
In his bed, the Japan investigator mused: Why are the Indonesian people so careless as to lose such a fine proposal to improve their Volley Ball World?. Didn’t they examine it?”
“Arigato, Thank you Mr. Chew” he whispered and fell happily asleep … for it’s Nippon who became hero, not Indonesia! Is this what we want?
From Merdeka, June 7, 1991
It’s now 2008 A.D. The year 2000 is past. I started the proposal almost 30 years ago, yet Classified Volley Ball still isn’t realized which is just as sane and sound as age groups, classified sport in boxing, weight lifting, motor, car, bicycle, horse, dog races, … Without classes it is as senseless as to have women compete with men, children, old people with young men. And it’s a shame to have the majority of relative small players in the world without a share to Volley Ball. Besides there is no honor to win against short players. The coaches, experts, the officials certainly are convinced by now that short players have no chance whatever in competing with the tall, but why do they keep silent?
I wrote to the highest Volley Ball Officials in Indonesia, Asia, even to our president, but there was no response. I, wrote to the IVBF (International Volley Ball Federation) but there was no response either. But then I wrote a private letter to Mr. Paul Libaud the IVBF president himself. It wasn’t turned down, and I got an answer. I printed a booklet and send it to libraries, to LIPI, the National Indonesian Library. I have organized my own Volley Ball tournaments with classes on my initiative at my own expense which could be more easily, successfully done by our highest National officials who are responsible for Volley Ball as they have the means, the funds and authority.
Perhaps it does take ages for Man to become a bit saner or is it inertia.
It’s the IVBF, The Asian, Indonesian Volley Ball Association with a “voice”, have the authority, the “minority” who should read, hear this, It’s a pity, that the so vast majority of relative short players in the world and you, who now read this have no “voice”.
Yet, whenever I will fail, another will arise as sure as the rising sun in the east.
May 2008
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