Frequently Asked Questions

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Can I use normal tennis balls?

NO!! The sports balls for VX have been specially selected and are substantially softer than a tennis balls. Normal tennis balls have the potential to cause eye injuries

How do I store the VstiX

The best way is to use one of our large carry bags

Will the VstiX survive student use?  eg in our school badminton raquets don't last long

This is different equipment in a different material. The materials mix is extremely tough. Our manufacturers tell us you can drive a truck over it. We have had excellent feedback regarding the robustness and durability of the equipment. We have found that if stored at an angle that the catcher can go out of shape - but it will bend back.

What support is available?

Updated game sheets are available from Global VX and VX international as are a number of other resources. We intend to develop a newsletter to keep people informed of developments as things move so fast in the world of VX. The aim is to develop a self-supporting community so if you have anything you think would help others, please let us know so that we can pass it on.

It is also intended to develop a community portal to the web site which will be accessible to members only, however this is intended as a future development.

You can also always contact us by phone or e-mail with any questions.

We have some free material we can send you on request.

The International Federation (Global VX) and the NGBs now have a coach education scheme and an umpire education scheme is available from these bodies as is an INSET program for teachers and sports awards for pupils.

The new website www.watchvx.tv has some coaching clips which are being added to.

We can't afford a full class set at the moment

We find some schools are buying 10 in one year, followed by 10 the year after and building up their equipment that way. In the long run, as the VstiX are so durable the cost of ownership should be much lower than for other equipment. Some schools are also getting the PTA involved to help with the purchase

Why do VstiX cost more than pop-lacrosse sticks?

When we first developed the equipment we spoke with teachers who told us they were tired of having to replace equipment each year so we developed a premium product using high-tech engineering polymers. We are happy to guarantee the VstiX in normal use for three years although they should last much longer.

Which version should we buy?

There are currently three versions of the VstiX available: the standard size Pro, the Junior and the Predator. The Predator is a limited edition collector’s version and there are only a limited number available.

The standard VstiX is an item of hi-tech sports equipment which is designed to be exceptionally robust to handle the fast paced combat sport of VX. Its specialised materials mix also ensures it is robust enough to meet the needs of schools. The standard VX stick is recommended for school use and for anyone who is wanting to play VX at a sport level.

The Junior is designed for small children (eg Ages 4-7). The length of the control bar also makes it ideal for wheelchair users. Although a softer ball might be used for younger children the Junior is made using the same specialised material s mix as is used for the standard stick so that it can be used in a sporting context and can handle the hurly burly of school life.

Isn't there a lot of scope for cheating?

This is a concern which has been raised since the early days of VX ie that there is the opportunity for players to cheat by not acknowledging when they have been hit.
Experience has shown that it doesn't really become an issue however measures can be put in place to combat this by
(a) having one referee with two umpires as assistants. In a tournament situation these would all be tournament officials. In a lesson situation this is not possible as a teacher would generally be in sole charge of a class. In this case we suggest involving students who are not on court to help referee the game.
(b) Having strict rules regarding penalties for not acknowledging a hitIt is recognised that there will be occasions, especially if a player is wearing loose clothing,when (s)he might not realise (s)he has been hit. On those occasions the umpire will have to use his/her discretion.

In practice it has been found that the honesty of players has exceeded expectations and VX has provided a welcome change to the cheating and cynicism of established sports. However as the sport continues to grow in popularity it needs to be recognised that the scope for cheating is there and that rules and penalties will need to be adjusted. This is one of the responsibilities of the National Governing Body.

It is also worth noting that football, which has been in a formalised existence for over 125 years, still needs the rules amending on a regular basis as players find ever more inventive ways of cheating. VX is a young sport and it is clear that the rules will need to be fine-tuned.

Is there a league or tournament for schools?

Some independent clubs are now getting established and there is now a national league in England run by VX England. At the moment there is no formalised national tournament for schools. We are finding that as schools get more involved that there are localised competitions and fixtures, in some cases organised by the schools themselves. As part of a future development we would like to see a Schools' Association that administers formalised competition for schools.

What about eye injuries?

If this is a concern you can insist your players wear eye protection. We recommend it, however we find that most players prefer to NOT wear the goggles. The balls are large enough and soft enough to reduce the risk of injury. It can happen but the risk of getting hit in the eye is relatively low and the risk of an injury is even lower - however we must insist that normal tennis balls are NOT used.

What if we don't want to introduce a sport that involves throwing balls at each other?

no problem – VX is very versatile. Play a non-combat version. This is one of the beauties of VX - it is versatile and flexible, however we find that VX is having such an impact in its standard versions that you will probably find the demand for the standard versions becomes overwhelming.  In its standard form it brings so many benefits that get less-sporty players more involved.  On the other hand there are several non-'combat' versions and they all have transferable skills for other sports.

What does the name VX stand for?

It doesn't stand for anything - it is symbolic. In the team game there are two teams of 5 players - in Roman numerals V = 5; With two teams that means 10 players on court - in Roman numerals X = 10. However we also have the different versions (V2, V3, V4) so V can also stand for 'Versions.' X is also the algebraic representation for 'any number' so demonstrates the Versatility ('V' again) of VX.

What about cheating?

The 4 cornerstones of VX are honesty, integrity, sportsmanship and respect and these values are promoted right through the sport. The onus is on an individual player to acknowledge they have been hit and to come to a standstill, raise a hand and look to the referee. As well as the referee there are also two umpires whose role is to look for infringements. We find players actually like the 'honesty' aspect and failing to declare a strike is very very rarely down to cheating. With beginners in some cases they don't feel the hit because of the adrenalin. If the referee thinks a player has deliberately not declared a strike (s)he will issue a 3-point penalty. (all penalties are 3 points).