著者

中村 本勝 市川 孝夫 小林 正憲

出版者

久留米工業大学

雑誌

久留米工業大学研究報告 (ISSN:03896897)

巻号頁・発行日

vol.22, pp.107-112, 1998-12-20

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As a sport for people of advanced age, gateball is declining in popularity. The major causes are mental stress resulting from athletic competition and physical illness affecting the sport's elderly participants. Gateball's decline has intensified due to the growing popularity of sports like ground golf. This has led to the weakening of gateball teams because there are not enough players to take part in games. Furthermore, the lack of newcomers has resulted in an insufficient number of people engaged in team management. Regarding the causes of mental stress, gateball rules mandate severe penalties in the event of an "outside release" or "out-of-bounds" play. This peculiar rule produces high stress among beginning players. Among the elderly members of gateball clubs, in addition, qualified individuals are granted a high social position or ranking. This is a major source of stress, as it promotes resistance to scolding or pressure from a team coach or manager. Such factors produce a sense of incongruity for gateball and there are many cases in which low player participation has been caused. For these reasons, it is difficult for talented persons to become involved in gateball management. The writer thinks that the following things will be necessary for a comeback or revival in gateball's popularity. Demonstrations of activity and support for all team members will be needed to give returning participants a sense of vitality. Then if the gateball player population increases, team formation will become strengthened by degrees. For this to be accomplished, the cooperation of concerned persons in cities, towns and villages is indispensable. The writer considers gateball to be an important matter for the aging society.