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Oozeball (alsoOOzeball) is avolleyball tournament at several American universities, played in 8 inches of mud and often staged as a fundraising event. The game was being played at theUniversity of Missouri by at least 1980, but where it originated is unknown.[1]
An annual Oozeball event is organized by theUniversity of Connecticut's Student Alumni Association duringSpring Weekend, which is traditionally the weekend before the last week of class. Each year over 1,000 players and spectators attend the tournament. The 2010 event marked the 27th "UConn OOzeball" event, making it the longest running tournament of its kind in the nation.
UConn OOzeball has been recognized three times bySports Illustrated:
- "Best Mud Volleyball in the Country" – SI Best of College Sports
- 33 on the "Top 100 Things Gotta Do Before You Graduate: No Matter The Cost" – SI On Campus
- "Best Use of Dirt" – SI On Campus[2]
In 2011, in an effort to curb the Spring Weekend partying and violence, the University declared that all University-sanctioned events were to be held the weekend before the traditional date. Officially, this was in part due to a lateEaster falling during the "real" Spring Weekend. However, temperatures in the upper 30s forced the event to be cancelled early, with at least nine students experiencinghypothermia.[3] The student body was displeased with the new date, and in subsequent years, the tournament was moved back to Spring Weekend.
Since 1989, students, faculty, staff, and alumni atUniversity of Texas at Arlington have competed annually in an oozeball competition, with proceeds helping to fund student scholarships.[4]