Speed Stacking phenomenon which has taken the world by storm arrives in Ireland

A cup-stacking game which has been shown to improve hand-eye co-ordination and the better use of both hands has arrived in Ireland and is about to take the schools and clubs market by storm.

Speed Stacks are already a huge hit across the UK, mainland Europe, US and China. The sport stacking game is a high-speed individual or team sport where participants stack and un-stack 12 specially designed plastic cups in pre-determined sequences against the clock.

Preliminary research has found support for claims made by the manufacturer that the activity improves co-ordination by improving ambidexterity, developing hand-eye accuracy and promoting upper extremity quickness.

Many PE instructors in the UK have started cup stacking programmes in their schools and the distributor here hopes primary and second level schools will use their PE grants to invest in Speed Stacks and watch their pupils reap the benefits.

Under strict franchise conditions here, Irish distributor, Micheal Nolan, cannot sell Speed Stacks to or through shops. They must only be sold through schools, clubs and associations or on line on his new website at www.speedstacks.ie.

Mr  Nolan, is a native of Clare but now lives in Kilkenny and is both a sports fanatic and former chess champion. He saw Speed Stacks in action in the UK and immediately signed up for the Irish franchise.

“My own children are aged 7 and 4. They have both been Speed Stacking against the clock since the early summer.

“They and their friends are all getting faster and faster and really enjoying the challenge of beating the clock and taking precious fractions of seconds off their individual records. Many of their friends have bought cups in recent weeks and have asked Santa to bring them the mat, timer and demonstration DVD.”

Mr Nolan, who was a former GAA coach in primary schools across the west of Ireland, feels Speed Stacks are the ideal PE tool for Irish schools, particularly as a set of cups, special mat timer and demonstration DVD  costs just over €60. They take up very little space indoors or outdoors and require  little or no time to set up and stow away.

“Anything that helps boost hand-eye co-ordination and gets children active, up and about and competing against the clock has to be good for them. My children revel in it and I hope that in the not too distant future, Ireland will have Speed Stacking champions competing on a global stage for the coveted title of World Sport Stacking Champion,” he added.

For further information on Speed Stacks, visit www.speedstacks.ie

Photo captions: Stacking up  his options! Seven year-old Cathal Nolan with his Speed Stacks. The sport stacking game is about to take Ireland by storm.