Two publications featured my Chinatown 9 Man Volleyball photos this past Sunday: The Washington Post Magazine and German Frankfurter Allgemeine Sonntagszeitung.

I have to say I really enjoyed shooting sports for a change – that’s the rare occasion I get to say that! But what a great excuse to hang out in the park on a beautiful July weekend to photograph the New York Mini tournament in Seward Park a few weeks back. Seventy-eight US and Canadian East Coast teams gathered for the regional 9 Man competition, before they’ll face off again at the NACIVT North American Chinese Invitational Volleyball Tournament in the coming days in Washington, DC. If you’re in the capital region, check it out over Labor Day weekend – they’ll have Pennsylvania Avenue blocked off for a Chinatown streetball competition! Now, how often does that happen?

A gritty, streetball version of the standard six player volleyball, 9 Man is only played in North America. It is a fast paced game known for its power dunks and strong, defensive blocks; players don’t rotate and the game follows a distinct set of rules that differentiate it from regular volleyball. Six players on the court at any given time have to be 100% ethnic Chinese, while the other three need to be of some Asian origin.

The game initially became popular in the US during the 1930s. Chinese men living in the bachelor societies created by immigration restrictions in Chinatowns across urban America were playing ball to socialize on their one day off per week, seeking respite from their grueling work days in laundries and restaurants. The pioneering team was formed in Boston, where the first official tournament was held in 1944, with NYC and Washington, DC quickly establishing major branches as well. To learn more about 9 Man‘s origins as a specifically cross-cultural Chinese-American sport, check out this more detailed history.

And keep your eyes peeled for 9-Man, the documentary, coming to theaters and iPads near you soon!  Big shout-out and thanks to Ursula Liang for welcoming us on “her turf.” (The FAS article is by Sebastian Moll; unfortunately it can’t be accessed on-line. But you can read the complete Washington Post article which is focused on organizing this year’s D.C. tournament.)

Update/Sep 04, 2013: The Frankfurter Allgemeine Sonntagszeitung is now running an on-line version of our German article.