Congrats to TV Jahn Schneverdingen and Union Tigers Vöcklabruck winning the European Champions Cup 2021. It was 19 months ago, the last showdown of European club teams at the Champions Cup.

Champions Cup Women in Diepoldsau (Switzerland)

At the Women’s Champions Cup in Diepoldsau, Switzerland, three German teams – TV Jahn Schneverdingen, Ahlhorner SV and TSV Dennach – made it onto the podium.

In a rain battle, TV Jahn Schneverdingen secured the title against Ahlhorner SV in the final. After the Heidschnucken had taken the lead in the first set, Ahlhorn managed to equalize the score 1:1 – but in the end TV Jahn made the title perfect (11:6, 10:12, 11:9, 11:5). The team of coach Tine Seitz remained without defeat over the entire tournament, had, after winning the preliminary round group, defeated Union Nussbach from Austria in the semifinals in a gripping match (11:8, 11:7, 8:11, 8:11, 12:10) and thus paved the way for the first European field title since 2006. With the success, the Schneverdingen women replace TSV Dennach as title holders, who had previously won five times in a row.

The Dennach girls were defeated in the semifinals by the eventual silver medalists from Ahlhorn. Although TSV turned a 0:1 deficit into an interim 2:1 lead – in the end, however, ASV rejoiced (11:8, 5:11, 5:11, 11:8, 11:9). In the bronze medal match, the Pink Ladies went the full distance once again. Against Union Nussbach, the defending champions were trailing 1:2 before they fought their way impressively to the podium (11:8, 10:12, 9:11, 11:7, 13:11).

Final day re-live on https://youtu.be/O1ITUYZQI2c

European Champions Cup Men

The Austrian only men’s final in Vöcklabruck Union Tigers Vöcklabruck beated Union Compact Freistadt in the gold medal match in the first final in 10 years with no German men´s team. In 2011 the finalists were Union Freistadt and FG Grieskirchen/Pötting. TSV Pfungstadt finished third winning against FAUSTBALL WIDNAU.

All matches re-live on www.fistball.tv.

The hosts from Vöcklabruck played sovereign in front of their home crowd already in the preliminary round and took the group victory. However, the plan to avoid a semifinal duel with the big favorites from Pfungstadt by winning the preliminary round did not work out. The Germans, who last won the Champions Cup five times in a row, only finished their group in second place. But the Vöcklabruckers, who were already able to challenge the defending champions in their last duels, did not let that deter them from their big goal. “If you want to win the Cup, you have to win against the best teams. It doesn’t matter if it’s in the final or already before,” Tigers captain Jakob Huemer gave the direction of travel for the semi-final. With a great team performance and an unconditional will to win, the Austrian champions earned a well-deserved 3:2 victory and dethroned the German dominators around superstar Patrick Thomas.

The free skate was done, but the big title goal was not yet reached. The final was anything but a compulsory exercise, as the Bundesliga rival Freistadt was waiting there somewhat surprisingly. The team from the Mühlviertel region had only slipped into the competition at short notice after the cancellation of Bolzano and played their way into the final almost inconspicuously with a refreshing mix of veterans and young talents in the shadow of the anticipated final between Pfungstadt and Vöcklabruck.

Despite being the favorites, it was not an easy task for Vöcklabruck, as the Freistadt team is considered internationally experienced and also won the last Austrian Champions Cup in 2011. However, the current number one in Austria kept its nerve in the final and ultimately prevailed clearly with 3:0. “We are overjoyed that it finally worked out,” said Vöcklabruck coach Michael Fels. For years, a young squad was consistently built up and brought up to the top. “Now we could also reap the fruits of the hard work internationally,” said a satisfied Tigers boss Stefan Huemer. In Freistadt, one can live well with the final result despite the defeat in the final. “Hardly anyone had us on the bill, now we have won silver in the most important international club competition – that fits so!”, my captain Jean Andrioli.

Photocredit: Wolfgang Benedik

U18 national team players Florencia Schwaner (CHI), Anika Hartl (AUT) and Davin Hossmann (SUI) are the first ever U18 representatives to the IFA Youth Commission elected by the participants of the IFA U18 Fistball World Championships in Grieskirchen (Austria).

On the occasion of 30 years of the adoption of the Convention on the Rights of the Child by the UN in November 2019 the IFA Board of Directors has decided to strengthen the rights of children by the election of an U18 representative through the participants of the next U18 World Championships. Currently 25 percent of the 65.000 Fistball players worldwide in 67 countries are under 25 and half of this group are minors under 18.

“We warmly welcome the new commission members and are very much looking forward to working with the young athletes” says Uwe Schneider (GER), chairman of the IFA Youth Commission. “All of them have already proven with their ideas presented before the election, that they are willing to contribute to the development and youth appeal of Fistball” IFA President Jörn Verleger added.

Watch their statements!

Due to drastic Corona measures in the host country Italy, the CSIT World Sports Games 2021 will be cancelled without replacement.

Until the very end, CSIT tried everything and took all necessary measures to hold the CSIT World Sports Games 2021 in Cervia (Italy) despite the prevailing Corona situation and increasing infection figures. The advance of the dangerous Delta variant in Italy and resulting drastic measures taken by the Italian Ministry of Health with partly long quarantine for the international participants, ultimately led to the cancellation. The CSIT Excom unanimously made this decision on Tuesday.

CSIT President Bruno Molea in a first reaction: “The CSIT and I personally are extremely sorry for this decision. We had the highest interest in the sense of the sport and for our many members to carry out the event and have tried everything. However, the current circumstances in Italy and the decision of the government make it impossible. The region of Emilia Romagna and the organizing committee have also tried everything until the end. Not least because a lot of money has already gone into the planning. But for us, everyone’s health comes first, so we decided to cancel. There have been too many question marks.”

This was planned by IFA

The International Fistball Association (IFA) invites all individuals and clubs of the Fistball Family to participate at the CSIT IFA 2021 Fistball Amateurs World Championship and the inaugural IFA CSIT 2021 2×2 Fistball World Championship within the framework of the the 7th Edition of the CSIT World Sports Games (WSG).
The big multisports event was planned in June 2021 have to be postponed to 12 to 17 October 2021 and is hosted by the Italian CSIT member organization “AICS – Associazione Italiana Cultura Sport” in Cesenatico and Cervia, two wonderful and merging into each other seaside resorts at the Italian Adriatic sea coast in Emilia Romagna Region (Italy).

The WSG are a major multi-sports event held every two years, full of sports, sport for all, cultural exchange, fun and new opportunities. These Games are not multisport games for top athletes, but for all amateurs (16 years and older) from different countries and cultures all over the world.

Male, female and gender mixed teams are allowed. Each team may exist of a minimum of 6 players. It is possible to register more than one team. The categories are formed according to the number of registrations. It’s planned there will be an adult tournament (16 years and older) as well as the senior classes for women 30, men 35, 45, 55 and men 60. The tournament is played according to the Fistball – Rules of the Game.

And there will also be a world premiere during the CSIT World Sport Games: the IFA CSIT 2×2 Fistball Amateur World Championship. It will be played in teams of two without substitutes on a field measuring 10 x 3 meters. During a rallye the ball can touch the ground even out of bounds, block attempts are not allowed. The 2×2 Fistball event will be played in a mixed category only.

The participation fee is from 120 Euro (without hotel package) to 555 Euro per person (4**** hotel, double room including full board accommodation, local public transport in Emilia Romagna, registration fee, welcome package and free chiropractic services by FICS) for the duration of the WSG. For more details, see Bulletin 1. Airport shuttle is offered and will cost 50 Euro.

Dates:
Date of arrival: 12 or 13 October 2021
Opening Ceremony: 13 October 2021; 8 p.m.
Match days: 14-16 October 2021 (depends on the number of registered teams)
Date of departure: 17 October 2021

Eligibility criteria:
All amateur players are permitted
No permission of national team players from countries finishing in the Top 7 (Men) / Top 5 (Women) at the last World Championship and players from the highest divisions in Austria, Switzerland and Germany.
Players must be at least 16 years old

Composition of the team:
Male, female and mixed teams – the categories are formed according to the number of registrations Clubs or teams of the member federations IFA / CSIT / FICEP – also several teams per club or selection are allowed
Team size minimum 6 players

Regulations:
Championships follow International Fistball Federation regulations
The CSIT World Sports Games are organized under the WADA Code.

Find all information in the official Bulletin 1: DOWNLOAD

GRIESKIRCHEN. The Sparkasse IFA Fistball World Championships have come to a close with a dramatic final between Germany and Austria in the male U18 event. The German team prevailed, and also drove home the victory against Austria earlier today in the female U18 tournament. The German squad hence scored four titles in Grieskirchen and now holds all international fistball titles; the Austrian hosts won four silver medals.

Quadruple for Germany in Grieskirchen
Three World Championships – in the women’s and both the U18 female and male tournaments – and the U21 men’s European title: Germany took home four victories this weekend. Today the two U18 squads won against the Austrian hosts. In the U18 female final, Austria pulled ahead 1:0, but the German team bounced back and scored a 3:1 win. In the U18 male final, Germany had established a comfortable 2:0 lead when the Austrian team got back into the game in front of their fans – the match went into the fifth set which was again won by the German squad, thus securing the title. Austria took the second place in all four finals this weekend.

Brazilian Teams Prevail in Bronze Medal Matches
The game for the third place in the U18 men’s World Championships was a nail-biter: with a comfortable 2:0 lead over Brazil, the Swiss team already looked as if they were on the path to victory. But the South Americans bounced back and won the match, thus securing the bronze medal. The same two teams – Brazil and Switzerland – also faced each other in the bronze medal match of the women’s U18 competition. Like in the men’s match, the Swiss team pulled ahead early on; again, the Brazilian squad came back and won the game 3:1, and hence the third place in the tournament.

Chile and Italy Win President’s Cup
Places 5 to 7 in both the U18 female and male tournaments were identified via an additional group phase – the President’s Cup. Chile prevailed in the female competition and Italy in the male competi-tion, respectively.

Final Rankings:
Final Ranking IFA 2021 Fistball Women’s World Championship:
1. Germany, 2. Austria, 3. Switzerland, 4. Chile, 5. Serbia, 6. Czech Republic, 7. Denmark, 8. Belgium
Final Ranking IFA 2021 Fistball U18 Women’s World Championship:
1. Germany, 2. Austria, 3. Brazil, 4. Switzerland, 5. Chile, 6. Italy, 7. Czech Republic
Final Ranking IFA 2021 Fistball U18 Men’s World Championship:
1. Germany, 2. Austria, 3. Brazil, 4. Switzerland 5. Italy, 6. Denmark, 7. Chile
Final Ranking EFA 2021 Fistball U21 Men’s European Championship:
1. Germany, 2. Austria, 3. Switzerland

Selection:
Was war diesmal anders? Der Erfolg und seine Faktoren DerStandard.de
Faustball: WM-Silberne gehen in Bundesliga-Endrunde Meinbezirk.at
Faustball: Moritz Lutzenberger ist Weltmeister mit der U18 Augsburger Allgemeine
Faustballer Jannis Wethling über seinen WM-Titel mit Deutschland shz.de
Hammer holt WM-Titel vor über tausend Fans Wa.de
Faustball U18-WM in Grieskirchen Regionalinfo24.at
Ein Faustball-Weltmeister aus Hallerstein Frankenpost (Print Edition)
Trainer-Trio genießt die Atmosphäre Solinger-Tageblatt.de
Atletas do Sul competem no Mundial de Punhobol com a proteção de máscaras KNIT Pagina do Estado
Ann-Kathrin Motteler ist U18-Weltmeisterin mit Deutschland Böblinger Bote
Segnitz hat vier Weltmeister und einen Europameister im Faustball InFranken.de
Segnitz hat vier Weltmeister und einen Europameister im Faustball Mainpost.de
Demonstration der Dominanz Vaihinger Kreiszeitung
Schneider lässt alle jubeln Frankenpost
Stephanie Dannecker mit toller Ass-Quote Schwarzwälder Bote
Das war die Faustball WM 2021 in Grieskirchen Sportreport.biz
Faustball-Weltmeisterinnen aus dem Enzkreis sehen sich schon bald wieder Pforzheimer Zeitung
Faustballer im Medaillenrausch: „Es waren unbeschreibliche Gefühle“ NWZ Online
Faustballerin des TSV Pfungstadt im Weltmeisterteam Echo Online
Faustballerin des TSV Pfungstadt im Weltmeisterteam Buerstaedter Zeitung
Schneider lässt alle jubeln Frankenpost
Faustball-Talente erfüllen sich den WM-Traum – Fußball – Stader Tageblatt Tageblatt.de
Stephanie Dannecker mit toller Ass-Quote Schwarzwaelder Bote.de
Lolas Wethling und Himmelhan gewinnen Gold für Deutschland shz.de
Faustball WM und EM: Silber für Österreich Tips.at
Daniel Kraus holt mit dem Faustball U18 WM-Team Silber Tips.at
Faustball: Frauennationalteam gewinnt Silber bei der Weltmeisterschaft Meinbezirk.at
Lolas Jannis Wethling und Hannes Himmelhan gewinnen Gold für Deutschland shz.de
Vier Silbermedaillen für Österreich Tips.at
Faustball: Österreicherinnen an Heim-WM erst im Final geschlagen Nau
Deutsche Faustballdamen jubeln: Bundestrainerin aus Katschenreuth zum vierten Mal Weltmeister Radio Plassenburg
Germany beat Austria to win both under-18 fistball world titles InsideTheGames.biz
Drei Nußbacherinnen holten für Österreich WM-Silber Oberösterreichische Nachrichten
Faustball- EM der U21: Ein Vaihinger ist Europameister Stuttgarter Zeitung
Faustball-WM in Grieskirchen | Jubel und Trauer nach WM-Silber für U18 Teams Sportreport.biz
Mannschaft mit Spielerinnen aus Dennach: Faustballerinnen überlegen zum WM-Titel Pforzheimer Zeitung
Faustball-WM in Grieskirchen: Jubel und Trauer nach WM-Silber Salzkammergut-Rundblick
Zum siebten Mal Junge Welt
Faustball: Beim Teamdebüt gleich WM-Silber erobert Salzburger Nachrichten
Deutschlands Faustballer räumen ab: Die goldenen Finaltage von Grieskirchen NWZ Online
Deutsche Faustballerinnen werden wieder Weltmeister Buerstaedter Zeitung
Deutsche Faustballerinnen werden wieder Weltmeister Echo Online
Deutsche Faustballerinnen werden wieder Weltmeister Main-Spitze
Deutsche Faustballerinnen werden wieder Weltmeister Lampertheimer Zeitung
WM-Bronze für Schweizer Faustballerinnen Der Rheintaler Online
Erlebnisbericht: „Unglaublich, wieder mit internationalen Freunden Faustball zu spielen“ Der Nordschleswiger
Atletas da região ficam em 3º lugar no Mundial de Punhobol na Áustria Jornal VS
Atletas da região ficam em 3º lugar no Mundial de Punhobol na Áustria Jornal NH
Faustball-WM: Sieg gegen Italien Der Nordschleswiger
U18-WM: Bozner Faustballer mit versöhnlichem Abschluss SportNews.bz
Ein Vaihinger ist Europameister Stuttgarter Zeitung / Stuttgarter Nachrichten
Germany win seventh Women’s Fistball World Championship InsideTheGames.biz
Faustball-WM in Grieskirchen | Doppel-Silber für Österreich, U18-Teams spielen um WM-Gold Sportreport.biz
U18-WM: Viertelfinal-Aus für Bozner Faustballer SportNews.bz
Faustball-Frauen holen bei Heim-WM SilberLaola1.at
Österreichs Faustball-Damen im WM-Finale gegen Deutschland chancenlos Oberösterreichische Nachrichten
Kulmbach: Silke Eber ist zum vierten Mal Weltmeisterin Focus Online
Silke Eber ist zum vierten Mal Weltmeisterin InFranken.de
Faustball: Deutschland war für Österreichs Damen im WM-Finale zu stark Salzburger Nachrichten
Theo har spillet i tre måneder: Nu er han med til VM JydskeVestkysten
Projekt Faustball in Serbien: Platz fünf und Publikumsliebling an der WM in Österreich St.Galler Tagblatt Online
Schweizerinnen verpassen den WM-Final Der Rheintaler Online
Faustballerinnen träumen von Gold und Olympia Oberösterreichische Nachrichten
Hosts Austria and holders Germany reach Women’s Fistball World Championship final InsideTheGames.biz
Grzywatz und Co. ziehen ins WM-Finale ein Kreiszeitung
Faustball-Frauen stehen im WM-Finale Laola1.at
Das Damen-Faustball-Nationalteam steht bei der Heim-WM im Finale MSN Österreich
Das Damen-Faustball-Nationalteam steht bei der Heim-WM im Finale Kurier.at
Faustball-WM in Grieskirchen | Frauen ziehen ins „Finale dahoam“ ein Sportreport.biz
Faustball-WM & EM in Grieskirchen | Nachwuchs-Nationalteams bleiben im Rennen um Finaleinzug Sportreport.biz
Österreichs Frauen stehen bei Heim-WM in Finale Sport.ORF.at
Faustball-WM: Punkten mit geballter Hand Sportschau.de
Bozner Faustballer und Faustballerinnen bei U18-WM im Viertelfinale SportNews.bz
WM in Österreich: „Das macht Lust auf mehr Faustball“ Der Nordschleswiger
Talente vom MTV Wangersen auf der internationalen Bühne Faustball: Nick Poppe will Weltmeister werden Kreiszeitung Wochenblatt
Faustball-Jugend startet mit zwei Siegen in die Weltmeisterschaft SportNews.bz
Schweizer Faustballerinnen wollen in den WM-Final Top Online
Chile overcome Serbia test to reach Women’s Fistball World Championship semi-finals InsideTheGames.biz
Faustball-WM in Grieskirchen | U18-Nationalteams mit Sieg und Niederlage zum Auftakt Sportreport.biz
Faustball-Weltmeisterschaft: Deutsche Nationalteams weiter tadellos NWZ Online
Faustball-Frauen im WM-Halbfinale Laola1.at
Frauen-Nationalteam bei Faustball-Heim-WM im Halbfinale MSN Österreich
Faustball-WM in Grieskirchen: Frauen-Nationalteam steht im Halbfinale Meinbezirk.at
Faustball-WM in Grieskirchen | Frauen-Nationalteam steht im Halbfinale Sportreport.biz
Frauen-Nationalteam bei Heim-WM im Halbfinale Sport.ORF.at
Impfangebot auf Sportplatz Ooe – ORF.at
Weibliche U 21 testet gegen Österreich Vaihinger Kreiszeitung

Upper Austria’s top soccer clubs are just as involved as the organizers of the Fistball World Championships in Grieskirchen: Together with the World Championship organizers, Sportland Upper Austria is sending a strong signal to ensure that people have easier access to COVID-19 vaccination.

The common goal: to increase the rate of COVID-19 vaccination in order to regain personal freedom. This offer will be made at the World Fistball Championships up to and including Friday in Grieskirchen – no registration is necessary for this.

The motto issued by Deputy Provincial Governor Christine Haberlander and Provincial Economic and Sports Councillor Markus Achleitner in this context is: “Vaccination is the best defense, sport goes on the offensive.”

“Of course we are on board with that,” says Mayor Maria Pachner and the organizers of the major Fistball event Sportunion Grieskirchen together with the International Fistball Association IFA.

6000 tests have been purchased in order to test all players, officials and volunteers on a daily basis. For all those who have not yet been vaccinated, from Wednesday to Friday at 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. a Red Cross team van will take anyone who wants to be vaccinated to the sports hall two kilometers away (official vaccination route). Pre-registration for the vaccination (vaccine is Pfizer) is not necessary. A bus will take you back.

“Only a vaccination solidarity will bring us back the long-awaited sporting freedom. Therefore, actively take advantage of the offer and get your vaccination,” said IFA President Jörn Verleger.

The International Fistball Association (IFA) continued the dialogue for the development of sustainable concepts regarding the promotion and dissemination of fistball in the youth sector with its member federations. Therefore, the IFA Youth Commission welcomed on the even of the upcoming IFA 2021 Fistball World Championships around 40 players, coaches and youth representatives in person and online to the 4th IFA Youth Congress 2021.

Under the motto “Fistball goes Youth” the IFA Youth Commission informed about its current activities:
– Fistball 2021 survey – The worldwide situation in the pandemic (see: https://padlet.com/ifayouthcommission/youthcongress21)
– Update of the IFA Strategic Plan 2019 – 2023: Significant general innovations and changes / Strategic targets of the Youth Commission
– The new IFA Youth and Development program

Furthermore, its was the first presentation of our five exceptional nominees for the election of U18 representatives to the IFA Youth Commission:
• Anika Hartl (AUT)
• Mieke Kienast (GER)
• Florencia Schwaner (CHI)
• Adela Lang (SUI)
• Davin Hossmann (SUI)

The election will take place by the participants of the IFA U18 Fistball World Championships in Grieskirchen (Austria) on Friday, 30th of July.

To strengthen the rights of children IFA President Jörn Verleger suggested on the occasion of 30 years of the adoption of the Convention on the Rights of the Child by the UN in November 2019 the election of a U18 representative by the participants of the next U18 World Championships. The event and the election was postponed from 2020 to 2021 due to COVID-19.
Currently 25 percent of the 65.000 Fistball players worldwide in 61 countries are under 25 and half of this group are minors under 18.

With 20 days to go until the RE-START of Fistball on the international level, IFA President Joern Verleger wrote today to the participating member federations:

“I would like to take this opportunity to express my sincere gratitude for the extraordinary resilience and cooperation shown by all of you in organising these unprecedented World Championships that had to be postponed several times.

The competitions are about to start, and like the athletes whom we serve, we need to keep our efforts and energy focused on achieving the best results.

For that, now more than ever, we have to work together as one team. Each of you is crucial to the success of the 2021 World Championships in Grieskirchen. This event will be unlike any that we have experienced in the past. We are therefore counting on your cooperation and flexibility to ensure their success.

We must all respect the rules set showing our strongest commitment to safe and secure World Champs last but not least as the eyes of the hole Fistball family will be on us. This includes in particular:
1) the obligatory daily testing of all athletes and coaches before entering the sports venue and
2) compliance with the rule access only for tested, recovered or vaccinated persons for all other persons on the sports venue.

Only working together and in compliance with the rules worked out in an exemplary manner by the organizing committee and the Austrian federation, these World Champs could be a light at the end of the tunnel in which we find ourselves.

Looking forward to seeing you soon in Grieskirchen”

The Birmingham 2022 Organising Committee has today published the official Bulletin #4, announced the mascots Vulcan and Vesta and launched the sale of tickets for the 2022 World Games in Alabama as part of its one-year-to-go celebrations.

7 July 2021 marks the launch of our global ticket sales. Tickets are now on sale with more information available through the World Games 2022 website.

The Games will offer athletes and fans that “once in a lifetime” experience as the world reaches for ways to reconnect.

If you connect on social media at @twg2022 the LOC will keep you updated on marketing, promotions and even TWG 2022 merchandise in advance of your trip.

IFA, represented by Secretary General Chris Oberlehner and Theresa Eidenhammer, hosted the last two days the INTERACT Consultation Workshop & Partners Meeting in Linz and hybrid as virtual event. Beside the meetings a highlight was a Fistball workshop lead by Austrian national choach Martin Weiss at the club Linz-Urfahr.

TAFISA (The International Association for Sport for All) Secretary General Wolfgang Baumann and IFA President Jörn Verleger welcomed the participants from around 15 International and European Sport Organisations (IESOs) to discuss ideas “to create opportunities and easy & safe access to increase participation in sport for all and health-enhancing physical activity & physical education to active and non-active people regardless their nationality, race, ethnicity, religions belief, age, language, skin colour, social origin, physical, emotional, mental and intellectual ability, gender, sexual preferences, political, religion or other beliefs and place or type of residence”.

The project, which is co-funded by the Erasmus+ Programme of the European Union in 2021 – 2022 is led by TAFISA in cooperation with:
– International Fistball Association
– International Table Tennis Federation Foundation
– World Minigolf Sport Federation
– International Dance Organisation
– Confederazione Boccistica Internazionale
– German Flying-Disc Federation
– Italian Federation of Traditional Sports and Games
– Sports Union of Slovenia