Death of GAISF President Patrick Baumann

It is with the greatest shock that the International Fistball Association has learned of the death of Patrick Baumann, President of GAISF, the umbrella Organisation of all international sports federations, in Buenos Aires today.

IFA President Karl Weiss said: “This is a great shock, which has hit us all very hard. We lose a sympathic sports leader and friend, who was also a friend of fistball and the future of all sports. Our last meeting happened only 6 days ago. Our thoughts are with his wife, his children and his family.”

Patrick Baumann was elected as President of the Global Association of International Sports Federations (GAISF) in 2016; and as President of SportAccord in 2017.

The IFA expresses its deepest sympathies to Patrick Baumann’s family.

First Meeting in Birmingham for The World Games 2021

In the beginning of October IFA Administrative Director Christoph Oberlehner and US Fistball President Bob Feid spent three days at the 1st Competition Manager’s Meeting for The World Games 2021 in Birmingham, Alabama (USA). Fistball will be the first time part of the World Games with a men’s and a women’s competition. In total 14 national teams will take part in nearly 3 years.

Together with 33 other sports they get a first impression of the plans and strategy of the Organizing Committee for the next World Games which takes place in the USA from 15-25 July 2021. The International World Games Association and the Birmingham Organizing Committee informed about Transport Service, Accommodation, schedules of the sports, TV production, technical details and needs. Furthermore the Competition Manager had the chance to do a venue tour and visit the planned venues for their sport.

The fistball competition will be probably held at the Campus of the Birmingham Southern College (BSC), where we find perfect conditions for our sport. The venue is just a few minutes outside of the city centre and offers very good possibilities for our sport. “We are very impressed of the work of the Organizing Committee and the venue. We are looking forward to hold a great competition here and we can already feel the spirit of The World Games – more than 1000 days before the start of The World Games. Of course there is still a lot of work to do, but the organizers and we are right on target. Fans can look forward to an amazing World Games in 2,5 years in the beautiful city of Birmingham”, says IFA Administrative Director Christoph Oberlehner. “Furthermore we plan a pre-event in 2020 together with the Organizing Committee to test the conditions and facilities to get more knowledge for 2021.”

About The World Games
The World Games 2021 Birmingham will be an extraordinary Olympic-style sports experience where elite athletes from all over the world compete for gold in 34 unique, multi-disciplinary sports. Featuring 3,600 athletes from more than 100 countries, the international event will unite global fans with the Birmingham community in more than 20 unique venues around the greater metropolitan area. The World Games 2021 Birmingham, which marks the 40th anniversary of the event, will take place from 15-25 July 2021. The World Games was established by the International World Games Association, an organization recognized by the International Olympic Committee. For more information, visit theworldgames2021.com.

IFA 2019 Fistball Men´s World Championship with up to 19 teams

The International Fistball Association (IFA) Board of Directors in cooperation with the local organizing team has approved the registrations of the following member federations for the IFA 2019 Fistball Men´s World Championship Switzerland, which will take place in Winterthur, Switzerland, from 11 – 17 August 2019.

– Argentina (ARG)
– Australia (AUS)
– Austria(AUT)
– Belgium (BEL)
– Brasilia (BRA)
– Chile (CHI)
– Czech Republic (CZE)
– Denmark (DEN)
– Germany (GER)
– Italy (ITA)
– Japan (JAP)
– Kenya (KEN)
– Namibia (NAM)
– New Zealand (NZL)
– Poland (POL)
– Serbia (SRB)
– Switzerland (SUI)
– USA

The event is a qualification tournament for The 2021 World Games Birmingham, USA.

2nd Youth Congress in Roxbury

Within the framework of the successful IFA 2018 Fistball U18 World Championships in Roxbury / USA the IFA Youth Congress took place for the second time. R epresentatives of all present federations participated in the 2nd Youth Congress by invitation of the IFA Youth Commission. Key subjects of the congress in Roxbury were the the information of the current IFA activities and developments as well as the presentation of the new founded Fistball Academy.

With his welcome FA President Karl Weiss emphasised again the importance of the cooperation with the umbrella associations in view of the targeted IOC Recognition. Followed by this Christoph Oberlehner as the IFA Administrative Director informed about the the current IFA developments. In sports terms the implementation of a fistball women’s tournament for the first time within the framework of the coming World Games in Birmingham / Alabama / USA is a very great success. The increasing of the media coverage of fistball through the different channels as well as the intensification of the cooperation with the umbrella associations were main subjects of the IFA activities. Above that the IFA commissions worked together on new projects and the development of sustainable and forward-looking concepts with the target to promote and spread fistball.

One of these projects is the development of the new founded Fistball Academy. Uwe Schneider as the chair of the IFA Youth and Sport Commission presented the contents, the targets and the scheduled structure of the Fistball Academy. The foundation of the Fistball Academy is embedded in many changes and new structures of the IFA. The traget of the Fistball Academy is to foster the exchange of knowledge, education and communication in cooperation with the member federations of the IFA and to provide and to support new ideas for the prospective and worldwide development of fistball. For this purpose offers of knowledge, information and education will be provided to all stakeholders in a clear structure. Knowledge and information should be collected, should be new developed and should be exchanged to provide these contents on an online platform. Further on the education of players, coaches, teachers, referees, sport scientists or officials should be supported by the development of schooling modules and will be improved by practically oriented events. In addition to that the communication should be increased by the medium of the Fistball Academy between the member federations and the dialogue should be led to a cooperation and to synergies. The presentation you will find here: https://www.ifa-fistball.com/en/praesentationen/

All participants and member federations have been asked to communicate their ideas and concepts concerning the development of fistball in the youth sector and to support the setup of the Fistball Academy. Finally the proposal of reduction of the ball weights for U 14 and U 16 was discussed again. The result of the re-asking of the member federations will be integrated in the final decision.

Also within the framework of the coming IFA U 18 World Championships the next Youth Congress will take place, to which the IFA Youth and Sport Commission already invites.

IFA Youth Congress 2018 Minutes

Presentation of the IFA Fistball Academy in Adelmamnsfelden

In the framework of the European Men´s Fistball Championships in Adelmannsfelden for the first time the International Fistball Association suggested the concept of the new founded IFA „Fistball Academy“.
Uwe Schneider as the chair of the IFA Youth and Sport Commission presented the contents, the targets and the scheduled structure of the Fistball Academy to representatives of many federations.

The task of the International Fistball Association (IFA) is to lead fistball into the future.
By the development of sustainable and forward-looking concepts, the requirements should be created.
One component will be the new formate and network of the Fistball Academy.

The traget of the Fistball Academy is to foster the exchange of knowledge, education and communication in cooperation with the member federations of the IFA and to provide and to support new ideas for the prospective and worldwide development of fistball. For this purpose offers of knowledge, information and education will be provided to all stakeholders in a clear structure. Knowledge and information should be collected, should be new developed and should be exchanged to provide these contents on an online platform. Further on the education of players, coaches, teachers, referees, sport scientists or officials should be supported by the development of schooling modules and will be improved by practically oriented events. In addition to that the communication should be increased by the medium of the Fistball Academy between the member federations and the dialogue should be led to a cooperation and to synergies. Uwe Schneider reported that already in the framework of the Youth World Championships in Roxbury and the Women’s World Championships in Linz the first projects of the Fistball Academy were successfully implemented.

In the following weeks the task forces should be casted to start the upcoming projects and the necessary structures should be created.
Further information about the Fistball Academy are to be found: Academy Presentations

The foundation of the Fistball Academy is embedded in many changes and new structures of the IFA. For that reason the presentation was accompanied by Jörn Verleger as the IFA Secretary General who in addition to that informed about the cur rent and prospective developments of the IFA. Here he emphasised the importance of the structural changes within the IFA association and the co-operations with other umbrella sports associations in view of the targeted IOC recognition. The IOC recognition of fistball offers the requirement for financial support and promotion by by national sports associations or other governmental institutions. In that case the IOC recognition is very important for a further development and spread of Fistball in all countries.

After a short discussion and the appeal to support the development and to collaborate in the different task forces of the Fistball Academy an informative evening came to an end.

IFA Fistball Academy with training in Linz

On the occasion of the IFA 2018 Fistball Women’s World Championship, the newly established IFA Fistball Academy offered a training session for the new fistball nations. All four World Championship newcomers – New Zealand, Serbia, Belgium and Poland – took up the offer.

Following a meeting with the players and coaches, which discussed the respective wishes and expectations, the teams started the practice. With the support of Ernst Almhofer, school sports coordinator of the Austrian Fistball Association, the training taught basic techniques with a variety of exercises. At the end of the two-hour session, the teams played a training tournament at a smaller field.

The training was a big success for all participants and an excellent preparation for the players ahead of the World Championship. The teams enjoyed the event and took up the offer with enthusiasm. The Belgian team even took a second training session during the World Championship. The newcomers played a strong tournament – with New Zealand winning the President’s Cup and thus securing ninth place, Serbia finishing eight, and Poland drove home a sensational sixth place.

We hope that these teams, and others, will continue to take up IFA Fistball Academy offers at World Championships and other occasions in the future. Stay tuned for updates on the IFA Fistball Academy!

Cooperation Agreement signed with CSIT

IFA President Karl Weiss signed an Agreement of Cooperation with the International Workers & Amateurs in Sports Confederation (CSIT) to host the inaugural CSIT IFA 2019 Fistball Amateurs World Cup within the framework of the CSIT World Sports Games 2019 in Tortosa (Catalonia/Spain).

Necessary preregistration deadline for this event is latest 15 October 2018 by email to office@ifa-fistball.com

The CSIT – founded 1913 is the global umbrella organization of National Workers- and Amateur Sports Federations and Regional Sports for All Organizations. The promotion of Fair Play is considered as an important contribution for peace and understanding.

The main highlights of the CSIT are the “World Sports Games”, a unique major sports event for a couple of thousand workers and amateurs every two years, where the incomparable “Spirit of CSIT” can be experienced.

IFA invites all individuals and clubs of the Fistball Family to participate at the inaugural CSIT IFA 2019 Fistball Amateurs World Cup. At the beginning of September IFA will be sent out officially the official invitation of the CSIT World Sports Games 2019 including the age divisions and participation fee.

The 16th Century City Tortosa is located in South Catalonia and is the capital of the region of Terres de l’Ebre half way between Barcelona and Valencia. Tortosa has about 35.000 inhabitants.

The last edition of the CSIT World Sports Games took place in Riga in 2017 including a spectacular opening ceremony, several demonstration sports and a cultural program.
The CSIT and the IFA will try to establish and to co-ordinate common activities in matters of fair-play, tolerance, peace and understanding through and in sports. Furthermore, CSIT and IFA will deepen the cooperation to sensitize its members for the importance of the ethical and cultural values of sport.

Details see: www.csit.tv/en/world-sports-games/vi.-csit-world-sports-games-2019

#csit #wearefistball

IFA Fistball Academy with training in Roxbury

Xavier is the No. 1 jersey of the American national fistball team still far too big.
No wonder – Xavier is only 6 years old.
But since he first saw fistball and played it himself, he now wants to learn this sport.
During the U18 World Championships in Roxbury, the newly founded IFA Fistball Academy established a fun court.
Under the motto “Fun with Fistball” the possibility should be offered especially for children under 10 years to get to know the sport of fistball with its basic rules and techniques and to gain first experiences.
Xavier was one of the small participants of this academy measure, had never seen fistball before.
He was there immediately with zeal and can’t get enough training since then.
Now he has been training at the Swim and Sports Club in Flanders for 2 weeks under the leadership of the President of the US Fistball Association, Bob Feid.
Who knows, maybe we’ll see Xavier again in a few years – if the American national team jersey suits him then…

Germany Defends Title with Win against Switzerland

Germany has defended its title at the IFA 2018 Fistball Women’s World Championship. The team of coach Silke Eber won the final on Saturday evening with 4:1 against Switzerland. Brazil secured the Bronze medal with a 4:0 victory over host country Austria.

The first two sets in the final were a tight matter. In the first set both teams were tied until 9:9 when the German attackers Sonja Pfrommer and Stephanie Dannecker scored and secured the set for their team. Switzerland started strongly into the second set and pulled ahead until 9:3. Germany bounced back and was able to defend three set points. However, the Swiss team stayed calm and equalized to 1:1 in sets. Over the next sets, both teams showed a strong performance in their defenses. Germany was more often able to score the decisive points, and secured its sixth World Championship title, the third in a row. “It feels incredible to have won the title again. I can’t believe it! I think, I’ll need a week, a month or more to realize it. I’ll have to go over it again and again, then, maybe, I’ll realize it”, said Anna-Lisa Aldinger who was already a member of the German team at the last World Championship in 2016. “I think, if you get to the finals, you wanna win it. We wanted to. The first two sets were great. Of course, we are disappointed, we wanted to beat the World Champion. We haven’t been to the finals since 2002, that’s something we can be proud of“, said Swiss attacker Tanja Bognar who played a great tournament.

Brazil scored a clear 4:0 victory against host country Austria in the match for the third place. It is the seventh medal for the Seleção at a World Championship. After a close match in the first set, the Brazilians gradually took control of the game and established a 2:0 lead in sets. In the third set the Austrian squad had the chance to turn the tide, but was not able to seal the deal – following a 9:7 lead, the match went until 14:14. Brazil converted the set point and expanded the lead to 3:0 in sets. The Brazilians also won the fourth set, attacker Tatiane Schneider scored the match point. The Brazilian team thus won the Bronze medal, while host Austria had to settle for the fourth place. “We are happy and satisfied with our performance”, said Brazil’s Isabella Lucchin who played a great tournament along with Tatiane Schneider, her partner in the Brazilian attack. “However, we wanted more”, Lucchin added in reference to her team’s narrowly lost semi-final game against Germany. “It was great to play in front of our fans. We are still a young team, and I am sure one will have to count on us in the future”, said Austria’s captain Karin Kempinger.

Argentina secured the fifth place in the tournament with a 3:0 win over newcomer Poland. Italy finished seventh, and Serbia eight at their first World Championship. Another newcomer – New Zealand – won the inaugural President’s Cup with a 3:0 victory against the Czech Republic, thus taking the ninth place. Belgium, who also played its first World Championship, finished eleventh.

Switzerland and Germany Advance to the Final of the WWC

Switzerland and defending champion Germany have advanced to the final of the IFA 2018 Fistball Women’s World Championship. In two exciting semi-final matches over five sets, the Swiss squad beat host Austria 3:2, and defending champion Germany won against Brazil.

Switzerland Beats Austria in Semi-Final Thriller

In front of their home crowd, host Austria aimed to reach the World Championship final for the third time in their semi-final match against Switzerland. The spectators witnessed a highly exciting game in which the Swiss team took the lead in sets twice. The game stayed open until mid of the fifth set when the Swiss team pulled ahead and sealed the deal with an 11:6 set win. Switzerland has thus qualified for tomorrow’s final, it is their third participation in a final after 1998 and 2002, respectively. “The atmosphere here is simply fantastic. It goes without saying that the majority of the audience rooted for Austria, but here are, however, many Swiss fans who came especially for us. Their cheering helped us a lot. The matches are tough and we are over the moon right now”, said Swiss defender Katrin Lüchinger. Austria’s Jana Pinsker analyzed the loss of her team, “We fought our way back numerous times, but made many unforced mistakes. We didn’t manage to be as consequent as we usually are.”

Result Austria – Switzerland 2:3 (09:11, 11:07, 07:11, 11:03, 06:11)

Germany Wins Re-Match of 2016 Final

In a re-match of the 2016 final, defending champion Germany and Brazil played for the second final spot in the 2018 Women’s World Championship. The fans in the ÖBV arena, on TV and livestream witnessed again a fantastic fistball match at the highest level with long rallies and great saves. Both teams were evenly matched with Germany taking the lead in sets twice. Each time Brazil bounced back and equalized. The game thus went into the fifth set in which the German team eventually narrowly kept the upper hand. “It was an unbelievable game and we are very happy to have again qualified for the final. We now need to regenerate so that we can go fully fit into the final against Switzerland”, said German attacker Stephanie Dannecker after the game. “We discussed tactics beforehand, but could not stick to it for the entire match. I am really proud of my defense, they played really good. Our key player was, of course, Tatiane [Schneider], who, unfortunately, did not have her best day. That happens. We are looking forward to tomorrow. Congratulations to Germany”, said Sergio Muller, Brazil’s assistant coach. His team will play for the Bronze medal in tomorrow’s match against host Austria.

Result Germany – Brazil 3:2 (12:10, 05:11, 12:10, 08:11, 11:07)

In addition to the two semi-final games, we also witnessed the match for the seventh place in the tournament between Italy and Serbia. While the newcomers from Serbia kept in reach in all three sets, the more experienced Italian side kept the upper hand and took the seventh place. In the last set, the Serbian team was on the brink of winning the set, and thus demonstrated again their potential for the future.

Argentina and Poland lost their quarter-final matches against Switzerland and Brazil, respectively. They are thus playing for the fifth place in the tournament tomorrow.

Furthermore, three matches of the President’s Cup took place featuring the teams of the Czech Republic, Belgium and New Zealand who all played against each other in a round-robin format. The Czech Republic won both its games and thus faces New Zealand, who won against Belgium, again in tomorrow’s final of the President’s Cup.

The final-day matches start tomorrow at 1 pm (CEST). The final between Germany and Switzerland will be played at 6 pm. ORF Sport + will already broadcast from 3:50 pm the Bronze medal match between Austria and Brazil.