Change at the head of the Fistball Youth Commission. After many years as Chairman of the Youth Commission, Uwe Schneider recently passed the baton on to Emma Dallinger. The 21-year-old from Austria has played for her home club ASKÖ Laakirchen Papier since childhood and took part in the 2021 U18 World Championships. In the future, she wants to play an active role in the work of international fistball. In this interview, she talks about her new role as Chair of the IFA Youth Commission, her goals and wishes. She also reveals what awaits participants at the Youth Congress in Chile and why the election of youth representatives is so important.

Emma, how did you get into fistball? And what highlights have you already experienced in the sport?

Emma Dallinger: It was somehow clear to me from an early age that I wanted to play fistball. My dad plays, my sister played, so it wasn’t even a question for me, it was just a matter of waiting until I could finally go to youth training. I’ve been playing at my home club, ASKÖ Laakirchen Papier, since the start of my fistball career and I’m incredibly grateful for all the wonderful fistball moments I’ve had the chance to experience. The Austrian indoor championship title in 2018 and the U18 runner-up world championship title in 2021 are at the top of the list. The best thing is simply being on the court with my girls and being able to experience such emotions together, whether you win or lose.

You traveled to New Zealand in 2022, where you also did fistball development work and supported the men’s national team at the 2023 World Championships in Germany. How did you experience your time with New Zealand fistball?

Emma Dallinger: The three and a half months I spent in New Zealand were incredibly special for me. By coaching the New Zealand men’s team, I was able to gain an insight into the small fistball world of New Zealand. Fistball there thrives on team spirit and the commitment of a few people who have fallen in love with the sport. On the one hand, it’s wonderful to see, but on the other, you also realize how difficult and time-consuming it is to establish fundamental and functioning structures for a sport.

In future, you will be looking after the interests of youth fistball in the International Fistball Association. What appeals to you about this task?

Emma Dallinger: I was able to enjoy years of great youth training in my club myself and have now been working as a coach in the youth sector for several years, as I simply want to give something back and I also enjoy working in the youth sector incredibly much. I believe that youth is one of the most important areas in fistball, especially when it comes to sustainability, which is why working on the youth commission is super exciting for me.

Do you already have ideas and plans that you would like to implement? What will be important to you in your work?

Emma Dallinger: It’s still a bit difficult to talk about very specific plans at the beginning – but there are already some ideas. The focus will definitely be on working out and developing concepts for sustainable youth work. In doing so, I would like to focus above all on the exchange between nations and with the Youth Commission. In addition, international youth work is particularly important to me, as I have also seen in New Zealand that too little often happens here to create a sustainable foundation for the sport in these “smaller fistball nations”. This in turn goes hand in hand with the work of the IFA Fistball Academy, which certainly makes exciting projects possible here.

The U18 World Championships will soon be taking place in Chile. What does this international event mean for young fistball players?

Emma Dallinger: I think the Youth World Championships are the highlight of the fistball year for every player. For many, it’s the first time they get a taste of international fistball and get to play in the national jersey. For me, too, it was a very special feeling at every game. These are moments that stay with you forever.

There will also be a youth congress in Chile. What is planned here?

Emma Dallinger: The youth congress will take place on October 29 before the start of the World Championships. I would like to use this to introduce myself and the planned work of the Youth Commission and the Academy and to talk to the participants for the first time. Not only should it become clear what we as the Youth Commission are committed to and what our goals are, it is at least as important for me to find out in which areas the nations need support and how they can best get it. In addition to topics that specifically concern the Youth Commission and its projects, the Youth Congress should also create sufficient space for constructive exchange.

Youth representatives are also to be elected again to be actively involved in the work of the Youth Commission. Why should young fistball players register for this? What tasks await them?

Emma Dallinger: Exactly. In Chile, as in Grieskirchen in 2021, there will be another election for youth representatives in fistball. For me, this election is a very important part of the Youth World Championship, because what would a youth commission be without its own youth representatives who can represent young players and stand up for their needs? I think it’s a great opportunity for the elected representatives to be directly involved in upcoming projects and influence their development. In addition, they should also be the mouthpiece between the fistball youth themselves and the youth commission in a way, as they are sitting right at the source and have a closer connection to the problems and challenges of the youth players.

You will also be following the U18 World Championships live in Chile. What are you looking forward to?

Emma Dallinger: I’m looking forward to the Youth World Championship in Chile with great anticipation. Of course I’m looking forward to lots of exciting matches – but I think it will be particularly nice to see so many young fistball enthusiasts come together at a big event. I’m most looking forward to seeing international friendships being forged and teams celebrating success!

Will the Scope 1/2/3 system be supplemented?

IFA President Jörn Verleger virtually attended the UN Sports for Climate Action Annual General Meeting in London yesterday.

In 2018 the Sports for Climate Action Framework was launched with two main objectives: to provide a clear path for the global sports community to combat climate change and to use sports as a tool to create awareness and drive action among global citizens.
IFA is part of the network since 2020 an.

The excitement for the 2024 Women’s Fistball World Championship in Montecarlo, Argentina, is growing: The official match schedule has now been announced, which will determine the best women’s fistball team in the world from November 7-10. A total of 11 nations will take part in the world title matches at the Club Guatambú sports venue.  

The preliminary round groups have been drawn up over the past few weeks: In Group Gold, the top teams from previous years will face each other directly. In addition to defending champions Germany, this also includes Switzerland, Brazil and Austria. The Silver Group includes the two South American nations Argentina and Chile as well as New Zealand and Australia from Oceania. The field of participants is completed by Namibia, the USA and Colombia in Group Bronze. “We are expecting even more matches at eye level from the division of these groups and are convinced that this will further increase the number of exciting matches,” says Gastão Englert, Chairman of the Sports Commission of the International Fistball Association. 

After the preliminary round, the Silver and Bronze groups will determine the participants for the quarter-finals in an intermediate round. “Every team has the chance to win the world championship title,” says Englert. The semi-finals are scheduled for Saturday, November 9. The final will take place on Sunday, November 10, at 4.45 pm. Denmark and India had also confirmed their participation beforehand but had to cancel their participation. Instead, Colombia moved up into the starting field. 

Club Guatambú is hosting a Fistball World Championship for the first time. “It is a great honor for us that the best female fistball players in the world will be our guests in Guatambú in November 2024,” says Laura Laumann, Secretary of the Fistball Committee at Club Guatambú: ”For our club, it will be the biggest event in history so far. We are both proud and motivated to give everyone a great World Championship.” In the past, the club has already distinguished itself as the host of the Argentinian Championships, the Men’s & Women’s South American Championship 2017 and the FA 2009 Fistball Masters World Cup. 

For women’s fistball, it is a return to the place of origin. In October 1994 – the first Women’s Fistball World Championship took place in Buenos Aires. Now, 30 years later, the best women’s fistball teams are returning to Argentina. With the then title holders Germany, Austria, Brazil, Switzerland, Argentina and Chile, six nations that also competed at the premiere will be taking part in 2024. “It’s great that the Women’s World Championship is returning to Argentina for its tenth edition,” says Jörn Verleger, President of the International Fistball Association: ”We are convinced that we will experience a great event in Montecarlo.”  

Tickets will be available at the box office on the Club Guatambú grounds during the four days of the event, and there will also be a live stream of the matches.  In addition, the 2024 Women’s Fistball World Championship will also serve as a qualifying competition for the 2025 World Games in Chengdu, China. 

Schedule

Get active during the European Week of Sport from September 23 to 30.

In 2024, the focus will be on the values of the 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games in Paris.

Inclusion: sport is for everybody!
Sport is not just for athletes.
You can take part regardless of your fitness level or background. Sport is inclusive and does not discriminate. No matter your gender, age, abilities, religion, ethnicity, education, or sexual orientation: sport is for everyone!

Well-being: a step toward happiness
Sport boosts self-esteem and promotes better health.
Physical activity helps personal improvement and enhances overall well-being. When you play sports, you look good and feel good!

Find out more about the European Week of Sport 2024

The best U18 fistball national teams in the world are returning to Llanquihue: around 18 years after the last U18 Fistball World Championship, the world championships for young fistball players will once again be held in southern Chile. 9 teams in the male U18 and 6 teams in the female U18 will take part in the World Championship.

Fistball has played an important role in the Chilean club Gimnástico Alemán Llanquihue since it was founded 70 years ago. Fistball has a long tradition in this small town of just under 20,000 inhabitants in the south of the country, and the club has produced numerous national players who have represented Chile at international events. The club has also played host to South American Championships, World Senior Games and even an U18 World Championship. “The 2nd World Championships for Men’s U18 and 1st World Championships for Women’s U18 were held from January 4 to 6, 2006,” says Jörn Verleger, President of the International Fistball Association (IFA): “It was a great fistball festival. We are convinced that we will also have a great Fistball World Championship in 2024.”

From October 31 to November 3, the club area of the Club Gimnástico Alemán Llanquihue, which is located directly on Lake Llanquihue with a view of the Osorno and Calbuco volcanoes and is considered one of the most beautiful fistball grounds in the world, will once again host the best U18 national teams.

The participating teams in Chile

A total of 15 teams – 9 in the men’s U18 and 6 in the women’s U18 – will be competing for the title in Llanquihue. In the U18 men’s competition, defending champion Germany will be up against strong international competitors. From Europe, European champions Austria, Switzerland and Denmark will be competing at the World Championships, while the teams from South American champions Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Namibia (Africa) and India (Asia) will be joining them from America. In the women’s U18 competition, defending champion Germany will be joined by Austria, Switzerland (all Europe), Brazil, Chile and Argentina (America).

The format is almost identical in both competitions. The national teams will first play matches against every other nation in a preliminary round group before moving on to the other rounds. “We want to give young fistball players the opportunity to play a match against every nation. Especially at a young age, we think it is important that as many games as possible take place,” explains Gastao Englert, Chairman of the IFA Sports Commission: “We are looking forward to many exciting matches.”

Organizers are planning a big event

In addition to the matches in the preliminary round and the final round, the club’s organizers would like to hold a big party on the club grounds. “Hosting the U18 World Championship is a great honour for the club,” says Rodrigo Böttger, who is part of the World Championship organizing team. Preparations have been underway since the award in autumn 2023 and the venue has been modernized in recent months. “We will do everything we can to make the delegations feel at home here,” announces Böttger.

The club is planning a big party on the final weekend, which should not only attract fistball fans to the venue. The organizers are expecting a large crowd for the placement matches – including the medal matches on Sunday. There will be a ticket office with cheap ticket prices on all days. The club is supported in the organization by regional and local politicians as well as companies in the city. Böttger: “We are looking forward to a great Fistball World Championship here in Llanquihue.”

WM-WEBSITE

The IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) has announced in the presence of IFA President Jörn Verleger 17 new members for its Sports for Nature Framework during the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris. IFA signed the commitment as one of 24 International Federations already at the IF Forum in Lausanne in November 2023.

During the event, Samuel Ducroquet, Ambassador for Sport, Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs, France, explained that there were four key motivations for Paris 2024: leading by example, offering a strong voice for change, creating a new model for major events, and making the practice of sport more responsible and respectable.

Additionally, Marie Sallois, Corporate and Sustainable Development Director for the International Olympic Committee, said there was no other sector that could inspire like sport could, and that this platform should be used to educate around sustainability and responsibility.

This responsibility has been demonstrated by the Paris 2024 organising committee, which committed to reducing carbon emissions, limiting the construction of new venues, lowering plastic waste and more. The organisers also looked to incorporate eco-construction where possible, enhance biodiversity, offer plant-based food and locally sourced products, utilise public transport, create a circular economy, champion inclusivity and, of course, clean up the River Seine to be used for events.

The countdown is on: From August 7 to 17, 2025, the Chinese city of Chengdu will be all about international sport. For one and a half weeks, the 12th edition of the World Games will take place in the capital of Sichuan province. 35 sports will be part of next year’s World Games – including the men’s and women’s fistball competitions.

Planning for the event is already in full swing. In spring, the International Fistball Association, represented by Sports Director Gastao Englert and IFA Head of Events Sönke Spille, visited China, among other things to inspect the sports venue for the fistball competitions in Tianfu Park. “The organizers will build four fistball courts here especially for the World Games,” explains Sports Director Englert. “Numerous employees were present during the on-site inspection in order to fulfill all the technical requirements for the World Games.” The plan is for the pitches to be completed by the end of 2024 and therefore ready for use from spring 2025. “We will have two main pitches, including a center court with stands right next to the pitch. This guarantees an excellent atmosphere,” says Sönke Spille with conviction.

As in Birmingham two years ago, the athletes will be accommodated in an athletes’ village with over 5,000 beds. “The buildings are all completely new, and there are many park-like retreats. Here, all athletes can prepare perfectly for their upcoming games, recharge their batteries – and come into contact with other athletes from a huge variety of sports and nations,” says Spille.

Following the successful premiere in 2022, there will also be a women’s fistball competition in Chengdu – with an increased field of eight teams. This means that a total of 16 fistball teams will take part in China – more than ever before in the history of the World Games. The fistball competitions are scheduled from Saturday, August 9, to Wednesday, August 13. With Germany (women), Germany, Austria, Brazil and Switzerland (men), five participating teams have already been confirmed for Chengdu. On August 7, all athletes will have the opportunity to take part in the opening ceremony. Spille: “We are convinced that the World Games 2025 will be a great event that will create great memories for all athletes.”

The men’s and women’s World Tour Finals will take place in Austria in 2025: Union Tigers Vöcklabruck will host the competition for the best club teams in the world from 24-27 July 2025.

It was the biggest success in the club’s history: the Union Tigers Vöcklabruck fistball team won the title at the 2024 World Tour Finals on 21 July, crowning themselves the best club team in the world. In one year, the Tigers will host the next world cup for club teams: from 24 to 27 July, the defending champions will host the top teams in Vöcklabruck. After 2019 (Salzburg), the World Tour Finals are thus returning to Austria.

Early awarding for better planning

“We are delighted to have found a very experienced organizer of national and international events to host the event,” says Jörn Verleger, President of the International Fistball Association (IFA): “We are convinced that we will experience a great event in Vöcklabruck next year.” With six participating teams, Austria is the country with the largest number of participating teams at the latest event in Mannheim. “There is great enthusiasm for the World Tour format in Austria. We are therefore all the happier that the Union Tigers Vöcklabruck have signaled their interest in our bidding process. We had very good discussions in which you could sense the great motivation of all those involved,” says Sönke Spille, Head of Events at IFA: “It was important to us to create clarity at an early stage and thus offer the teams planning security. We have succeeded in doing this with the award – one year before the event.”

Experienced organizer of fistball events

The Union Tigers Vöcklabruck have already hosted Austrian championships, European Cup events and European championships in recent years. In 2025, the Volksbankstadion Vöcklabruck will now host the best club teams in the world. “We were enthusiastic about the idea of the IFA World Tour right from the start, it has given the tournaments a new value and the top teams from all over the world regularly compete against each other there,” says Stefan Huemer, head of the organizing committee: “The World Tour Final is the highest title that can be won by a club team and the value of this title has also increased enormously since the finals were introduced.”

The Tigers Vöcklabruck have been at the finals without interruption since 2019 (Salzburg), and their wish to host this event themselves is now coming true. The Vöcklabruck team has experience from numerous events. “After various Final 3 competitions, a Masters World Championship, two Champions Cups and a European Youth Championship, this is the event highlight in the club’s history,” emphasizes Huemer: “On the one hand, we can offer the teams a perfect sporting ambience, and on the other hand, the area around Vöcklabruck with its lakes, mountains and cultural sites offers numerous “delicacies” that round off such a competition perfectly.” In sporting terms, the Tigers want to compete for the title in front of their home crowd – and also promote the region. Huemer: “All participating teams should share wonderful experiences together and remember the 2025 World Tour Finals in Vöcklabruck for as long as possible.”

First participants confirmed

The winners of the highest continental Cup competitions in 2024 in the regions of Africa, Asia, Oceania, Europe, South America and North America have qualified for the 2025 World Tour Finals. The winners of the 2024 World Tour Finals have also punched their ticket. The starting field will be completed by the best-placed teams from the 2024 World Tour, which will hold tournaments until the end of September. With TSV Dennach (GER/Winner European Cup) and TV Jahn Schneverdingen (GER/Winner World Tour Finals 2024) in the women’s competition and FBC Linz-Urfahr (AUT/Winner European Cup) and host Union Tigers Vöcklabruck (AUT/Winner World Tour Finals 2024) in the men’s competition, the first four teams have already qualified for the World Tour Finals 2025.

As part of TAFISA’s Girls Positive and Safe Coaching Pathway, the workshop on coaching girls and women took place on July 20 in Mannheim within the framework of the Fistball World Tour Finals. Gender inequalities still prevent girls and women from participating in certain sports. Girls positive and Safe Coaching pathway is a project that aims to break down these barriers by educating coaches on how to coach girls and women appropriately.

The aim of the presentation was to provide the almost 50 participants aged 15-30 with strategies to create a safe environment for young girls and women in sport, training, competition and club life. The lecture focused on verbal and non-verbal communication between coaches and athletes. Supposed taboo topics such as menstruation in sport were also addressed in order to illustrate the major impact the female cycle has on the athlete’s performance and general well-being and how important it is for coaches to be aware of this. Through interactive exercises and the sharing of their own experiences in particular, the participants were given numerous strategies and guidelines on how to best respond to and pay attention to the needs of their female athletes.

With two thrilling finals, the IFA World Tour Finals – the Fistball Club World Championships – came to an end. In the Rhein-Neckar Stadium in Mannheim TSV Dennach and TV Jahn Schneverdingen (women) as well as the Union Tigers Vöcklabruck and TSV Pfungstadt (men) fought thrilling duels for the title, which were hard to beat in terms of excitement.

Men: Thrilling to the last ball – Vöcklabruck celebrates historic club success

Only in the overtime of the deciding set was it finally decided who would take the throne as the best fistball club team in the world. After more than two hours of play and spectacular twists and turns, the Upper Austrians were crowned Upper Austrians were crowned the best fistball club team in the world for the first time in their fistball club team in the world. Already at the start, the Austrian team, which had already fought out a thrilling battle against defending champions SG Novo Hamburgo (3:2) in the semi-finals and had been beaten in the preliminary round duel against Pfungstadt (0:3) in the preliminary round, started the game better. But: After 2:0 set lead, Pfungstadt increasingly took command and turned the match turned the game into a 3:2. Vöcklabruck then made a spectacular comeback, forcing the deciding set and the deciding set and kept the upper hand here in extra time – even though although they missed three match points after leading 8:3 and it seemed that last year’s that last year’s finalist from Germany could still win the match. In the end, it was a ball from Patrick Thomas that decided the match.

The bronze medal went to to SG Novo Hamburgo, who clearly won their match 4:0 (11:5, 11:5, 11:6, 11:2) against TV Enns from Austria. The President’s Cup was won by DSG UKJ Froschberg, who prevailed against UFG Grieskirchen/Pötting (4:11, 11:6, 12:10, 11:5). Sogipa Porto Alegre finished the World Tour Final in seventh place, ahead of TV Käfertal (13:11, 11:7, 14:12).

Women: Dennach takes the title from Schneverdingen in a high-class final

Already on Saturday evening the final was not for the faint-hearted. In the clash between the eternal German rivals TSV Dennach and TV Jahn Schneverdingen, the spectators saw a duel at eye level in which only nuances in which only nuances made the difference. Dennach went into the set (15:14), before the defending champions from Schneverdingen equalized (12:10). Schneverdingen equalized (12:10). After that, TSV proved to be stronger and stronger, was was hardly to be overcome in defense and was often successful with a multi-faceted attacking play (11:9, 11:4). It even looked like a 4:1 victory for TSV, who already had three match points in the fifth set. These TV Jahn fought them off with strong nerves, reduced the deficit to 2:3 – and also equalized a clear a clear deficit once again in the sixth set. In the end, it was a ball from TSV captain Sonja Pfrommer that brought the acclaimed decision.

Bronze went to Sogipa Porto Alegre. The Brazilians were in their duel with SVD Diepoldsau-Schmitter, the Brazilians started the match a set behind but then turned on the heat and held their nerve, especially in the extra sets (9:11, 12:10, 11:6, 15:13, 11:8). The victory in the President’s Cup (place 5) was secured by FBC Linz-Urfahr (Austria) with a clear 3:0 (11:7, 11:3, 11:6) victory against the Swiss team FG Elgg-Ettenhausen. Seventh place seventh place went to Faustball Kreuzlingen (Switzerland), who beat UFG Grieskirchen/Pötting 3:0 (11:9, 12:10, 11:2).