 A fistball attacker hits the ball over the net | |
| Highest governing body | International Fistball Association (IFA) |
|---|---|
| Nicknames | big ball |
| First played | First mentioned year 240, first organised play in 1894 |
| Characteristics | |
| Team members | 5 players per team |
| Mixed-sex | No |
| Type | Outdoor (summer) and indoor (winter) |
| Equipment | Fistball, net |
| Venue | Field (outdoor) and court (indoor) |
| Presence | |
| Olympic | No |
| World Games | 1985 – present |
Fistball is a sport of European origin, primarily played in the German-speaking nations of Austria, Germany and Switzerland, as well as in Brazil. The objective of the game is similar to volleyball, in that teams try to hit a ball over a net, but the rules vary from volleyball in several major ways. The current men's fistball World Champions are Germany, winners of both the 2023 Men's World Championships and the fistball category at the 2022 World Games, while the current women's fistball World Champions are also Germany, after winning the 2021 Women's World Championships.