When skateboardingmade its official appearance at the Tokyo Olympics, it was incredible to witness a sport once viewed as niche being showcased at such a high level of athleticism.
Roundnet also began as a niche activity but quickly captured the attention and passion of numerous dedicated fans globally. Last September, 33 countries dispatched teams to Belgium to take part in the inaugural World Roundnet Championships.
What is Roundnet?
Roundnetoriginated in 1989, created by Jeff Knurek as an enjoyable casual outdoor game inspired by volleyball and foursquare. Despite initial success, the game faded into obscurity until Chris Ruder revived it in 2007, establishing the company Spikeball, which produces all the necessary roundnet equipment.
How do you play?
Roundnet is played with aSpikeballset that includes a small circular netted trampoline and a set of Spikeballs. Teams of two initiate a rally by serving a Spikeball off the net to the opposing team. The opposing team then has three hits to intercept theballand return it by bouncing it off the Spikeball net. Both teams can move and utilize the full 360 degrees around the Spikeball net, with no defined boundaries of play. A point is scored if the ball contacts the ground or isn't returned within three hits or through other game violations. The unrestricted 360-degree play area and absence of boundaries allow Spikeball to truly highlight its demand for rapid hand-eye coordination and dynamic teamwork to outmaneuver the opposition.
The World Roundnet Championships have been organized by the International Roundnet Federation as a means to broaden the sport's recognition and begin the process of preparing it for potential future Olympic consideration.
The championships took place from September 8th to September 11th, featuring multiple categories, including a coed mixed-gender teams championship and two days of national teams competing in brackets to reach the finals.
You can still view the highlights of the championships on YouTube, where streams of the games with full commentary are available to watch.
Results
As a sport with significant popularity on college campuses, Team USA performed exceptionally well over the weekend, securing first place in both the Men's and Women's Squad tournaments by winning the majority of their matches. Canada finished second in the Men's tournament and was one of the main competitors throughout the weekend alongside Team USA. Team Germany secured second place in the Women's tournament, delivering some of the weekend's best rallies against Team USA, with both teams being closely matched. There are also remarkable matches featuring Team GB, who finished seventh in both the men's and women's squad tournaments.