USFA Men's Program Gearing Up for 2022 World Games

COPPELL, TEXAS (December 19, 2021) – Thirteen of the Men’s National Fistball Team hopefuls traveled to Coppell, Texas on December 4th for a training and tryout weekend. This is just one of many training sessions in preparation for U.S. Fistball’s greatest competition since 2019.

Over July 7-17th, 2022, the largest Fistball event on U.S. soil will take place, as part of The World Games in Birmingham, Alabama. The World Games is the second largest multi-sport event next to the Olympics - and the most prestigious level of competition for non-Olympic sports. Thirty-five sports will be given the big stage in front of the local community and spectators traveling from across the world. The event will also be streamed worldwide.

Fistball has been part of The World Games since 1983 and has garnered a large popularity in the European television market from the previous 2017 World Games in Wroclaw, Poland. The successful production of the sport in Wroclaw awarded the previously men’s-only competition a women's category as well for the Birmingham event.

Head Coach Theo Theodorakoglu

“Having The World Games on U.S. soil gives Fistball, and specifically the United States Fistball Association (USFA), a large opportunity to grow the sport,” said Rodrigo Salas, Assistant Coach for the U.S. Men’s Team. “While many in the states have not heard of the sport, the USFA and International Fistball Association (IFA) are hoping to change the narrative and have Fistball become a household name in the USA.”

As the host country, the U.S. Men’s and Women’s National Teams have qualified for The World Games. The Men’s National Team most recently competed in the Fistball World Championships in 2019 in Switzerland and the Women’s National Team last competed in the local Pan-American Championship in Roxbury, New Jersey in 2015.

Both programs are seeking additional athletes to learn and potentially compete for a place on the U.S. National Teams.

If you are interested in getting involved in the United States Fistball Association, please visit www.USFistball.com.