Fistball is a very old sport which continues to be practiced all over the world: in Europe, North and South America, Africa and Asia. The game of fistball was first mentioned in 240 A.D. by Gordianus, an emperor of Rome. The first rules for an Italian version of fistball were recorded by Antonius Scaiono in 1555. In 1786 it was none less than Johann Wolfgang Goethe who mentioned fistball games between 'four noblemen from Verona and four Venetians' in his diary 'An Italian Journey'.

Fistball belongs to the group of games where a ball gets hit across a net, or a ribbon, from one half of the field of play to the other. Like in tennis and volleyball, the aim is to place the ball in the opponents' half in such a way as not allowing them to reach it, even after a bounce. The ball is hit with fists or arms. After passing the net, the ball may be made contact with up to three times by the five players on each team, with a bounce being permissible after every contact.

Fistball is played outdoors as well as indoors. The men's outdoor game, which is featured in The World Games, is played on a field of 20 by 50 meters. The center line divides the field in two halves; 2 meters above the center line a 6 cm wide net or tape is strung across the field. Service lines are marked at three meters from the center line in each of the halves. The ball is made of leather, has a circumference of maximum 68 cm, weighs up to 380 g, and it is inflated at 0,75 bar. The matches are played to a system of 'best of three sets' , with a set won by the team accumulating 20 points.

Other than in The World Games, the international fistball elite unites in quadrennial International Fistball Association World Championships for men and women.

 Fistball at The World Games 2005

Fistball event at The World Games 2009 Kaohsiung:

Men's Tournament