The International Fistball Association (IFA) continued the dialogue for the development of sustainable concepts regarding the promotion and dissemination of fistball in the youth sector with its member federations. Therefore, the IFA Youth Commission welcomed on the even of the upcoming IFA 2021 Fistball World Championships around 40 players, coaches and youth representatives in person and online to the 4th IFA Youth Congress 2021.

Under the motto “Fistball goes Youth” the IFA Youth Commission informed about its current activities:
– Fistball 2021 survey – The worldwide situation in the pandemic (see: https://padlet.com/ifayouthcommission/youthcongress21)
– Update of the IFA Strategic Plan 2019 – 2023: Significant general innovations and changes / Strategic targets of the Youth Commission
– The new IFA Youth and Development program

Furthermore, its was the first presentation of our five exceptional nominees for the election of U18 representatives to the IFA Youth Commission:
• Anika Hartl (AUT)
• Mieke Kienast (GER)
• Florencia Schwaner (CHI)
• Adela Lang (SUI)
• Davin Hossmann (SUI)

The election will take place by the participants of the IFA U18 Fistball World Championships in Grieskirchen (Austria) on Friday, 30th of July.

To strengthen the rights of children IFA President Jörn Verleger suggested on the occasion of 30 years of the adoption of the Convention on the Rights of the Child by the UN in November 2019 the election of a U18 representative by the participants of the next U18 World Championships. The event and the election was postponed from 2020 to 2021 due to COVID-19.
Currently 25 percent of the 65.000 Fistball players worldwide in 61 countries are under 25 and half of this group are minors under 18.