Tchoukball

Tchoukball (Template:IPAc-en Template:Respell) is an indoor team sport, played by teams of 7 players. It was developed in Switzerland in the 1970s, and is most popular in Singapore, Switzerland and Taiwan, but has become an international sport with national federations in over 60 countries. It is governed by the International Tchoukball Federation (FITB), which was founded in 1971.

It is usually played with a ball on an indoor court with a small elastic rebounder on each end. Teams score by bouncing the ball against the rebounder and getting it to bounce on the floor of the court without being intercepted by the defending team. The sport was designed to limit injuries, and physical contact between players is prohibited.

History

Tchoukball was created in Switzerland by Hermann Brandt,<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> who was concerned by the numerous serious injuries among athletes resulting from sports prone to aggression and physical contact. He believed that sports should be not only for champions, but also contribute to the creation of a better and more humane society.<ref>Brandt, H., Etude scientifique des sports d’équipe, Ed. Roulet, Geneva, 1971</ref> He designed tchoukball to contain elements of handball (it is played with hands, and the balls used are similar), volleyball (as the defending team must prevent the ball from falling) and squash (since there is a rebound).

Etymology

The name of tchoukball (pronounced as "choukball", with a silent "t") comes from the onomatopoeic "tchouk" sound the ball makes when it bounces off a frame.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Basic rules

File:Switzerland M18 - France (49294782773).jpg

Match in progress in Geneva Nations Cup: 5th place women semi-final Switzerland M18-France.

Teams may comprise 12 players, however only 7 may be on the court at any one time.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Physical contact between players is prohibited, and defenders may not attempt to intercept the attacking team's passes. Players may take at most three steps with the ball, and hold the ball for at most three seconds. Teams may not pass the ball more than three times before shooting at the rebounder.

Court

• The court size that is generally used is 27 m × 16 m. However, there are variations to this such as in beach tchoukball where a court size of 21 m × 12 m is used.
• One rebounder is placed at each end of the field of play, one square meter in area.
• In front of each rebounder, a D-shaped semi-circle measuring 3 m in radius is drawn; this defines the limits of a 'forbidden zone' where defenders cannot stand.
• The lines around zones are considered part of the zone: the line marking the semicircle forbidden zone is considered part of the forbidden zone, and the line around the entire court is considered a part of the court.

Ball

Depending on the category of players (Men, Women, Youth), different sizes of balls are used. These range from a circumference of 54 – 60 cm and weights from 325 – 475 grams.

Scoring

File:Frame front 30.jpg

RebounderTemplate:Sp

Two teams of 7 players each (men or women) compete to score points with the team with the most points at the end winning the game. When a team gains a point, control of the ball is transferred to the other team.

• In tchoukball either team can score at either end of the court.
• A point is scored when the ball rebounds after hitting either of the 2 rebounders and touches the ground outside the forbidden zone, any part of the defending player's body below the knees, or touches the defending player while he is still in the forbidden zone.
• A point is given to the non-attacking team when the attacking team shoots and misses the rebounder, or the ball rebounds outside the playing area (either out of the court or in the forbidden zone).
• If a shot is caught by the defending team, the defending team can proceed to attack immediately.

Positions

File:Ferrara2024DefensaEs.jpg

Defence prepared for the Germany-Spain match for third and fourth place at the Ferrara 2024 European Championship.

Each team comprises the following positions: 2 Right Shooters or Right Wings; 2 Left Shooters or Left Wings; 2 or 3 defenders or Forward Pivot; 1 Centre or Centre Pivot (or none if 3 defenders are used).

Each side of the court comprises a left shooter, right shooter and 1 or 2 defenders, while the centre usually stays near the middle of the court if this formation is used. The shooters are generally in charge of shooting although in some cases the defender can also take the shot. The defenders are in charge of coordinating the first line of defence while the centre pivot takes charge of the second line of defence. However other formations include not using a centre pivot, the team would bypass the centre and throw full length court passes directly to the shooters/inners. This gives an extra first line defender or a dedicated second line defender.

Playing the game

Players with the ball can take a maximum of 3 steps, and hold the ball for a maximum of 3 seconds. Bouncing the ball is not allowed.

When a pass is not completed (the ball touches the ground or goes out of bounds), the other team gets possession.

The defending team cannot obstruct the attacking one during passing.

For the scoring team, stepping into the forbidden zone with the ball is not allowed. The ball must be released before the player lands in the forbidden zone.

In addition to classic indoor tchoukball, there is also beach tchoukball and wheelchair tchoukball, with slightly different rules. There are also Youth and University leagues, separate from the open league.

International Tchoukball Federation (FITB)

File:Chukbol.svg

Symbol of Tchoukball

The FITB, founded in 1971, is based in Geneva, Switzerland. As of 2021, it includes 50 member associations<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> and 22 (15+7) countries with a designated FITB Representative. It supports and advises national associations and individuals willing to spread tchoukball in new areas. For instance, tchoukball was recently integrated in the school program of some regions of Senegal. The FITB was a demonstration sport in the 2009 World Games, which took place in Kaohsiung, Taiwan.

At the world championship level, tchoukball has been dominated by Taiwanese teams since 1980. Their only losses since then were in 2004 when they were defeated by Switzerland in the men's final, and in 2023, when Italy defeated them in the women's semi-final.

Membership

1. Template:ARG
2. Template:AUT
3. Template:BAN
4. Template:BEN
5. Template:BRA
6. Template:BUR
7. Template:CMR
8. Template:CAN
9. Template:TPE
10. Template:COL
11. Template:CIV
12. Template:CZE
13. Template:COD
14. Template:FRA
15. Template:GER
16. Template:GHA
17. Template:GUI
18. Template:HAI
19. Template:HKG
20. Template:HUN
21. Template:IND
22. Template:INA
23. Template:ITA
24. Template:JPN
25. Template:KEN
26. Template:MAC
27. Template:MAS
28. Template:MRI
29. Template:MEX
30. Template:MAR
31. Template:NEP
32. Template:PAK
33. Template:PHI
34. Template:POL
35. Template:RWA
36. Template:SEN
37. Template:SGP
38. Template:KOR
39. Template:ESP
40. Template:SRI
41. Template:SUI
42. Template:TAN
43. Template:THA
44. Template:TOG
45. Template:UGA
46. Template:UAE
47. Template:GBR
48. Template:USA
49. Template:URU
50. Template:VIE

Events

• World Federation

1. World Championship
2. European Championship
3. Asian - Pacific Championship
4. African Championship
5. Pan American Championship
6. FITB World Youth Tchoukball Championships in 6 Categories: B18,B15,B12 and G18,G15,G12.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

|CitationClass=web }}</ref> 6th FITB World Youth Tchoukball Championships 2023

World events

World Tchoukball Championships

{{#invoke:Labelled list hatnote|labelledList|Main article|Main articles|Main page|Main pages}}

Year	Host	Men's winners	Women's winners
1971	Template:SWI	Template:FRA	-
1976
1980	Template:SUI	Template:TPE	Template:TPE
1982	Template:FRA	Template:TPE	Template:TPE
1984	Template:TWN	Template:TPE	Template:TPE
1987	Template:SWI	Template:TPE	Template:TPE
2000	Geneva, Template:SWI	Template:TPE	Template:TPE
2004	Template:TWN	Template:SWI	Template:TPE
2011	Template:ITA	Template:TPE	Template:TPE
2015	Template:TWN	Template:TPE	Template:TPE
2019	Template:MAS	Template:TPE	Template:TPE
2023	Template:CZE	Template:TPE	Template:SUI

World Beach Tchoukball Championships

Year	Host	Men's winners	Women's winners
2005	Template:SWI	Template:TPE	Template:TPE
2017	Template:TWN	Template:TPE	Template:TPE

Tchoukball at the World Games

Year	Host	Men's winners	Women's winners
1989	Template:GER	Template:TPE	Template:TPE
2009	Template:TWN	Template:TPE	Template:TPE

World Youth Tchoukball Championships

6th FITB World Youth Tchoukball Championships 2023

Year	Host	M-18 Boys winner	M-15 Boys winner	M-12 Boys winner	M-18 Girls winner	M-15 Girls winner	M-12 Girls winner
2004	Template:TWN	Template:TPE	-	-	Template:TPE	-	-
2011	Template:AUT	Template:ITA	Template:SIN	Template:TPE	Template:TPE	Template:ITA	-
2013	Template:TWN	Template:TPE	Template:TPE	Template:TPE	Template:TPE	Template:TPE	Template:TPE
2015	Template:SIN	Template:SIN	Template:TPE	Template:TPE	Template:SIN	Template:TPE	Template:SIN
2019	Template:SIN	Template:TPE	Template:TPE	Template:TPE	Template:SIN	Template:TPE	Template:TPE
citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	Template:SIN	Template:TPE	Template:SIN	Template:TPE	Template:SIN	Template:TPE	Template:TPE

World University Tchoukball Championships

Year	Host	Men's winners	Women's winners
2017	Template:MAS	Template:TPE	Template:TPE

World Youth Beach Tchoukball Championships

Year	Host	Men's winners	Women's winners
2017	Template:INA	Template:TPE	Template:TPE
2023	Template:TPE	Template:TPE	Template:TPE

Regional events

Asia Pacific Tchoukball Championships

{{#invoke:Labelled list hatnote|labelledList|Main article|Main articles|Main page|Main pages}}

Year	Host	Men's winners	Women's winners
2003	Template:IND	Template:TPE	Template:TPE
2006	Template:TWN	Template:TPE	Template:TPE
2008	Template:TWN	Template:TPE	Template:TPE
2010	Template:SIN	Template:TPE	Template:TPE
2012	Template:PHI	Template:TPE	Template:TPE
2014	Template:TWN	Template:TPE	Template:TPE
2016	Template:CHN	Template:TPE	Template:TPE
2022	Template:MAS	Template:TPE	Template:SIN
citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	Template:HK	Template:TPE	Template:HK

Asia Pacific University Tchoukball Championships

Year	Host	Men's winners	Women's winners
2009	Template:HKG	Template:TPE	Template:TPE
2011	Template:TWN	Template:TPE	Template:TPE
2013	Template:KOR	Template:PHI	Template:TPE
2015	Template:MAS	Template:TPE	Template:TPE
2019	Template:TWN	Template:TPE	Template:TPE

Asia Pacific Beach Tchoukball Championships

Year	Host	Men's winners	Women's winners
2013	Template:THA	Template:TPE	Template:SIN

Asia Pacific Youth Tchoukball Championships

Asia Pacific Tchoukball Federation - APYTC

In 2014, The 3rd Asia Pacific Youth Tchoukball Championship In Singapore. In 2016, The 4th Asia Pacific Youth Tchoukball Championship In Taoyuan, Taiwan.

7th Asia Pacific Youth Tchoukball Championships 2024, from 19th July to 21st July 2024, in Johor Bahru Malaysia.

Year	Host	M-18 Boys Winner	M-15 Boys Winner	M-12 Boys Winner	M-18 Girls Winner	M-15 Girls Winner	M-12 Girls Winner
2010	Template:SIN	Template:TPE	-	Template:HKG	Template:TPE	-	Template:TPE
2013	Template:MAS	Template:TPE	Template:TPE	Template:TPE	Template:SIN	Template:TPE	Template:TPE
2014	Template:SIN	Template:TPE	Template:TPE	Template:TPE	Template:TPE	Template:TPE	Template:TPE
2016	Template:TWN	Template:TPE	Template:TPE	Template:TPE	Template:TPE	Template:TPE	Template:TPE

Southeast Asia Tchoukball Championships

Year	Host Nation	Men's winners	Women's winners
2009	Template:THA	Template:SIN	-
2011	Template:VIE	Template:PHI	Template:SIN
2013	Template:THA	Template:SIN	Template:SIN
2015	Template:MAS	Template:SIN	Template:SIN
2017	Template:THA	Template:SIN	Template:SIN

South Asian Tchoukball Championships

Year	Host	Men's winners	Women's winners
2012	Template:NEP	Template:IND	-
2014	Template:NEP	Template:IND	-
2016	Template:IND	Template:IND	-

East Asian Tchoukball Championships

Year	Host	Men's winners	Women's winners
2016	Template:CHN	Template:TPE	-
2017	Template:KOR

European Tchoukball Championships

Year	Host	Men's winners	Women's winners
2003	Template:Flagicon Italy	Template:SUI	Template:SUI
2006	Template:Flagicon Switzerland	Template:GBR	Template:SUI
2008	Template:Flagicon Czech Republic	Template:SUI	Template:SUI
2010	Template:Flagicon United Kingdom	Template:SUI	Template:SUI
2014	Template:GER	Template:AUT	Template:SWI
2016	Template:CZE	Template:AUT	Template:SWI
2018	Template:ITA	Template:ITA	Template:ITA
2022	Template:Flagicon United Kingdom	Template:ITA	Template:SWI
2024	Template:Flagicon Italy	Template:ITA	Template:ITA

European Youth Tchoukball Championships

Year	Host	M-18 Boys Winner	M-15 Boys Winner	M-12 Boys Winner	M-18 Girls Winner	M-15 Girls Winner	M-12 Girls Winner
2016	Template:CZE	Template:ITA	Template:ITA	Template:CZE	-	Template:AUT	-
2022 Championships	Template:Flagicon United Kingdom	Template:SWI

African Tchoukball Championships

Year	Host	Men's winners	Women's winners
2010	Template:GHA	Template:TOG	Template:SEN
2012	Template:TOG	Template:TOG
2014	Template:BEN	Template:TOG
2016	Template:KEN	Template:CMR

East African Tchoukball Championships

Year	Host	Men's winners	Women's winners
2014	Template:UGA	Template:UGA

Pan American Tchoukball Championships

Year	Host	Men's winners	Women's winners
2010	Template:BRA	Template:BRA	Template:BRA
2012	Template:URU	Template:BRA	Template:BRA
2014	Template:COL	Template:BRA	Template:COL
2016	Template:MEX	Template:BRA	Template:URU
2022	Template:BRA	Template:BRA	Template:ARG
2024	Template:ARG	Template:URU	Template:URU

FITB presidents

Name	Nationality	Years	FITB headquarters
Hermann Brandt	Template:SUI	1971–1972	Geneva, Switzerland
Théodore Werey	Template:FRA	1972–1984	France
Liu Zhengfeng	Template:TWN	1984–1996	Taoyuan, Taiwan
John Andrews	Template:GBR	1996–2000	United Kingdom
Michel Farve	Template:SUI	2000–2004	Switzerland
Daniel Bushbeck	Template:SUI	2004–2009	Geneva, Switzerland
Huang Chin Cheng	Template:TWN	2009–2017	Kaohsiung, Taiwan
Fang Shen Szu	Template:TWN	2017–2021	New Taipei, Taiwan
Huang Chin Cheng	Template:TWN	2021–2025	Kaohsiung, Taiwan
Lim Zi Xuan, Delane	Template:SGP	2025-present	Singapore, Singapore

See also

• Tchoukball at the 2009 World Games

Notes

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External links

Associations

• FITB - International Tchoukball Federation - official site