What is the worst thing about team sports? The team aspect! So often you play with a team and there is that one player who just thinks he/she is better than everyone else. You pass them the ball, ask for the pass back, and it never comes. They hold the ball for eternity, certain that they are so good they deserve to keep it. How would you solve this issue? It appears one sport has come up with the perfect solution. Enter Kin-Ball.
Kin-Ball is a simple sport that appears to have solved the issue of selfish players by making the ball over 1 meter big. The ball is literally too big for one person to handle, so it forces teams to cooperate and work together. At 1.22m in diameter, the ball must be held by at least three players for the majority of the game turning traditional approaches to team sports on their head. You must work together.
The premise of the game is relatively simple. There are three teams on the pitch competing with each team having four players. The object of the game is to keep the ball from hitting the floor. If your team lets the ball drop the other teams score points. It requires real teamwork and coordination.
Growing bigger
The game has grown hugely. Originating in Canada in 1986, the International Kin Ball federation now consists of over 3.8 million participants from around the world. The sport has mainly been successful in its home country of Canada but also in the USA, Japan, France, Belgium, Germany, Spain, Switzerland, Denmark, Malaysia, and China. The far-reaching sport has clearly caught the attention of many due to its innovative approach and creative style. The World Cup has taken place since 2001 and Canada dominates winning 8 out of the 9 last years in the men’s competition and 9 out of 9 in the women’s competition. It sounds like a call to action to me. Is anyone brave enough to stop these Canadians?
