Kin-Ball
Officially Kin-Ball (International Kin-Ball Sport Federation)
UNIQUE 3-TEAM INDOOR SPORT (Canada, invented 1986 by MARIO DEMERS at UNIVERSITÉ LAVAL) — 3 TEAMS (BLACK, GREY, PINK) of 4 PLAYERS each all play SIMULTANEOUSLY on 20×20 M court with GIANT 122 CM DIAMETER, 1 KG BALL. Serving team calls out ONE opposing color ('OMNIKIN + COLOR!') and HITS ball with 2 HANDS; called team must CATCH before ball touches ground OR concede POINT to OTHER 2 TEAMS. Fast lateral action + strategic alliance shifts. Played in 30+ COUNTRIES; World Championships every 2 years since 2001.
Quick facts
Category
Ball Sports
Type
Team sport
Players
12–12
Duration
~30 min
Where played
indoor
Field / court
Indoor gym floor
Country of origin
🇨🇦 Canada
Estimated origin
Invented 1986 by MARIO DEMERS, PE teacher at Université Laval (Québec City); designed to teach cooperative + competitive team play with unique 3-team format; International Kin-Ball Sport Federation (IKBF) founded 1996; World Championships since 2001; especially popular Canada, Japan, Belgium, Czech Republic, Germany, France, Spain.
Olympic
No
Popularity
regional
How it works
Objective
AVOID being the DEFENDING TEAM when ball touches ground; when 1 team receives point, OTHER 2 both score.
Rules
Basic rules
3 TEAMS play SIMULTANEOUSLY: BLACK, GREY, PINK
Signature 3-team simultaneous play.
SERVER shouts 'OMNIKIN + COLOR!' before HITTING ball with 2 HANDS toward called team
Signature 'OMNIKIN + color!' call.
CALLED TEAM must CATCH ball with ANY BODY PART BEFORE it touches ground or bounces
Signature catch-before-ground rule.
IF CALLED TEAM CATCHES: they become NEXT SERVERS + choose next target color
Signature catch-to-serve chain.
IF CALLED TEAM FAILS: OTHER 2 TEAMS EACH SCORE 1 POINT (called team loses)
Signature 2-teams-score-when-1-fails.
SERVE MUST TRAVEL 1.8 M UPWARD + FORWARD (no downward slams)
Signature upward + forward serve.
STRATEGY: teams form TEMPORARY ALLIANCES against leading team; ranking changes constantly
Signature dynamic alliance strategy.
Scoring
Each unsuccessful defense = 1 pt to EACH of the OTHER 2 teams (2 pts distributed).
Win condition · First to 13 pts or leading after 3 periods.
Playing area
Called
Indoor gym floor
Dimensions
20×20 m square court (no lines beyond boundary)
Equipment
OMNIKIN KIN-BALL: giant 122 cm dia inflatable ball, 1 kg (softer + lighter than beach ball)
Signature giant Kin-Ball.
3 UNIFORMS: BLACK, GREY, PINK (color-coded teams — served-team called by color)
Signature 3-color-team uniforms.
GYM SHOES + KNEE PADS (optional)
Standard indoor sport gear.
Terminology
- Omnikin
- The ball brand + serve callout.
- Called team
- Team named by server — must catch.
- Alliance
- Informal ganging-up on leading team.
- IKBF
- International Kin-Ball Sport Federation.
Major competitions
Kin-Ball World Championships
every 2 years · Various · since 2001
Kin-Ball Continental Cups (Americas, Europe, Asia-Pacific)
annual · Various regions
Where it is played
Governing bodies
IKBF — International Kin-Ball Sport Federation
Founded 1996 · Québec City, Canada
Famous names & records
Famous athletes
- Not individual — team format; JAPAN + BELGIUM + CANADA + CZECH REPUBLIC dominate.
Sources & provenance
- Wikipedia — Kin-Ball— Wikipedia
- IKBF official— IKBF