Prellball
Officially Prellball (German Gymnastics Federation)
GERMAN GYM SPORT (developed 1920s Deutsche Turnerschaft) — 4v4 TEAMS on 8×16 M COURT divided by ROPE at ~40 cm HEIGHT; players use CLENCHED FIST or WRIST to STRIKE a RUBBER BALL so it BOUNCES ONCE on OWN SIDE before crossing rope + BOUNCING ONCE on OPPOSITE SIDE. Max 3 hits per side, ball must bounce between hits. Popular gymnastics-club sport in GERMANY, AUSTRIA, SWITZERLAND, CZECH REPUBLIC. GERMAN CHAMPIONSHIPS annually since 1930s; combines volleyball-like tactics with mandatory bouncing (like fistball with lower rope).
Quick facts
Category
Ball Sports
Type
Team sport
Players
8–8
Duration
~30 min
Where played
both
Field / court
Gym floor (sprung wood ideal)
Country of origin
🇩🇪 Germany
Estimated origin
Developed 1920s in German Deutsche Turnerschaft (Gym Federation) as complementary gym sport; German Championships since 1930s; spread to Austria + Switzerland + Czech Republic via German gymnastics clubs; DTB (Deutsche Turner-Bund) governs today.
Olympic
No
Popularity
regional
How it works
Objective
Force ball to BOUNCE UNRETURNED on opponent's side; max 3 hits/side with bouncing required.
Rules
Basic rules
SERVE: player throws + STRIKES ball with FIST from behind back line, ball must BOUNCE ON OWN SIDE FIRST, then clear rope + BOUNCE on opposite side
Signature bounce-both-sides serve.
RALLY: same rule — ball MUST BOUNCE ONCE on own side before returning + MUST BOUNCE ONCE on opposite side after clearing rope
Signature bounce-both-sides rally.
MAX 3 HITS per team per side + ball MUST BOUNCE BETWEEN HITS
Signature 3-hits-with-bounces rule.
STRIKE ONLY WITH FIST or WRIST (no palm; no fingers)
Signature fist-only rule.
POINT: ball hits floor without proper bounce, out of bounds, or under rope = point to opponent (rally scoring)
Signature rally scoring.
Scoring
Rally scoring to 15 points (2 clear).
Win condition · First to 15 with 2-point margin (best of 3 sets tournaments).
Playing area
Called
Gym floor (sprung wood ideal)
Dimensions
8×16 m court, rope at 40 cm height across center
Equipment
BALL: rubber ball ~320-380 g, ~65 cm circumference (softer than fistball)
Signature soft-rubber prellball.
ROPE + STANDS at 40 cm height across middle of court
Signature low rope divider.
Terminology
- Prell
- German 'bounce' — core mechanic of sport.
- Faustschlag
- Fist strike — the only legal contact.
- Aufschlag
- Serve.
Major competitions
Deutsche Meisterschaft Prellball (German Championships)
annual · Germany · since 1930
Where it is played
Governing bodies
DTB — Deutscher Turner-Bund (German Gym Federation)
Founded 1868 · Frankfurt, Germany
Sources & provenance
- Wikipedia — Prellball— Wikipedia
- DTB Prellball— DTB