Tchoukball Tournament
Officially FITB Tchoukball World Championships
Swiss-invented (1970 by Dr. Hermann Brandt) 7v7 non-contact team ball sport played on 27×17m court with 2 trampoline-like inclined frames at each end; scored by rebounding ball off frame + evading opponents' catches. FITB World Championships since 1984.
What is Tchoukball Tournament?
Tchoukball is a non-contact team ball sport invented in 1970 by Swiss biologist Dr. Hermann Brandt as a response to violent sports; designed to have zero physical contact + emphasis on cooperation + skill. Played 7v7 on a 27 m × 17 m indoor court with two 90 cm × 90 cm inclined trampoline-like frames (tchoukball frames, angled at 55°) mounted at each baseline. Attacking team throws ball at the opponent's or their own goal (either can be attacked from either half — 'tchouk' = onomatopoeia of ball hitting frame). Ball must rebound off frame, then land in-bounds without opposing player catching it (this scores 1 point). If defending team catches rebound before it touches floor, no score. If ball lands out-of-bounds or hits frame border, throwing team loses possession. Match: 3 × 15 min periods with 2 min breaks. Governed by Fédération Internationale de Tchoukball (FITB, founded 1971, HQ Geneva Switzerland). World Championships every 4 years since 1984 (currently 2004 → 2008 → 2011 → 2015 → 2019 → 2023). Strongholds: Switzerland (dominant Europe), Taiwan (dominant Asia + multi-time world champions incl. men + women), Japan, Singapore, Philippines, UK, Argentina, Brazil, Italy. Also popular as school PE sport in Switzerland + UK + Taiwan.
Quick facts
Category
Ball Sports
Type
Team sport
Players
7–12
Duration
~50 min
Where played
indoor
Country of origin
🇨🇭 Switzerland
Estimated origin
Invented 1970 by Hermann Brandt in Geneva; FITB founded 1971; WC since 1984
Olympic
No
Popularity
regional
How it works
Objective
Score more goals than opponent by rebounding ball off frame landing in-bounds without defender catch.
Match structure
3 × 15 min periods; possession alternates; team may attack either frame.
Rules
Basic rules
No contact + no defense at frame
Zero physical contact allowed; defenders cannot obstruct throw or block near frame.
3-step + 3-second rule
Player with ball may take max 3 steps + hold ball max 3 seconds.
Max 3 consecutive passes
Team must shoot at frame within 3 passes.
May attack either frame
Unique — attacking team may choose either frame to shoot at.
Same frame max 3 consecutive attacks
Cannot attack same frame more than 3 times consecutively.
Scoring
1 point per successful score (rebound off frame lands in-bounds without defender catch).
| Action | Points |
|---|---|
| Successful score | +1 |
| Missed frame / out-of-bounds | possession lost |
| Defender catches rebound | possession switches, no score |
Win condition · More points at end of 45 min play time.
Equipment
Tchoukball ball
Similar to handball; ~500 g, ~55 cm circumference.
Two tchoukball frames (90 cm × 90 cm)
Angled trampoline-like frames at 55° at each baseline.
27 m × 17 m indoor court
Standard court dimensions.
Positions & roles
Attacker (Wing/Center)
×7Field players who throw + score; positions rotate.
Officiating
1 referee + line judges panel.
- Referee
- 2 Line Judges
- Scorekeeper
- Timekeeper
Major competitions
FITB Tchoukball World Championships
every 4 years · rotating global · since 1984
European Tchoukball Championships (ETC)
annual · Europe · since 2004
Asian-Pacific Tchoukball Championships
biennial · Asia-Pacific · since 1997
Where it is played
Governing bodies
Fédération Internationale de Tchoukball (FITB)
Founded 1971 · Geneva, Switzerland
Famous names & records
Famous athletes
- Taiwan men's + women's national teams (dominant Asia + multi-WC winners)
- Swiss national teams (Europe dominant)
- Dr. Hermann Brandt (inventor, 1970)
Records
FITB founded 1971
Federation Internationale de Tchoukball — FITB founded 1971 in Geneva by Hermann Brandt (1971)
Taiwan multiple WC titles
Taiwan national teams — Taiwan men + women national teams have won multiple World Championship titles (2023)
Sources & provenance
- Wikipedia — Tchoukball— Wikipedia
- FITB official— FITB