Building on the success of the Women's Multiball Cup held in October 2024 as part of the European Week of Sport, the Women's Multiball Cup was again organised at the Hungarian University of Sports Science (HUSS) on 12 March with a diverse pool of participants. The event was again framed by the Erasmus+ Sport project "Leveraging Sports for Women Empowerment (Less4More)”.
Four teams of 6-8 players each competed for medals and prizes:
- TF Less4More Team
- TF women staff – TF-Blue
- TF students - Sparkle Ponies
- MESE - Second Chance Sports Association.
As the project leaders, Dr Andrea Gál and Dr Judit Farkas, explained, the event again focused on showcasing catchball, a lighter version of volleyball and the fastest growing recreational sport in many countries in Europe and beyond. For those who wish to regularly practice catchball, football or volleyball (in more pleasant weather beach volleyball) it is important to know that on Wednesday afternoons, training sessions are held in the Mobile Hall, organised by the Sports Office for staff, students and other interested women.
The programme was enriched by a Roundnet sports demonstration and a football match between HUSS staff, students and teams from Second Chance (MESE). The visiting team was made up of young people living in children's homes, correctional institutions and as refugees in our country, for whom the organisation helps in the development of labour market skills and language training, in addition to providing sporting opportunities.
Maintaining regular training sessions is a priority for their association, as they see predictability and regularity as the most important values and try to pass them on to their athletes. Socially sensitive coaches work with the athletes during their training sessions, as well as active social workers with football experience.
Representing the Hungarian Roundnet Association, Bence Ballabás, a member of the board, and his staff presented the technical elements and rules of the sport, also known as Spikeball. Roundnet is a dynamic and easy to learn sport played by teams of two around a circular net. The ball is hit onto the net in such a way that the opponent cannot return it within three touches - just like in volleyball, but there are no courts and players are free to move 360 degrees around the net. Through demonstrations like this and through the Federation's Instagram page, TikTok, more and more people are reaching out to this fast-paced and exciting sport.
Medals and special prizes were once again handed out by the organisers at the results ceremony of the recreational cup, and the joy of movement and active celebration of Women's Day was accompanied by shopping vouchers for the participants. As a continuation of the sports-themed discussion in the Healthy Campus lounge, the MESE team was presented with sports shoes and Rubik's cubes by the university.
The busy programme was an experience and a chance to meet new people, which, in addition to regular training sessions, is regularly organised every six months in the autumn in conjunction with the European Week of Sports by the university's dedicated Less4More project team and the Sports Office.
