Keen for Kin-Ball

By Adeena Nagib

PHOTO: PESS CLUB

Running around to catch an oversized ball before it touches the ground might seem like child’s play, but it is a sport that is fast gaining popularity in Singapore.

Kin-Ball is the only sport in the world where three teams compete at the same time to keep a large, lightweight ball from touching the ground.
The sport originated in Quebec in 1986. The Kin-Ball Association of Singapore (KBAS) was founded in 2014 by PE teacher Yong Tze Woon, who discovered it after attending a private workshop in Singapore in 2014 organised by the International Kin-Ball Federation.

“At first, we did not think much of it and it was silly playing with a big ball. But after trying the game, we immediately understood the attraction of Kin-Ball – it gets you to outplay, outwit and ‘outfun’ your opponents,” said Mr Yong, 40.

“The game, through its design and rules, also teaches respect and encourages inclusion. Seeing the potential, I decided to formally start an association to develop the sport in Singapore.”

Starting out

Kin-Ball is played with a nylon ball that inflates to 1.22 metres in diameter and weighs one kilogramme. The game can be played indoors or outdoors, on any flooring, in a 20m by 20m court.

The three teams, comprising four players each, are assigned a colour of either blue, black or grey.

A match lasts for three periods of 15 minutes each, and the team with the most points wins. In the event of a tie, the game continues until the next point.

Kin-Ball has come a long way since the KBAS was established three years ago. The Association has introduced the sport to more than 8000 people in Singapore through engagement programmes, according to Mr Yong.

“At first, it was difficult booking venues as the court managers didn’t know the sport and didn’t want to risk any damages,” he said.

Funding was also an initial hurdle, with players having to finance for themselves to play and compete.

But with the income from conducting workshops and PE programmes in schools, Mr Yong said that they now have the funds to conduct more programmes.

He has since brought the game to community centres around the nation, such as Pioneer Community Sports Club (CSC) and Jalan Kayu CSC, and even partnered with ActiveSG to hold weekly sessions at the Singapore Sports Hub.

Mr Yong also introduced Kin-Ball to NTU by organising Kin-Ball workshops and refereeing courses for the Physical Education and Sports Science (PESS) Club at the National Institute of Education (NIE), in conjunction with the KBAS.

In 2015, Kin-Ball was included in the annual PESS Sports Carnival. Chairperson of the PESS Club, Mohamed Sadiqin Subhan, 25, said this would help the sport gain more traction on campus and give students more opportunities to play the sport competitively.

The second-year student from NIE described the sport as “fun, easy to learn and safe for all”, regardless of one’s physical ability or age.

In March last year, they organised the first invitational Institute-Varsity-Polytechnic (IVP) Kin-Ball Championships with 13 teams contending.

The second championships was held this March and saw 14 teams competing, including Singapore Polytechnic and National University of Singapore. NTU emerged as the overall champions this year.

Tan Sze Teng, a second-year Asian School of the Environment student, participated in the second IVP championships despite not knowing how to play the sport.

The 20-year-old, who plays floorball for the University, found Kin-Ball an interesting sport that demanded “speed, control and cooperation”.

“I thought it was quite easy to pick up and it required a lot of focus and body control,” said Tan, adding that she hopes more students on campus will pick up the game.

Going forward, the KBAS hopes to further promote Kin-Ball through PE programmes in secondary schools and even conduct a primary school tournament next year.

“I would like to see the formation of clubs and a vibrant local Kin-Ball scene, with tournaments all year round for different age groups,” said Mr Yong.

A first for Singapore, the national women’s Kin-Ball team will be competing in the Kin-Ball World Cup 2017 in Tokyo in November. The Republic will face the likes of seven-time world champion Canada, as well as South Korea, France, Belgium, Switzerland and Japan.

Mr Yong said: “Hopefully in the future, we will see a Singapore team in contention for a Kin-Ball medal.”

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How to play Kin-Ball:

GRAPHIC: REYNARD ADRIANTO