Futnet presentation
The futnet (previously called footballtennis/soccertennis) is a new sport in a full development. With nearly 100 years of history and traditions, the futnet represented a unique sporting entity with their own rules. It’s a complete sport that requires flexibility, technical precision, ability and strategy.
There are three disciplines in futnet determined by the number of the players : single, double and triple.
The game consists to pass the ball in order to achieve as close to the net as possible and allow the striker to smash the ball. The pass are important and require precision therewith the striker can kick the ball with power.
During the game, every team have three touches (two for the single) and one to three bounces according the league (not for the single).
Basic rules as laid down sport's rules
A futnet player can touch the ball with all parts of the body except the arms. It’s a technical sport but also physical. The moves are indeed shorts and explosives and the interactions can be long. Adapted for everybody, it suits to the young players as well as seniors, men and women.
Sport story
Previously called footballtennis, the futnet has 100 years of history. First recorded mentions of futnet date back to 1920s to ex-Czechoslovakia when young football players of Slavia Prague started to kick the ball over a horizontal rope which was later replaced by a net. First futnet rules were issued in 1940 (authors Kulhánek, Borkovec) and in 1940s futnet was promoted during volleyball matches in recreation cottage settlements built by tramps.
In February 1987 five countries (Switzerland, England, Italy, Romania, Germany) founded the world governing body International Football-Tennis Association (IFTA) in Biel, Switzerland. More countries joined IFTA in the following years, among them Austria, Brasil, France, Czechoslovakia (after the division of Czechoslovakia in 1993, Czech Republic and Slovak Republic became two independent members), Hungary, Greece, Turkey, Norway, Turkey, Russia, US, Ukraine, etc. Eventually, some countries also left FIFTA, for example Germany, Greece, Brasil, Austria.
In 1991, 1st Men’s European Championships took place in Switzerland and Hungary and 1st World Championship was held in Slovakia in 1994.
In 2000, 1st World Championship for Women and Juniors took place in Slovakia.
In 2004, IFTA was renamed to FIFTA (Fédération Internationale de Footballtennis Association) following a French proposal.
In 2010, footballtennis was recalled futnet. In FIFTA, numerous internal problems hindering real progress reached their peak in 2010 and led some countries to the decision to leave FIFTA and to found a new international association Union Internationale de Futnet on 16 October 2010 in Geneva, Switzerland. Of the former FIFTA countries, among UNIF founding members were France, Switzerland, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Catalonia, Argentina, joined by FIFTA candidates Australia and Costa Rica and other countries like Poland, Denmark, Malaysia, Basque Country, South Africa, US and England. In early 2011 Ukraine joins UNIF.
Today, about 20 nations are members of the UNIF which make futnet a sport in full expansion.
European Futnet Association (EFTA) was founded on 24 April 2010 in Marseille, France by France, Switzerland, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Catalonia, Basque Country and Romania (later left EFTA). In late 2010 and early 2011 they were joined by Denmark, England, Poland, Ukraine and Austria.
Futnet in a few dates :
1920 : First recorded mentions of futnet to ex-Czechoslovakia
1940 : First futnet rules
1987 : Fondation of the IFTA (International Football-Tennis Association)
1991 : First Men’s European Championships
1994 : First Men's World Championships
2000 : First World Championship for Women and Juniors
2004 : IFTA was renamed FIFTA (Fédération Internationale de Footballtennis Association)
2010 : Footballtennis was renamed Futnet
Fondation of EFTA (European Futnet Association)
Fondation of UNIF (Union Internationale de Futnet)