10 things you didn't know about Kin-Ball
“Omnikin…red! Do you remember shouting those words in your elementary school gymnasium some 20 years ago during a wild game of Kin-Ball? This ultra-popular discipline at the beginning of the millennium celebrates its 30th anniversary this year. To mark the occasion, here are 10 things to know about this homegrown sport.
- Kin-Ball is a Quebec sport: the discipline was invented in Quebec by physical education teacher, Mario Demers.
- The sport is officially 30 years old: in 1993, the Quebec Federation of Kin-Ball succeeded in having its sport officially recognized by the Government of Quebec. The idea had been germinating in the mind of its creator since 1987.
- It reached its peak in 2006: that year, it became the sport most practiced extracurricular in Quebec with more than 30,000 players.
- Several people have worked to supervise the Kin-Ball. The Federation and its regional associations had only one permanent employee in 1992 to reach 36 at the height of its popularity. She has two full-time today.
- There were also Kin-Ball coaches: there were more than 300 around 2012 , all paid, including nearly 20 full-time.
- Kin-Ball is practiced all over the world: federations are currently active in France, Belgium, the United States, Switzerland, Denmark, Spain, Germany and Japan.
- There is an international Kin-Ball federation: it is based in Montreal and has 3.8 million practitioners.
- Kin-Ball is much less popular today: the sport has unfortunately experienced a significant decline over the past ten years for reasons that the Federation can hardly explain.
- Kin-Ball Quebec wants to give it back its former glory: a three-year recovery plan will soon be deployed, starting with a vast $150,000 fundraising campaign .
- A very first Kin-Ball Rising Stars Gala will soon be organized: the event will be held on April 22 at Dock 619 in Longueuil . The creator, former coaches and avid fans will be on hand to celebrate the sport's 30th anniversary.
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