Awards
IFA Awards – Celebrating Global Fistball Excellence
The IFA Awards are the official honors presented by the International Fistball Association (IFA) to recognize and celebrate outstanding achievements, commitment, and creativity within the global fistball community.
Held regularly, the IFA Awards spotlight individuals, teams, and initiatives that shape the sport both on and off the field. Whether through lifelong service, innovative activities, or capturing the beauty of the game in a single image, the awards reflect the spirit, values, and diversity of the international fistball family.
Awards 2024
IFA Lifetime Award
Celebrating individuals who have made exceptional, long-term contributions to fistball.
=> Selected by the IFA Jury
IFA Activity Award
Honoring outstanding fistball-related projects, events, or initiatives that promote the sport in unique or impactful ways.
=> Selected by the IFA Jury
IFA Best Picture of the Year
Recognizing the most impressive fistball image of the year, reflecting emotion, action, or community spirit.
=> Chosen by a combination of community voting and jury selection
World Fistball Day
The IFA Awards are officially presented as part of the World Fistball Day celebrations on 31 January. Starting in December, members of the global fistball community are invited to submit nominations across the various categories. These nominees will be publicly introduced throughout January, leading up to the final award announcements.
Through these awards, the IFA aims not only to honor achievement, but also to foster inspiration, international connection, and visibility for the sport of fistball across all levels.
History IFA AWARDS
2024
- IFA Lifetime Award: Victor Mödinger (CHI)
- IFA Activity Award: Faustball Austria (AUT)
- IFA Best Fistball Picture of the year: Moritz Kaufmann (GER)
2023
- IFA Lifetime Award: Michael Holzheuer (GER)
- IFA Activity Award: Dominik Mondl, the Institute for Sport and Sports Science (ISSW) Heidelberg and the World Championship 2023 Organizing Committee Mannheim of the Förderverein Faustball² (GER)
- IFA Best Fistball Picture of the year: Bernhard Kaiser (GER)
2022
- IFA Lifetime Award: Gerhard Strasser (AUT)
- IFA Activity Award: Faustball Denmark (DEN)
- IFA Best Fistball Picture of the year: Moritz Kaufmann (GER)
- IFA Female Player of the Year: Tanja Bognar (SUI)
- IFA Male Player of the Year: Patrick Thomas (GER)
- IFA Female Rookie of the Year: Amber Rauh (USA)
- IFA Male Rookie of the Year: Matthias Spornberger (ITA)
- IFA Coach of the Year: Anton Lässer (SUI)
- IFA Referee of the Year: Marcel Meier (SUI)
- IFA Media Award: The World Games Association & host broadcaster ISB
- IFA School Sports Award: Federico Fritz, Nancy Adamoli & Pablo Zarate (ARG)
- IFA Olympic Education in Fistball Award: José Roberto Vinharski (BRA)
- IFA Sustainability Award: TSV Jona (SUI)
- IFA Social Engagement Award: Sociedade de Ginástica de Porto Alegre (BRA)
- IFA Women in Sport Award: New Zealand FIstball Association (NZL)
2021
- IFA Lifetime Award: Karl Charly Raymann (SUI)
- IFA Activity Award: Fistball Association of Hong Kong China (HKG)
- IFA Best Fistball Picture of the year: Petra den Dulk (GER)
- IFA Female Player of the Year: Steffi Dannecker (GER)
- IFA Male Player of the Year: Karl Müllehner (AUT)
- IFA Female Rookie of the Year: Jordan Nadermann (GER)
- IFA Male Rookie of the Year: Philipp Einsiedler (AUT)
- IFA Coach of the Year: Jorge Heck (BRA)
- IFA Referee of the Year: José Luis Eltz (BRA)
- IFA Media Award: Klemens Kronsteiner & Team Valant (AUT)
- IFA School Sports Award: 12th National Fistball Championships for Boys and Girl (IND)
- IFA Olympic Education in Fistball Award: Tales Amorium (BRA)
- IFA Sustainability Award: UFG Grieskirchen/Pötting (AUT)
- IFA Social Engagement Award: Faustball-Gemeinschaft Friesheim (GER)
- IFA Women in Sport Award: Tina Baumann, Natalie Berchtold, Janine Stoob & Celina Traxler (SUI)
- IFA Sport For Good Award: Fist-Wear, Hong Kong & Australia (GER, HKG, AUS)
2020
- IFA Lifetime Award: Art Jesswein (USA)
- IFA Activity Award: Rahel Schreiber & Swiss Faustball (SUI)
- IFA Media Award: Faustball Australia (AUS)
- IFA Women in Sport Award: Dr. Giana Hexsel (repres. All female mambers of the medical staff)
- IFA Sport For Good Award: United Through Sports – Stephan Fox & Julia Govinden
2019
- IFA Lifetime Award: Manfred Lux (GER)
- IFA Activity Award: SC DHfK Leipzig (GER)
- IFA Social Engagement Award: ETV Hamburg/Claus Ehlbeck (GER)
Associations
In every country where fistball is actively practiced, there is a national association with passionate people who are responsible for this sport.
Events
IFA events bring together athletes from around the world, showcasing fistball at every level – from youth and club competitions to continental championships and world-class tournaments.
History
Fistball is among the world’s oldest ball games, with origins in southern Europe, evolving from a noble pastime into a competitive sport with official rules in 19th-century Germany.
WE ARE FISTBALL
WORLDWIDE EVENTS
Across the world, fistball is celebrated through a wide range of events – from youth competitions to men’s, women’s, and Masters tournaments, whether organized by the IFA or the continental associations.
These events bring the community together, showcase the sport at all levels, and provide the stage for athletes to compete, develop, and be recognized globally.
