Let´s get Catch´n Serve started in the Netherlands, the next playground for our movement

Among them was President Huibert Brands himself. During an exhibition match, the spectators could hardly be held back and stormed the playing field. They were expertly supervised by Oskar Rosa, ICSBF Education Coordinator, who had travelled there together with President Elisabeth (Sissi) Speiser -Havel.

The new Netherland coaches immediately put what they had learnt into practice. Initial requests for collaboration have already been made. The grand finale was a presentation by NSC for politicians and stakeholders in the region to discuss further steps. Catch’n Server will definitely play an important role in combining sport and social engagement, promised Mayor Wethouder Leon Geilen.

Finally, President Elisabeth Speiser-Havel presented the certificates to the seminar participants, who were still proudly wearing their new coach shirts. Meanwhile, Oskar Rosa was still coordinating the crowd during the games.

Many thanks to President Huibert Brands, Harry Claassen, member, acting secretary and the entire NCS team for these wonderful days and the personal support!

Report CSIT Website:

Catch’n Serve can certainly be described as an absolute success story. The world federation was founded as recently as 2023 at the CSIT Congress in Barcelona. Thanks to the tireless efforts of the federation’s leaders, led by President Elisabeth Speiser-Havel, the Catch’n Serve Movement now has over 25 member federations in 18 countries across four continents: Europe, Asia, Africa, and the Americas. And every year, a few more join the ranks. Currently, the Netherlands is the movement’s newest playground.

“Our mission is to actively promote and spread the Catch'n Serve ball sport and make it accessible to people from all social classes. We are passionate about breaking down barriers and ensuring that our team sport is accessible to all, regardless of background or circumstance. By using sport as a vehicle for equality, we strive to create an inclusive environment where every player has a fair chance to succeed. We adhere to the principles of fair play and promote a culture of respect, integrity and sportsmanship on and off the pitch. The ICSBF is committed to universal human rights as set out in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and other international human rights instruments”, says President Elisabeth Speiser-Havel.

The low visibility of Catch’n Serve is also the current issue in the Netherlands. That is why CSIT Member NCS Netherlands has engaged the promotional agency “de Spelverdeler.” Owner Margot Kouwenberg is the project manager and has been working intensively since October 2025 to raise the movement’s profile and recruit players: “First, we tried to establish a certified coaching system through courses to promote the movement—both locally and nationally. Starting next year, we will also offer Catch’n Serve in schools. That’s certainly a good platform.”

Currently, the sport is practically still completely unknown in the Netherlands. Another effort is therefore the participation of Dutch teams in major events, such as the 2025 CSIT World Sports Games in Loutraki, Greece, and next year’s WSG 2027 in Aalborg, Denmark. And there are also presentations at special events like the CSIT Single Swimming Championships and 100 years anniversary of NCS Netherlands in Geleen, where the trendy sport was showcased in an exhibition. “This has made us a little more visible. Social media platforms like LinkedIn also play a big role, which we use. There, we also want to demonstrate how many opportunities Catch’n Serve offers.”

Unfortunately, there isn’t much financial support from Parliament or funding for this project. But there is support and funding available at the local level. “Not for the sport itself, but because we’re helping to solve other problems—social, mental health, and issues like inclusion and empowering women. We need to focus more on the social aspects. There are more financial opportunities and support available in this area. We need to offer women a social network; then we can succeed. If we can convince city officials to include Catch’n Serve in their sports programs, then we’re on the right track.”

Photos: ICSBF