Nigeria’s emerging recreational sport, Catchball, is poised for a major breakthrough as the Nigerian Catchball Federation has announced plans to showcase the game at the forthcoming National Sports Festival scheduled to hold in Enugu State.
President of the Nigerian Catchball Federation, Bola Babarinde, disclosed the development during an interview session on Sports Track, describing the planned appearance as a landmark moment in the federation’s drive for national acceptance and grassroots expansion.
According to Babarinde, Catchball will feature as an exhibition and “experience game” at the festival, allowing athletes, sports administrators and spectators to gain firsthand exposure to the fast-growing sport, even though it is yet to be listed as a medal event.
“We may not be able to compete yet, but the game will be there,” he stated, emphasizing that the federation’s immediate focus is awareness creation, participation and institutional recognition.
He explained that the journey toward establishing Catchball within Nigeria’s sporting ecosystem has been challenging but rewarding. After returning to Nigeria from South Africa, where he spent over two decades, Babarinde said he began engaging relevant authorities in Abuja and worked tirelessly toward securing official registration of the federation through the Corporate Affairs Commission.
The federation president acknowledged the support received from the National Sports Commission, noting that the encouragement and backing of the commission’s leadership have been instrumental in the sport’s gradual acceptance within the country’s sports structure.
Babarinde further revealed that the federation has identified Lagos State as the strategic hub for the sport’s growth, expressing optimism that the state would become the “powerhouse” of Catchball in Nigeria due to its vibrant sporting culture and grassroots participation framework which had enjoyed full support from the Lagos State Sports Commission led by Mr Lekan Fatodu.
Already, Catchball is gaining momentum with the establishment of active clubs in Mushin, Lagos, as well as at the University of Ibadan, while expansion plans are underway in Abuja and other parts of the country.
Explaining the uniqueness of the sport, Babarinde and active Catchball player, Naomi Nnaji, described the game as an exciting blend of volleyball, basketball and netball techniques. Unlike volleyball, players are required to catch the ball before passing or throwing it, creating a more strategic and controlled rhythm of play.
They explained that the game operates on a strict “three-three” rule, where teams are allowed a maximum of three passes, while players cannot take more than three steps while in possession of the ball.
Beyond competition, the federation is also positioning Catchball as a powerful social development tool. Babarinde stressed that the sport is currently structured as a female- creating a safe, supportive, and empowering environment for girls and women.
According to him, Catchball promotes discipline, teamwork, fitness, confidence-building and social inclusion while serving as a constructive platform for youth engagement.
He added that one of the most attractive features of the sport is its inclusivity, as it accommodates participants across different age groups. “Even a 70-year-old can play Catchball recreationally for fitness and stress relief,” he noted, describing the game as a lifelong recreational activity with immense community value.
The Nigerian Catchball Federation also expressed profound appreciation to Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, through the Office of the Senior Special Assistant on Grassroots Sports Development, Adeyinka Adeboye, popularly known as “Zulu Authority”, for the support and encouragement that facilitated the federation’s registration and recognition by the National Sports Commission.
The federation equally commended the Director General of the commission, Bukola Olopade, for his leadership, guidance and commitment toward the growth of emerging sports in Nigeria.
Special appreciation was also extended to the First Lady of Nigeria, Oluremi Tinubu, whom the federation praised for her continued advocacy for women empowerment, gender equality and youth development.
The federation which plans to make Sen. Remi Tinubu it’s Grand Patron noted that Catchball aligns strongly with the First Lady’s vision of empowering women and girls through meaningful opportunities, adding that the sport possesses enormous potential to contribute to job creation, female inclusion, community development and national advancement.
With its anticipated debut at the National Sports Festival in Enugu, stakeholders believe Catchball may be on the verge of becoming one of Nigeria’s next major grassroots sports success stories.
