The Nigeria Catchball Federation has intensified efforts to reposition catchball from a little-known recreational activity into a structured national sport, with a strategy centred on youth development, school integration, and corporate engagement.
Speaking on STV2’s Sports Cafe, Federation President Engr. Bola Babarinde said the long-term objective is to make the sport widely recognised across Nigeria within the next five years. “In the next five years we want it to be a household name,” he said. “We want it to be played in primary schools, secondary schools… we want state leagues and a national league.”
Catchball, which shares similarities with volleyball but removes high-impact techniques like spiking, is being promoted as a simplified, inclusive sport designed to encourage participation across age groups and skill levels.
Board member Naji Naomi described the game as intentionally accessible, stressing its focus on coordination rather than technical complexity. “The concept is to catch… you have to catch it with your two hands,” she explained, noting that the sport is structured around basic movement and teamwork rather than advanced athletic ability.
Federation officials say this simplicity is central to their expansion strategy. Babarinde emphasised that catchball does not require expensive infrastructure, making it suitable for schools and communities with limited facilities. “You don’t need to have a stadium… You can start on an open field; you can start on sand, even on the beach,” he said.
Beyond grassroots participation, the Federation is also positioning catchball as a corporate engagement tool, arguing that it can improve workplace relationships and communication. Babarinde explained that the sport has potential beyond recreation, pointing to its use in team-building settings abroad. “In America and Canada they use it for team bonding,” he said. “You don’t need to sweat… but by the time they get to the meeting, the boss and subordinates have that familiarity.”
Despite its ambitions, the Federation acknowledges significant financial constraints. Babarinde revealed that operations have largely been sustained internally. “It has been sponsored 80% by the board members,” he said, highlighting the burden of self-funding amid efforts to scale the sport nationally and internationally.
The Federation recently overcame regulatory hurdles to secure official registration after initially struggling to meet requirements for nationwide representation. According to Babarinde, support from the National Sports Commission and the office of the special adviser on sports development was instrumental in achieving recognition.
Affiliated with both the African Catch Association and the International Catch Federation, the Nigerian body is now seeking corporate sponsorship to fund participation in upcoming international competitions in Europe, including tournaments in the Netherlands.
Babarinde said the organisation is actively opening its doors to partnerships and club development across the country. “All they need to do is send a letter of intent that they want to establish a club,” he said. “Immediately, within 48 hours, we give them approval.”
As part of its expansion roadmap, the Federation plans to introduce structured leagues at the state level before building a national competitive system. Officials believe this pathway will help embed the sport in Nigeria’s educational and recreational landscape.
Naomi expressed optimism about the sport’s future, saying the goal is not only domestic growth but also international competitiveness. “We want to see it getting big and keep expanding and growing,” she said, adding that Nigeria should eventually be “bringing trophies back home”.
In light of this, the Federation hopes that catchball’s simplicity can become its biggest strength which can turn a low-cost, easy-to-learn game into a nationwide movement that lives in schools, communities, and workplaces. But beyond the vision and ambition, the Federation continues to partner with government and private organizations to secure the support, funding, and structure needed to move from promise to presence in Nigeria’s sporting landscape.
