Frisian handball

Kaatsen also called Frisian handball, is a ball sport which is operated almost exclusively in the Dutch province of Friesland and in the surroundings of Brussels in Belgium. It is one of the oldest traditional ball games.

Game

The sport is akin to Basque pelota and the Jeu de Paume, the rules still soft on it. Participants form two triple - teams, called Parture. The ball is filled with calf hair and covered with a leather sheath. It weighs 24 grams and has a diameter of 4 cm. The game field is a 60 x 32 meter large lawn rectangle that is divided into different zones. Players are responsible for protecting the hands, with which the ball is hit, mostly Leather Mitts.

Tournaments

The game was shown at the 1928 Summer Olympics in Amsterdam as a demonstration sport. The tournament of the Permanente Commissie, short PC - tournament in Franeker is held annually since 1854 and is the highlight of the season. The city also hosts since 1972 the Kaatsmuseum exists on the history of this oldest Dutch ball game.