Fistball's flagship competition, the Fistball World Championship was first contested in 1968 in Austria ©Getty Images

The International Fistball Association (IFA) has created a new 2x2 format of the sport, and launched a series of STAR event tournaments as part of its introduction.

Generally known as "small field fistball", the IFA has now released an official set of rules for 2x2 fistball.

"The aim is to establish a second discipline alongside classic five-a-side fistball that is more compact, has an even greater event character and can be played on different surfaces," said IFA President Jörn Verleger.

"Our goal is to complement our offer to the youth to be able to provide a form of play for even more young people in inner cities without the classic grass court."

Originally, the world debut of the new format was planned as part of the International German Gymnastics Festival scheduled in Leipzig in May 2021 and advertised as a 2x2 World Championship.

Jörn Verleger was secretary general of the International Fistball Association before becoming President ©Getty Images
Jörn Verleger was secretary general of the International Fistball Association before becoming President ©Getty Images

However, following the cancellation of the event, the IFA created a tournament series to introduce the format.

The 2x2 Fistball Leipzig STAR is set to take place on September 18.

The number of participants is capped at 48 teams of two athletes in women's and men's mixed and open categories.

The open division will permit purely women's and mixed teams to compete.

The Leipzig STAR winners will receive a wildcard for the 2x2 Fistball European STAR in Nuremberg on September 25.

Regular fistball features five players on either side and resembles volleyball.

It has featured in The World Games since 1985 and is set to be contested at the 2022 edition in Birmingham in the United States.