Blog

The skies may be clear, but a storm is brewing over the European Roundnet scene! While all eyes are glued to the scorching courts of Bologna, Italy, for the second ETS tournament (read our <a data-mce-href="https://futureroundnet.org/blog/ets-bologna-preview---can-laura-kunzelmann-challenge-gender-norms" href="https://futureroundnet.org/blog/ets-bologna-preview---can-laura-kunzelmann-challenge-gender-norms">preview</a> for a front-row seat!), a legal battle is raging off the court. Brace yourselves, folks, because our cherished European Spikeball distributor, Brookline, has locked horns with Spikeball Inc. We've already given you the lowdown in past articles, but buckle up for a juicy recap!1. <a data-mce-href="https://futureroundnet.org/blog/ugly-truth---brookline-vs-spikeball-saga" href="https://futureroundnet.org/blog/ugly-truth---brookline-vs-spikeball-saga">Ugly truth - Brookline vs Spikeball Saga</a>2. <a data-mce-href="https://futureroundnet.org/blog/roundnet-germany-s-statement" href="https://futureroundnet.org/blog/roundnet-germany-s-statement">Roundnet Germany´s Statement</a>3. <a data-mce-href="https://futureroundnet.org/blog/letter-from-a-spikeball-ceo-about-brookline-situation" href="https://futureroundnet.org/blog/letter-from-a-spikeball-ceo-about-brookline-situation">Letter from a Spikeball CEO</a>As if that legal firestorm wasn't enough, Future Roundnet (that's us!) decided to throw gasoline on the flames by publishing our <a data-mce-href="https://linktr.ee/futureroundnet" href="https://linktr.ee/futureroundnet" target="_blank" rel="noopener">own Roundnet Coaching App across stores</a>, sending temperatures soaring higher than a back-and-forth rally on the hottest day.<figure id="figure-gqjr39ydtpluvhpltw" class=""><img id="gqjr39ydtpluvhpltw" src="https://cdn.durable.co/blocks/dXLB4ekO9Pr0BkpFJAzChjVmSl3Skt31D7ISCEYOmaBTOcub084zkMT9bqUmAQs1.jpg" alt="roundnet spikeball coaching app" title="roundnet spikeball coaching app" class="object-cover bg-gray-100 rounded-lg md:rounded-xl lg:rounded-2xl" style="aspect-ratio: 1/1; object-position: undefined undefined;" data-corners="default" data-aspect="1:1" data-caption="🧑‍🎨 jacobnarayan_roundnet" data-positionx="undefined" data-positiony="undefined" data-fullwidth="false" data-mce-src="https://cdn.durable.co/blocks/dXLB4ekO9Pr0BkpFJAzChjVmSl3Skt31D7ISCEYOmaBTOcub084zkMT9bqUmAQs1.jpg" data-mce-style="aspect-ratio: 1/1; object-position: undefined undefined;"><figcaption class="body-normal text-gray-500 mt-2">🧑‍🎨 jacobnarayan_roundnet</figcaption></figure>But wait, there's more! Brookline isn't backing down without a fight. They've armed themselves with evidence, and guess what? We have the EXCLUSIVE right to share <a data-mce-href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/11ilgWLiSO1E3O6a2U4NWK2-OSc4u1K4s/view?usp=sharing" href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/11ilgWLiSO1E3O6a2U4NWK2-OSc4u1K4s/view?usp=sharing" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Brookline's entire letter</a> with you! Consider it a sneak peek behind the curtain of this Roundnet rumble. We kept the original format for easier comprehension.<blockquote><a data-mce-href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/11ilgWLiSO1E3O6a2U4NWK2-OSc4u1K4s/view?usp=sharing" href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/11ilgWLiSO1E3O6a2U4NWK2-OSc4u1K4s/view?usp=sharing">Brookline's answer with evidence</a>.</blockquote>How will this influence a casual roundnet player in Europe? Can <a data-mce-href="https://bit.ly/Premierspike" href="https://bit.ly/Premierspike" data-mce-selected="inline-boundary" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Premier Spike</a>, an upcoming major player in roundnet kits manufacturing, capitalize on this saga?So, dive in, enjoy the drama, and <a data-mce-href="mailto:blog@futureroundnet.com" href="mailto:blog@futureroundnet.com">let us know</a> what you think!You can also join the <a data-mce-href="https://discord.gg/HJ52b7psKX" href="https://discord.gg/HJ52b7psKX">European</a> or <a data-mce-href="https://discord.gg/xDyrvNmSsv" href="https://discord.gg/xDyrvNmSsv">North American</a> Discord channels to chat about it all with fellow Roundnet fanatics.This is one legal battle you won't want to miss!

Spikeball CEO's Letter Gets a Response from Brookline - Here's What They Said

The new writer - He Who Must Not Be Named, edited by J. Popluhar.Just two weeks after the first ETS of the season in Barcelona, the second one will occur in beautiful Bologna. Forget leaning towers and whispering to students for a minute. Bologna is about to crank its engines for a different kind of thrill – the pulsating adrenaline rush of the second ETS roundnet tournament. Buckle up, because beneath the city’s signature red rooftops, a fiery competition is brewing, ready to dish up some unforgettable roundnet drama. This year, the action heats up on April 13-14, 2024!As always some interesting storylines are coming into a tournament.Before we do, we have a small thing to ask - we recently launched our own Roundnet Coaching App and we would love you to check it out <a data-mce-href="https://roundnet-coaching.passion.io/" href="https://roundnet-coaching.passion.io/">here</a>.&nbsp;<figure id="figure-alpfef5jzrluvf61jg"><img id="alpfef5jzrluvf61jg" src="https://cdn.durable.co/blocks/ftEkQuTg24NSWbnIDiYd0O178FEr23VocW2IA3n1r6BikaaVZwPkRdEPqFVa1Jiq.jpg" alt="two women sitting beside table and talking" title="two women sitting beside table and talking" class="object-cover bg-gray-100 rounded-lg md:rounded-xl lg:rounded-2xl" style="aspect-ratio: 3/2; object-position: 50% 55%;" data-corners="default" data-aspect="3:2" data-caption="Sport-changing coaching app, now available across the stores! Drop your email above if you don't want to miss out on the newest updates!" data-positionx="50%" data-positiony="55%" data-fullwidth="false" data-mce-src="https://cdn.durable.co/blocks/ftEkQuTg24NSWbnIDiYd0O178FEr23VocW2IA3n1r6BikaaVZwPkRdEPqFVa1Jiq.jpg" data-mce-style="aspect-ratio: 3/2; object-position: 50% 55%;"><figcaption class="body-normal text-gray-500 mt-2">Sport-changing coaching app, now available across the stores! Drop your email above if you don't want to miss out on the newest updates!</figcaption></figure>Now, let's get to it!<h2>OPEN PRO</h2>The biggest one is for sure Laura Kunzelmann playing in the Open Pro division, as such becoming the first woman trying her luck at the highest possible level in Europe. And to top it off, she’ll be teaming up with Paul Siemer (E/S), widely regarded as the best European player. However, Paul has been traveling the world since the STS Championship in Philadelphia in October 2023. It’ll be interesting to see if and how that’ll affect him.Will the offensive power of Laura and the all-aroundness of Paul be enough to win in Open Pro as a mixed team? We’ll have to find out. One thing is for sure, they are the top favorites to win the Mixed Pro division on Sunday (very hot take - noted by Jakub).<figure id="figure-5avem6nlqdluv5vmwq"><img id="5avem6nlqdluv5vmwq" src="https://cdn.durable.co/blocks/39NrIVorn2TOP3WT2DVfmMicQM5OH71yKfTOsurdCDYKpPP7bmDuYxD6HhpID0VR.jpg" alt="team coaching" title="team coaching" class="object-cover bg-gray-100 rounded-lg md:rounded-xl lg:rounded-2xl" style="aspect-ratio: 3/2; object-position: 50% 35%;" data-corners="default" data-aspect="3:2" data-caption="Can Kunzelmann keep up in the open division on Saturday? Having the best European men's player can certainly help. 📸 roundnet.sports.photography " data-positionx="50%" data-positiony="35%" data-fullwidth="false" data-mce-src="https://cdn.durable.co/blocks/39NrIVorn2TOP3WT2DVfmMicQM5OH71yKfTOsurdCDYKpPP7bmDuYxD6HhpID0VR.jpg" data-mce-style="aspect-ratio: 3/2; object-position: 50% 35%;"><figcaption class="body-normal text-gray-500 mt-2">Can Kunzelmann keep up in the open division on Saturday? Having the best European men's player can certainly help. 📸 roundnet.sports.photography</figcaption></figure>As we’re still early in the season it remains hard to give any predictions. There are so many teams who could go for a deep run in the tournament and there are more ‘new’ teams who can upset the bigger names, as shown in Barcelona by ShakaTac&nbsp;(surprising second-place finish).Similar to last year’s first ETS in Paris, where Hugo and Erwan got a surprising second place, Ryan and Theo (ShakaTac) blew their opposition away with dangerous serves, incredible defensive plays and pushed on by the hyped French crowd. Ultimately falling in the finals to the new ‘Bench’ team VIBIN’. Curious to see if Theo and Ryan will be able to go on a long run again.&nbsp;More importantly, VIBIN’ won’t be playing together in this tournament. Robin (Florinda) and Auxence (Clark) proved in Vienna they can beat any team. Being lifelong friends and also a fixed team in France, they’re for sure one of the favorites. Levi is teaming up with Nelson (For Sure) in a clash of playing styles; the defensive prowess of Nelson combined with the serving pressure of Levi is sure to give any team a run for their money.&nbsp;<figure id="figure-o8ud6861oluvebux0"><img id="o8ud6861oluvebux0" src="https://cdn.durable.co/blocks/2aGXLQUSuiwXADW3LaBi0p0RZYjzF0ntVNrBow7cCIcBSxn8fpCezqCGQ6wa3fzE.jpg" alt="roundnet serving" title="roundnet serving" class="object-cover bg-gray-100 rounded-lg md:rounded-xl lg:rounded-2xl" style="aspect-ratio: 3/2; object-position: 50% 70%;" data-corners="default" data-aspect="3:2" data-caption="Can L. Vandaele (For Sure) serve his way to another ETS title? 📸 yellowballcult" data-positionx="50%" data-positiony="70%" data-fullwidth="false" data-mce-src="https://cdn.durable.co/blocks/2aGXLQUSuiwXADW3LaBi0p0RZYjzF0ntVNrBow7cCIcBSxn8fpCezqCGQ6wa3fzE.jpg" data-mce-style="aspect-ratio: 3/2; object-position: 50% 70%;"><figcaption class="body-normal text-gray-500 mt-2">Can L. Vandaele (For Sure) serve his way to another ETS title? 📸 yellowballcult</figcaption></figure>In addition, Rainbow Warriors is a tough matchup for any team, annoying jams, crazy backhands, and Josha’s unpredictable movements make it hard to be prepared to play them. To top it off, their team chemistry and mental strength are maybe their biggest asset.&nbsp;Challenging all the teams mentioned above will be the Italian duo Bazzani/Borsetti. They were probably disappointed in Barcelona, especially after getting second place in the Prague Indoor Masters in December ´23, but the team of Andrea and Nicola strikes fear into the hearts of any opponent. Especially with the Italian crowd behind them, they could win the tournament. Insane serves, good hustle, and beautiful hitting are all synonyms of their play. Andrea’s confidence might be at an all-time high after winning the Mixed Pro division with Laura in Barcelona. The Italian duo sure packs a wallop.However, the European vice-champions ´23 are set to make an appearance - RCB Drü from Switzerland. An impressive second place, losing only to the inevitable E/S, puts them pretty high up in our favorites list. Ramon already showed his form in Barcelona, getting third in a mashup team with Auxence. Combined with Energizer Bunny Merlin they make one of the most exciting teams to watch.The second German team in our preview is the Squad European Champions Krehle/Christiani. Consistently putting on dangerous serves people might mistake them for serveballers, but they offer a lot more than just that. Good hitting, beautiful body defense, and that typical German focus make them a force to be reckoned with.&nbsp;Blue Horse made their debut in Mallorca, having a bit of a rollercoaster experience. They weren’t too happy about their group stage performance but followed that up with an impressive win over Nelson and Markus, later also putting up a good fight against Buddy Hammon (USA) and Esaja. The biggest challenge might be keeping Dorian away from the Aperol Spritz…&nbsp;<figure id="figure-3xm8mmmc2luv6cjxt"><img id="3xm8mmmc2luv6cjxt" src="https://cdn.durable.co/blocks/39OlNBz1C81ow3PbkXIuGDwj2iiDwliOPUmI9TvBdUL8xOzT9TjVs4YTX7sh0X6J.jpg" alt="person diving for a roundnet ball, spikeball" title="person diving for a roundnet ball, spikeball" class="object-cover bg-gray-100 rounded-lg md:rounded-xl lg:rounded-2xl" style="aspect-ratio: 3/2; object-position: undefined% 5%;" data-corners="default" data-aspect="3:2" data-caption="No ball is lost by R. Florinda - his expartner, D. Ameziane is probably thinking... why did I let him go? 📸 roundnet.sports.photography" data-positionx="undefined%" data-positiony="5%" data-fullwidth="false" data-mce-src="https://cdn.durable.co/blocks/39OlNBz1C81ow3PbkXIuGDwj2iiDwliOPUmI9TvBdUL8xOzT9TjVs4YTX7sh0X6J.jpg" data-mce-style="aspect-ratio: 3/2; object-position: undefined% 5%;"><figcaption class="body-normal text-gray-500 mt-2">No ball is lost by R. Florinda - his expartner, D. Ameziane is probably thinking... why did I let him go? 📸 roundnet.sports.photography</figcaption></figure>Furthermore, we have yet to see in Europe what they brought during French Nationals. Hors Service, made up out of Hugo and Samy surprised their friends and foes by beating Pour Combien in the finals. They’re known for impeccable defense and clean holds. They’ll be motivated to show what they’ve got after an R16 exit in Barcelona.&nbsp;Another exciting team is Semi-Bros, consisting of Benny Bachler and Markus Anderle. Two super hyped and incredibly gifted players, who are sure to make some insane highlight plays.&nbsp;Then there are other teams such as Nerds In Disguise, Synchronized, Rimle/Peter,… Oh and of course we can’t forget about Never Cold, who still might be ‘warming up’ since Barcelona.&nbsp;<h2>WOMEN PRO</h2>With Laura playing in Open Pro, Tiramisu are heavy favorites to win their first ETS of the 2024 season. Megan and Dani almost won in Barcelona, taking it to three sets against Nova, the new European powerhouse. If they bring their A-game they’ll be hard to stop, even more, because the weather conditions are looking bright for them, with the Austrian duo being infamously known for disliking playing in the cold, as was the case in wet Barcelona.&nbsp;Chitty Bang, also known as Lou and Ronja, is a new fixed European team. Whereas they had a lot of mashups last year, they’re planning on playing all ETS’ together. Their team chemistry is one of the reasons they make such a great team, you’ll see them dancing or goofing around just as much as playing roundnet. Getting third in both Mallorca and Barcelona, they are off to a great start.Naturally, it would not be a proper roundnet tournament without a German powerhouse team - Nora and Tina (All In) also decided to team up for the season, maybe thinking about Worlds ´24 already? Getting into the German National Squad is pretty tough… This duo has two great roundnet minds, constantly thinking about the game and how to improve. Tina, coming off a long injury, is happy to be playing painless again and we all know what Nora offers on the field. A tough team to deal with.&nbsp;<figure id="figure-7skcjmesomluv6cvp6"><img id="7skcjmesomluv6cvp6" src="https://cdn.durable.co/blocks/edCcJqAVZqLnTwkkq5gxhlMpKFwuLelBmHnCsgMebTtsvvZZre0urcbC0GJBLGW7.jpg" alt="two person's arms" title="two person's arms" class="object-cover bg-gray-100 rounded-lg md:rounded-xl lg:rounded-2xl" style="aspect-ratio: 3/2; object-position: undefined% 60%;" data-corners="default" data-aspect="3:2" data-caption="L. Washburn (Chitty Bang) serving to D. Kadlec (Tiramisu) - is it going to be a final? 📸 yellowballcult" data-positionx="undefined%" data-positiony="60%" data-fullwidth="false" data-mce-src="https://cdn.durable.co/blocks/edCcJqAVZqLnTwkkq5gxhlMpKFwuLelBmHnCsgMebTtsvvZZre0urcbC0GJBLGW7.jpg" data-mce-style="aspect-ratio: 3/2; object-position: undefined% 60%;"><figcaption class="body-normal text-gray-500 mt-2">L. Washburn (Chitty Bang) serving to D. Kadlec (Tiramisu) - is it going to be a final? 📸 yellowballcult</figcaption></figure>The biggest Italian hopefuls are Silvia and Chiara (Cucciolone guerriere), eyeing a podium on their home turf. Both of them are grinding and improving rapidly. Their unbelievable body touches combined with dangerous serves and Italian passion might give them a podium place.&nbsp;Lastly, Theresa and Natacha are mashing up, both playing their first European women's tournament in 2024. Both played in the <a data-mce-href="https://futureroundnet.org/blog/who-will-be-crowned-king--preview-of-the-german-roundnet-league-finals" href="https://futureroundnet.org/blog/who-will-be-crowned-king--preview-of-the-german-roundnet-league-finals">Roundnet Germany’s Bundesliga finals</a> though, so they’ll be more than ready to challenge the best established teams in Europe.&nbsp;<h2>MIXED PRO</h2>With the introduction of the Mixed Pro Division it’s hard to go over all the favourites. There are so many teams that can win it, the level of division is just incredible. But let’s give it a try.&nbsp;As mentioned at the beginning, it’s hard looking beyond Triple X. Paul and Laura are teaming up for the whole season, hoping to represent Europe at the STS Championship (maybe)? It’ll take a herculean performance to beat this team.&nbsp;Jumping Jacks (Paysan/Kanis) are easily the most exciting team to watch, in any division. With funky serves, insane defense, and super athletic plays, they offer everything you’d want to watch in a roundnet game. Being injured for 8 (!) months and still getting second place in Barcelona, Peer is looking just as good as before. It’s also pretty obvious that since moving the Basel Ines has improved a lot! Can they go all the way this time?&nbsp;KHRAAAAS is also a team to watch out for. Nora is known for being one of the best woman receivers, a big asset in the mixed division. Combined with the dazzling angles of Julian’s serves, they make for a deadly combination.&nbsp;Raccooligans is a household name in the mixed division. Fabi and Theresa probably have the most experience as a team.&nbsp;<figure id="figure-mf861ay5uluv60sor"><img id="mf861ay5uluv60sor" src="https://cdn.durable.co/blocks/1assSr6OP9DbCPKxu9DKJ4zJoj5qlyhbAGfXLDtzbr8nMXEcmypZaNFrOwJtCDZo.jpg" alt="windmill pointing east" title="windmill pointing east" class="object-cover bg-gray-100 rounded-lg md:rounded-xl lg:rounded-2xl" style="aspect-ratio: 3/2; object-position: undefined% 45%;" data-corners="default" data-aspect="3:2" data-caption="Will Uniley (Dziruni/Leybourne) make a deep run? 📸 roundnet.sports.photography" data-positionx="undefined%" data-positiony="45%" data-fullwidth="false" data-mce-src="https://cdn.durable.co/blocks/1assSr6OP9DbCPKxu9DKJ4zJoj5qlyhbAGfXLDtzbr8nMXEcmypZaNFrOwJtCDZo.jpg" data-mce-style="aspect-ratio: 3/2; object-position: undefined% 45%;"><figcaption class="body-normal text-gray-500 mt-2">Will Uniley (Dziruni/Leybourne) make a deep run? 📸 roundnet.sports.photography</figcaption></figure>UniLey is another strong contender to go all the way. Mixed is Nelson’s favourite division as it suits his strengths a lot. Add Megan’s offensive power to the game and you’ll find this team is always a hard one to deal with, as they showed by winning the Prague Indoor Masters.&nbsp;He doesn’t play mixed a lot but Lukas Eistenträger is feeling fitter than ever. He was looking really strong in Mallorca, only losing to the winning American team of Max Model and Frederic Hinkle. Teaming up with Ronja, they had to be mentioned here. A fun German combination that could beat any team.&nbsp;Got any Grapes are playing together for a second time. Dani and Levi lost in the finals of ETS Prague last year and will be looking to do better than that. Will Levi be able to not “Party Safari” too hard though on Saturday night…?&nbsp;Other teams to be mentioned are Airborn, Grantschmann and Kornetto, Na-Da, Pinkey Jinkey, Unluuuuckkyy,…All in all, the Bologna roundnet weekend looks more than promising. You can follow the action on the <a data-mce-href="https://www.youtube.com/@European_Roundnet_Association" href="https://www.youtube.com/@European_Roundnet_Association">European Roundnet Federation´s</a> live stream on YouTube as well as <a data-mce-href="https://fwango.io/etsbologna2024" href="https://fwango.io/etsbologna2024">the scores on Fwango</a>.-------------------------------------------------------------------------- If you are enjoying our content or our work for the sport, feel free to donate some money - just click <a data-mce-href="https://paypal.me/futureroundnet?country.x=DE&amp;locale.x=de_DE" href="https://paypal.me/futureroundnet?country.x=DE&amp;locale.x=de_DE">here and PayPal </a>it :) We promise to invest the money into the sport of roundnet. Thank you!

ETS Bologna Preview - Can Laura Kunzelmann challenge gender norms?

This is an email that Spikeball Inc. CEO Chris Ruder sent an email to European roundnet communities in <a data-mce-href="https://futureroundnet.org/blog/ugly-truth---brookline-vs-spikeball-saga" href="https://futureroundnet.org/blog/ugly-truth---brookline-vs-spikeball-saga" style="font-family: inherit; font-size: calc(18px * var(--body-fontSize, 1)); font-weight: inherit; font-style: var(--body-fontStyle, normal); background-color: rgba(249,250,251,var(--tw-bg-opacity));">reaction to the statement of former European distributor - Brookline.nl.&nbsp;</a> Mr. Ruder permitted me to publish this email. Could this turmoil help Spikeball's direct competitors, such as <a data-mce-href="https://bit.ly/Premierspike" href="https://bit.ly/Premierspike">Premier Spike </a>or <a data-mce-href="https://rumbleroundnet.com/" href="https://rumbleroundnet.com/">Rumble Roundnet</a>? More information coming soon...Enter Chris:Hello leaders of European roundnet communities, IRF Board, USARoundnet board, and others,I wanted to take a minute to share a bit on our decision to terminate our agreement with Brookline. To be clear, I wish we could have kept working together and completely understand the frustration of those of you that had good, personal relationships with them and those of you that are still owed money. &nbsp;While I appreciate all that they did to help build the sport their presentation about what happened during our partnership is outright false. &nbsp;I also vehemently disagree that they are bankrupt because of Spikeball. I’m hoping this note will give you all a better understanding of what happened. &nbsp;And to those of you that reached out to ask questions and wanted to get a better understanding of what happened before jumping to conclusions, I thank you. &nbsp;They owe us about $1,500,000 and have for quite some time. &nbsp;We spent months working with Brookline on order lead times and exploring adjustments to shipping and cancellation windows. Those dates came and went without action. Spikeball had to pay our factories for that inventory and without payment from Brookline we were financially inhibited ourselves. We had our own layoffs and financial pressures that we take responsibility for. &nbsp;We explored and instituted multiple ways to help Brookline with the inventory glut. &nbsp;This eventually resulted in coming up with a mutually agreed upon payment plan extended over a lengthy period of time. &nbsp;Debt payments came to us, and then eventually sputtered and then completely stopped. They constantly struggled to find money to order new product. &nbsp;Promises of payments were constantly broken. This went on for a good portion of 2023. &nbsp;We could continue to work with a company that isn’t able to bring our product to the market and can’t pay its debt or we could explore other distribution solutions. We chose the latter.We did everything we could to avoid them heading into bankruptcy. &nbsp;I wish no ill will on them and we offered several settlement agreements, including an offer to waive the entire debt. &nbsp;Let me repeat that, we offered to forgive 100% of the $1,500,000 debt allowing them to avoid bankruptcy and it was turned down. &nbsp;I’d also like to point out that they sold and (I believe) were paid for all of the inventory for that $1,500,000 and yet we never got paid for it.&nbsp;In their post, Brookline wrote how our decision to find a new distributor was based on wanting improved margins, more money, and wanting to sell our business. &nbsp;They went on to say we hired a CFO to prepare the business to be sold. &nbsp;There is not an ounce of truth to any of that. &nbsp;We had a partner that couldn’t pay its debts and couldn’t afford to bring enough inventory to satisfy the marketplace. &nbsp;Retail stores across Europe had no inventory and couldn’t get Spikeball sets. &nbsp;It’s that simple. &nbsp; Added from the second email from Chris: "I'd like to share two points that I should have made clearer in my initial post. <blockquote> 1. There is and never was any contractual agreement for us to take back the goods. We never committed to that. &nbsp;We agreed to try and help our partner. "2. There was no conspiracy or grand plan as Brookline indicates. &nbsp;I can't speak for Erwin's actions as he is not my employee.</blockquote>Even with all of these challenges, Spikeball Inc continues to invest in the development of the sport all over the world, but especially Europe. &nbsp;The decision to work with a new distributor has dramatically increased our ability to continue to support the sport and the broader community. We have been committed to growing this sport for over 15 years and share the same goal as all of you which is to make the sport massive. &nbsp;We’ve turned down numerous opportunities to ‘cash out’ and have been called crazy for continuing to invest in our vision. &nbsp;No company or organization has spent anywhere near the amount of money, time and human resources as we have to build the community and sport. &nbsp;I am so incredibly proud of that. &nbsp;We remain steadfast in our commitment to Worlds ’24, the EURA and our work with clubs, tournament directors and players in Europe and all over the world.If you have any questions, I can be reached at chris@spikeball.com.Thank you,Chris RuderCEO Spikeball Inc. ---Note---You can share your opinion on the free <a data-mce-href="https://discord.gg/HJ52b7psKX" href="https://discord.gg/HJ52b7psKX">European Roundnet Discord Server.</a>

Letter from a Spikeball CEO about Brookline situation

Repost from <a data-mce-href="https://roundnetgermany.de/rg-brookline-ende-partnerschaft/" href="https://roundnetgermany.de/rg-brookline-ende-partnerschaft/">Roundnet Germany Website</a> about Brookline vs. Spikeball Saga: ---German version below---<h3> Roundnet Germany and Brookline have to terminate partnership prematurely&nbsp;</h3>Dear Community,We very much regret to inform you that Roundnet Germany and Brookline have to terminate the partnership in the German Roundnet League (including Namingright), which originally ran until summer 2025, prematurely. The reason for the termination is the bankruptcy of Brookline, based on the supply problems communicated by the company with Spikeball Inc.In recent weeks, many talks have taken place between RG and its partner Brookline. According to the Dutch company’s own statement and assessment, the insolvency was caused by a breach of contract by the supplier Spikeball Inc. Due to the resulting payment arrears, Spikeball Inc. then terminated the long-term distribution agreement in December 2023 – unlawfully in Brookline’s view. Brookline published a detailed statement on the events on April 3, 2024, which can be read here: https://brookline.nl/ugly-truth/We have also spoken to Spikeball Inc. in this context. They informed us that the company was forced to terminate the exclusive distribution agreement with Brookline – rightfully in their view – due to Brookline’s enormous payment arrears, that there was no longer a business relationship and that a new European distribution partner could be found in Buffalo.nl in order to continue to meet the existing demand in Europe.We very much regret that the partnership with Brookline has to be terminated, as the lost sponsorship payments and other included services made up a not inconsiderable part of our annual budget. We would like to thank Brookline.nl for the trust they have placed in us in the form of sponsorship and community support and wish them all the best for the future!<h3>--Deutsche Version---</h3>Liebe Community,&nbsp;wir bedauern sehr, Euch mitteilen zu müssen, dass Roundnet Germany und Brookline die ursprünglich bis Sommer 2025 laufende Partnerschaft im Rahmen der Deutschen Roundnet Liga (u.a. Namingright) vorzeitig beenden müssen. Grund für die Auflösung ist die erfolgte Insolvenz von Brookline, basierend auf der vom Unternehmen kommunizierten Lieferproblematik mit dem Unternehmen Spikeball Inc.&nbsp;In den vergangenen Wochen haben viele Gespräche zwischen RG und dem Partner Brookline stattgefunden. Laut eigener Aussage und Einschätzung des niederländischen Unternehmens wurde die Insolvenz durch ein vertragsbrüchiges Verhalten der Firma Spikeball Inc. als Zulieferer hervorgerufen. Aufgrund der entstandenen Zahlungsrückstände habe Spikeball Inc. den langfristigen Vertriebsvertrag dann im Dezember 2023 – aus Sicht von Brookline rechtswidrig – aufgelöst. Brookline hat zu den Vorgängen am 03.04.2024 ein ausführliches Statement veröffentlicht, welches hier nachgelesen werden kann: https://brookline.nl/ugly-truth/Auch mit Spikeball Inc. haben wir in diesem Zuge gesprochen. Von dieser Seite wurde uns mitgeteilt, dass sich die Firma aufgrund der enormen Zahlungsrückstände von Brookline gezwungen sah, die exklusive Vertriebsvertrag mit Brookline – aus Ihrer Sicht rechtmäßig – zu kündigen, keine Geschäftsbeziehung mehr bestehe und mit Buffalo.nl ein neuer europäischer Vertriebspartner gefunden werden konnte, um die bestehende Nachfrage in Europa weiter bedienen zu können.&nbsp;Wir bedauern sehr, dass die Partnerschaft mit Brookline beendet werden muss, da die ausfallenden Sponsoringzahlungen und weitere inkludierte Leistungen einen nicht unerheblichen Teil unseres Jahresbudgets ausgemacht haben. Wir bedanken uns bei Brookline.nl für das entgegengebrachte Vertrauen in Form des Sponsorings, den Support der Community und wünschen für die Zukunft alles Gute!---Note---You can share your opinion on the free <a data-mce-href="https://discord.gg/HJ52b7psKX" href="https://discord.gg/HJ52b7psKX" data-mce-selected="inline-boundary">European Roundnet Discord Server.﻿</a>

Roundnet Germany's Statement

This is a repost of the statement of the former exclusive distributor of Spikeball Inc in Europe, Brookline on their<a data-mce-href="https://brookline.nl/ugly-truth/" href="https://brookline.nl/ugly-truth/"> website</a>. Answer of Spikeball Inc can be read <a data-mce-href="https://futureroundnet.org/blog/letter-from-a-spikeball-ceo-about-brookline-situation" href="https://futureroundnet.org/blog/letter-from-a-spikeball-ceo-about-brookline-situation">here</a>. Could this turmoil help Spikeball's direct competitors, such as <a data-mce-href="https://bit.ly/Premierspike" href="https://bit.ly/Premierspike">Premier Spike</a> or <a data-mce-href="https://rumbleroundnet.com/" href="https://rumbleroundnet.com/">Rumble Roundnet</a>? More information coming soon... ---LONG READ---<h3>ABOUT THE PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN SPIKEBALL &amp; BROOKLINE</h3><h3>THE UGLY TRUTH ABOUT SPIKEBALL</h3>Disclaimer: we don't want to post this article, but are forced to. Because of Spikeball's unlegal actions which affect everybody at Brookline and our beloved partners throughout Europe. The purpose of this article is to bring out the truth and prove we have not acted irresponsible. We have been set-up in a game of greed but need to face the consequences for which we did not choose. Therefore we provide you with total transparency. We have nothing to hide.&nbsp;Spikeball's company value #9 is "Don’t be a jerk".Spikeball writes to have no tolerance for comments/actions intended to harm others. These statements look great on paper, in reality Spikeball behaves completely the opposite.&nbsp;It is predatory, greedy, and willing to do whatever it takes to make more money. Over the backs of the people that helped growing their brand.All statements in this document are supported by written evidence, which is available upon request for your evaluation. &nbsp;They are not uploaded yet, because of legal reasons.&nbsp;<h3>A long story short...</h3>Brookline and Spikeball have an exclusive distribution partnership for Europe from 2020 till 2025.- During the partnership, a debt from Brookline to Spikeball arises. Caused by Spikeball for not taking back products.- In December 2023 Spikeball unexpected and unlawfully, prematurely terminates the partnership and stops supplying Brookline. To take over the distribution network Brookline has build, get better margins and end Brookline's exclusivity in Europe.&nbsp; -This leaves Brookline with a debt and no chance of repaying Spikeball or other creditors. -The "take over and cut-out the middleman that made you big" strategy is set up in collaboration with Erwin ter Beek (former Brookline employee, fired for not performing) and a customer of Brookline: Buffalo.nl. -While Brookline and Spikeball have not settled this dispute, Spikeball is already doing business with Buffalo.nl and Erwin ter Beek works as their Sales Manager. This is illegal, because we have the contract. -Now Spikeball/Erwin/Buffalo.nl see their actions are illegal, they file for bankruptcy of Brookline. To silence Brookline, making it unable for us to take legal actions. -We are out of options, the only thing we can do is tell you the ugly truth. Supported with evidence.<h3> Timeline &amp; supporting documents</h3> 2020: The Sole Distribution Contract (SDC)2021: Switching to a demand planning and creating a debt at Brookline2022: Written agreement about taking back products2022: Whatsapp stating Spikeball will not take back products, unlike agreed upon2022: Payment plan for debt &amp; updates2023: Confirmation by a third party for postponing debt repayment&nbsp;2023: Spikeball letter to announce sudden termination2024: Legal letters back and forth between the lawyers about the unjustified termination of the partnership2024: E-mails Erwin ter Beek reaching out to Brookline customers with confidential information<h3> 2020: How Brookline started working with Spikeball</h3> We met with Ken Simon (VP of Sales) of Spikeball in 2019 at ISPO Munich because we were was successfully selling KanJam in Europe, and Spikeball wanted to have a partner for the European market. After thorough negotiations, we signed a 5-year exclusive distributor contract with Spikeball in May 2020.&nbsp;In particular, because of this cooperation, we founded a new company, Brookline. (It seemed awkward to sell Spikeball products under KanJam Europe B.V.). &nbsp;2020 - 2023: Results of the Spikeball &amp; Brookline partnership until 2023 With great enthusiasm and dedication, we started selling Spikeball’s products in the European Market. It’s safe to say that we far exceeded expectations.Within the context of the contract, Brookline has always proven to be an excellent distributor. Sales targets were exceeded by 662% in 2021, 827% in 2022, and 445% in 2023. All this was done under the problematic circumstances Spikeball created itself towards Brookline.2021: Switching to a demand planning and creating a debt at Brookline The partnership between Brookline and Spikeball thrived during the first 1.5 years, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, as lockdowns increased demand for their products. Initially operating on a cash flow basis, we faced challenges in 2021 due to COVID-19 impacts, production capacity issues, and shipping container shortages, leading to stock shortages and then excess inventory.As a result, Spikeball suggested to shift from cash flow to demand planning and forecasting from late 2021 to early 2022 to better manage operations under the following conditions: &nbsp; Brookline moves toward demand planning with a forecasted 2x growth. &nbsp; To do so, we agree on a couple of safety nets: &nbsp; - Purchase Orders were preferably given for the whole year and could be cancelled 40 days prior to shipping &nbsp; - Excess inventory could be returned to Spikeball &nbsp; - A weekly demand call to discuss progress Brookline ordered 22 containers of stock from Spikeball between January 13 and 17, 2022, to prepare for the Spring/Summer 2022 season, with the assumption they could cancel orders 40 days before shipment and return unsold items. However, the unforeseen Russia-Ukraine conflict in February 2022 led to a significant drop in demand across the EU. Despite this, the deadline for order cancellation had passed, and all containers were shipped. Brookline canceled future orders but was left with excess inventory, expecting to return it to Spikeball.In August 2022, Spikeball refused to accept back €1.2 million worth of goods, contrary to the agreement, and demanded Brookline to arrange a payment plan for this unintended debt.Supporting documents: 2022: Agreement about taking back products 2022: Whatsapp stating Spikeball will not take back products<h3>2022: The Payment Plan</h3> On September 13, 2022, Spikeball introduced a Payment Plan for Brookline, allowing them to manage payments for previously ordered 22 containers ("Legacy Orders") while still placing new orders. A credit limit of USD 1,000,000 was set; Brookline had to pay in advance for any new orders if they exceeded this limit without clearing their arrears.Spikeball didn't respond to questions from Brookline for better margins regarding new orders. As it seemed the operational costs of selling the products where too high, combined with paying of the debt.&nbsp;Supporting documents: 2022: Payment plan 2022: E-mail margins<h3>2022 - 2023: Selling inventory and prioritize new orders over payment of debt</h3> Brookline worked hard to manage past due payments while placing new orders, leveraging successful sales strategies, especially on Amazon. Facing potential off-season sales slumps and high storage costs, Brookline suggested delaying payments on past orders to focus on new orders.To put it simple, sales were going to slow (ineffective sales people on payroll, not even able to earn their own salaries), our margins were too low and costs were too high to repay Spikeball within the remaining period of the contract. Because the costs of selling the products where too high we fired the person responsible for the low sales, Erwin ter Beek.&nbsp;In October 2023, an agreement was reached with Spikeball for better margins and to prioritize new orders from Brookline at Spikeball over payment of the debt, with a commitment to minimum monthly purchases. This meant we could keep on doing business so, in the end, we also could pay our debt to Spikeball. According plan and during the remaining period of the contract. Brookline shared financials with Spikeball to ensure transparency and justify any order volume discrepancies. Despite challenges, such as unforeseen expenses, Brookline maintained prepayment for all new orders.The arrangement aimed to balance financial obligations and support future operations, with plans to renegotiate terms in spring 2024. However, Spikeball's move to sell directly on Amazon, based on Brookline's initial efforts, stirred concerns about the partnership's fairness.Supporting documents: 2023: Confirmation postponing debt repayment&nbsp;<h3>2024: Escalation to where we are now...</h3> Despite these efforts and the agreement to prioritize new orders over legacy debt payments, on December 29th (right after Christmas) Spikeball has unexpectedly terminated our exclusive distribution agreement (which lasted until mid 2025) and ceased supplying us since December.We believe this termination is unlawful and fundamentally unfair, purely aimed at eliminating Brookline as their exclusive European distributor. The main reason for Spikeball is greed, by taking over the European market, get better margins and earn more money themselves. Making the company more valuable as, so we've understood through some of our contacts, Chris is trying to sell Spikeball. Hence, they appointed a new CFO last year and fired dozens of employees in 2023. Meaning less costs and more margin. All experts we speak to say unanimously that these are signs of a company getting ready to be sold...Nevertheless, we've tried our very best to discuss and solve this matter with them in a decent and correct way, but Spikeball has only communicated with us through their lawyers in the last two months. Neither Chris Ruder, nor Scott Palmer, nor Joseph Johnsen (the new CFO), nor Ken Simon is responding to our e-mails, whatsapp messages or phone calls. Except for a cowardlike reaction as "communication moving forward happens between our attorneys".In the meantime, we found out that Erwin ter Beek has helped Spikeball to set up an alternative European distribution model. Erwin worked for Brookline till October last year as our Sales manager (leading the sales agents), but didn't perform and therefore we fired him. So it appears to be some kind of revenge from his side and for Spikeball the alternative European distribution model provides them simply with higher margins than working with Brookline.&nbsp;For us this seems to be a scheduled and executed preconceived backstabbing plan.&nbsp;Supporting documents: 2023: Spikeball announces sudden termination 2024: Legal letters back and forth about the unjustified termination of the partnership 2024: Erwin ter Beek reaching out to Brookline customers with confidential information <blockquote>This brings us to the important question if such a conspiracy is legally acceptable and possible?</blockquote> The short answer is NO, which is confirmed by one of the best lawyers in The Netherlands in this field of expertise. But knowing you have the law on your side is something different than having it acknowledged by a judge and secondly forcing Spikeball to pay a decent compensation for breach of contract. Especially after we found out only two weeks ago about their real intentions and Erwin being involved...The only option we have is a lengthy and costly legal battle in multiple lawsuits (because of different jurisdictions and different companies/people to sue) —a route which for us is very hard to afford in terms of time and resources. Because Spikeball has taken away the possibility for us to generate income to finance this.This standoff has severely impacted our operations, leading to a significant drop in turnover for the past months, as we are unable to fulfill customer orders (in 2024 almost 1M!!!) because Spikeball is not supplying us.&nbsp;Spikeball is our largest creditor and with these sales for 2024 already in our books, we would have easily managed to pay our debt towards them within the remaining period of the contract. We only need Spikeball to supply us, so we can supply our customers! I explicitly state 'easily' because on the other side we also reduced our costs by letting go of non-performing sales people and the 1M sales already in the books.But, as Spikeball understands this situation also (we always shared our financials with them) they refuse to supply us, so our financial situation gets worse by the day as our current costs were budgeted with the forecast of Brookline selling Spikeball. Which we can't. That is not our choice but we are now forced to deal with the devastating consequences.<h3>What are the consequences?</h3> So long story short, Spikeball unlawfully terminated our contract, refuses to talk, stops supplying us while they should, the situation kills our cash flow and we can't do anything about it as we don't have the resources and time to fight against it. And if we do want to fight against it, Spikeball threatens to file Brookline for bankruptcy, because of the outstanding debt.... It feels incredible unfair.1. Firing all Brookline staff We informed all remaining Brookline staff (Sylvia, Jill, Beer and Tom) about the current situation not being sustainable and by the end of this month we can't pay salaries anymore. Meaning we're all losing our jobs.2. We can't supply our customers We informed all customers who have place orders at Brookline about the situation. As we have contracts that oblige us to supply them, we are &nbsp;facing penalties for not doing so. These will be added to our creditors.3. No commission for our sales agents Brookline works with 8 sales agents, who have worked very hard to sell Spikeball to local customers. As we can't supply their customers, they will receive no commission or compensation. They have worked for nothing. Erwin ter Beek is now stealing their customers and commission.4. Challenge to pay our creditors Over the last months Spikeball did not supply us. So within current cost structure (based on selling Spikeball), we were unable to pay some &nbsp;bills (such as sponsorship fees to roundnet communities) and it becomes a challenge to pay these creditors by selling the remaining stock we have.5. Bankruptcy for Brookline Meaning Brookline is facing bankruptcy. Moreover, Bas even risks losing his house because of his personal involvement in Brookline as a company when Brookline goes bankrupt.<h3> Conclusion</h3>The situation regarding Spikeball is totally clear. They want to eliminate Brookline out of greed (to get better margins) and have been told how to do so with the help of Erwin ter Beek.Next to this, Spikebal now does not have an exclusive distribution agreement with Brookline for Europe anymore. This makes it more easy for Chris Ruder to sell Spikeball, which he plans to do so we've heard (while staying on board as their CEO).At Brookline, we can only try to settle things correctly and the best way possible with all the customers, partners, people, clubs, associations and teams we’ve been serving.We still hope Spikeball sees this as well and follows their company values, especially #9 “Don’t be a jerk”. This means, come to the table and settle things correctly.&nbsp;If not, we will fight against this unjustice as long as we can.Thank you for reading this. If you have any questions, we are more than happy to answer them. Or if you want to see the supporting documents, please let us know. We have nothing to hide.Also, thank you for all the love, support and understanding. It means a lot to us.&nbsp;Warmest regards,The Brookline Team --NOTE-- You can share your opinion on the free <a data-mce-href="https://discord.gg/HJ52b7psKX" href="https://discord.gg/HJ52b7psKX" data-mce-selected="inline-boundary">European Roundnet Discord Server.﻿</a>

Ugly Truth - Brookline vs Spikeball Saga

Buckle up for a weekend of epic Roundnet battles in Barcelona, Spain! This Saturday, March 30th, 93 teams across 4 divisions will clash for dominance. But the competition doesn't stop there - Sunday, March 31st, heats up with 65 mixed teams battling it out in 3 divisions. Who will reign supreme?For newcomers, roundnet, also known as Spikeball, is a fast-paced and dynamic sport that has been gaining popularity worldwide. It involves two teams of two players each, who take turns serving and hitting the ball off a small trampoline-like net. The objective is to spike the ball in such a way that the opposing team cannot return it within three touches.Join our European Roundnet Community on our <a data-mce-href="https://discord.gg/HJ52b7psKX" href="https://discord.gg/HJ52b7psKX">Discord channel</a>, connect with players from all around Europe, and voice your opinion on roundnet-related topics.<figure id="figure-jp89jl3stlucn8wqr" class=""><img id="jp89jl3stlucn8wqr" src="https://cdn.durable.co/blocks/106MYbjStmoQBbR9B7u7ZbC8dxJBnpkvxQrCCnSL19monerfBC95PxIpYRXlSGfR.jpg" alt="roundnet players smiling" title="roundnet players smiling" class="object-cover bg-gray-100 rounded-lg md:rounded-xl lg:rounded-2xl" style="aspect-ratio: 3/2; object-position: undefined% 60%;" data-corners="default" data-aspect="3:2" data-caption="Roundnet Club Barcelona is hosting its first major European tournament - white-red jerseys on the right side 📸yellowballcult" data-positionx="undefined%" data-positiony="60%" data-fullwidth="false" data-mce-src="https://cdn.durable.co/blocks/106MYbjStmoQBbR9B7u7ZbC8dxJBnpkvxQrCCnSL19monerfBC95PxIpYRXlSGfR.jpg" data-mce-style="aspect-ratio: 3/2; object-position: undefined% 60%;"><figcaption class="body-normal text-gray-500 mt-2">Roundnet Club Barcelona is hosting its first major European tournament - white-red jerseys on the right side 📸yellowballcult</figcaption></figure><h2>Open Pro Preview</h2>Enter new writer: Jaroslav Cabala from team Never Cold.The fact that this is the start of the season makes it, in my view, almost impossible to predict the podium. There are quite a few teams that can end up on it. It is gonna be fun to see how much people improved throughout winter.Vibin (L. Vandaele/R. Florinda) is easily the biggest name in the tournament. They already won ETS Prague ´23 together as a mash-up team. If they bring their a-game, they'll be hard to beat in a 3-set series. However, they won't have it easy as everyone will want to prove themselves against them (***cough*** Never Cold ***cough***)German duo Christiani/Harder is, in my opinion, a team with the best combined serve pressure. And since serve pressure is the name of the game, they are capable of winning the whole thing. I can even see them taking 1. place after the group stage.Bazzani/Borsotti - another super talented team, they played well in Prague at the Indoor Masters in December ´23 (2nd place). I root for them, I like their game 🙂.Pour Sophie - Louis Mareschal and Dorian Ameziane. I know they definitely grinded a lot and they won the tournament in Montpellier recently. They looked great there: in offense, defense, and on the serving line beating a Canadian team V. Mathieu/Gagnon. I think they will be on the podium 🙂Never Cold (Cabala/Stachiewicz) - our goal is to just improve and play better than last year. We'll see how it goes 🙂 A dream is still to win an ETS, but every year it's harder and harder since everyone is getting better and better 🙂.<figure id="figure-p2hqdexfllucnipyc"><img id="p2hqdexfllucnipyc" src="https://cdn.durable.co/blocks/ep9xenf1fFU3PJUloYM6H8yJGDtFmDbQ5pKnbQff2irsN81yatoUxod0RfB8xuBK.jpg" alt="roundnet hitting" title="roundnet hitting" class="object-cover bg-gray-100 rounded-lg md:rounded-xl lg:rounded-2xl" style="aspect-ratio: 3/2; object-position: undefined undefined;" data-corners="default" data-aspect="3:2" data-caption="Player turned writer J. Cabala from Never Cold in action 📸yellowballcult" data-positionx="undefined" data-positiony="undefined" data-fullwidth="false" data-mce-src="https://cdn.durable.co/blocks/ep9xenf1fFU3PJUloYM6H8yJGDtFmDbQ5pKnbQff2irsN81yatoUxod0RfB8xuBK.jpg" data-mce-style="aspect-ratio: 3/2; object-position: undefined undefined;"><figcaption class="body-normal text-gray-500 mt-2">Player turned writer J. Cabala from Never Cold in action 📸yellowballcult</figcaption></figure>And there are more: Clark/Felix, Bermejo Passeti/Baumeler, Nerds in Disguise (Jindra/Handschmann), Synchronized (Stoisser/Gagnon) or Hors Service (Caux-Ramon, Lacombe) Honestly, there are too many teams that can make it to top 8. It's gonna be fun 🙂.<h2>Fun for Spectators Too</h2>Even if you're not participating in the tournament, it's still a great event to attend as a spectator. The energy on the court is contagious, and watching the players execute incredible spikes and diving saves is truly awe-inspiring.There will be food stalls and refreshments available, so you can enjoy a snack while cheering on your favorite teams. It's a fantastic opportunity to meet fellow roundnet enthusiasts and immerse yourself in the vibrant roundnet community of Barcelona.<h2>Women's Pro Roundnet: The Fight for Domination Begins</h2>This year's European Roundnet season marks a historic moment for women's play. For the first time, a women's Pro division requires players to qualify beforehand. This exciting development has led to a strong showing, with 8 teams competing in the Pro division and 24 in the contender division – a total of 32 women's teams taking the field!<figure id="figure-glo7fcsirglucmft9m"><img id="glo7fcsirglucmft9m" src="https://cdn.durable.co/blocks/25d8oUp1M024S1ThEGCmEtTFm5dVaQRc6TTsyUmuybPSNzw7Vq9PjFBUnwOKsxPz.jpg" alt="roundnet players hitting women" title="roundnet players hitting women" class="object-cover bg-gray-100 rounded-lg md:rounded-xl lg:rounded-2xl" style="aspect-ratio: 3/2; object-position: center center;" data-corners="default" data-aspect="3:2" data-caption="Kunzelmann (Nova) gets a point against Kadlec (Tiramisu) in their first clash at 3rd Mallorca Open 24 📸yellowballcult" data-positionx="null" data-positiony="null" data-fullwidth="false" data-mce-src="https://cdn.durable.co/blocks/25d8oUp1M024S1ThEGCmEtTFm5dVaQRc6TTsyUmuybPSNzw7Vq9PjFBUnwOKsxPz.jpg" data-mce-style="aspect-ratio: 3/2; object-position: center center;"><figcaption class="body-normal text-gray-500 mt-2">Kunzelmann (Nova) gets a point against Kadlec (Tiramisu) in their first clash at 3rd Mallorca Open 24 📸yellowballcult</figcaption></figure><h3>European Roundnet Women's Pro Status: Clearing the Fog for Aspiring Athletes</h3>However, at the end of 2023, European Roundnet women´s pro status announcement raised eyebrows. The criteria – reaching the top 12 at Euros and the top 20 in individual rankings – were unveiled by the European Roundnet board after the 2023 season concluded, leaving a shroud of mystery around their selection. &nbsp;While some might argue the chosen metrics are debatable, the bigger concern lies in the lack of transparency. The board's decision to implement these seemingly arbitrary cutoffs (top 12 Euros, top 20 ranking) without prior explanation or justification left many players feeling confused and questioning the fairness of the process. &nbsp;A pre-season announcement outlining clear criteria, or a points system based on performance throughout the year, could go a long way in fostering transparency and allowing athletes to strategically navigate their path to pro status.Thankfully, the European Roundnet board has shown a commitment to improvement for the 2024 season. By acknowledging the concerns surrounding the pro-status selection process, they've proactively addressed the issue. This bodes well for the future of the sport, ensuring a clearer and fairer path for aspiring pros. The qualification criteria can be read on the <a data-mce-href="https://www.roundnet.eu/pro2024" href="https://www.roundnet.eu/pro2024">EURA website</a>.<h2>Favorites</h2>On paper, we should see another Tiramisu&nbsp; (Kadlec/Leybourne) vs. Nova (Kunzelmann/Paysan) finals. Hard for me to say if there's a team who can realistically challenge them. Nova dominated Tiramisu in their first clash three weeks ago at the 3rd Mallorca Open, winning in straight sets (21:16, 21:18).&nbsp;But I love surprises. I'd say Chitty Bang (Washburn/Lorenz) could give them the most trouble and get on the podium.&nbsp;Anyway, I predict Nova to win and beat Tiramisu 2-0 in the finals or semis.<figure id="figure-rioofkf1eqlucnonpc"><img id="rioofkf1eqlucnonpc" src="https://cdn.durable.co/blocks/cQkuDBwtsoCTy0pncrn9tJqihTlkcpxV3YMex2JyhfUenkMMQblBUOZSBtCUMkC2.jpg" alt="roundnet players relaxing, having fun" title="roundnet players relaxing, having fun" class="object-cover bg-gray-100 rounded-lg md:rounded-xl lg:rounded-2xl" style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;" data-corners="default" data-aspect="16:9" data-caption="It is your turn to show up! 📸yellowballcult" data-positionx="undefined" data-positiony="undefined" data-fullwidth="false" data-mce-src="https://cdn.durable.co/blocks/cQkuDBwtsoCTy0pncrn9tJqihTlkcpxV3YMex2JyhfUenkMMQblBUOZSBtCUMkC2.jpg" data-mce-style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;"><figcaption class="body-normal text-gray-500 mt-2">It is your turn to show up! 📸yellowballcult </figcaption>The Barcelona roundnet tournament is scheduled to take place on the weekend of March 30th and March 31st. Make sure to mark your calendars and come down to witness the excitement firsthand. You can follow the tournament scores<a data-mce-href="https://fwango.io/etsbarcelona2024" href="https://fwango.io/etsbarcelona2024"> here.</a></figure>Whether you're a player, a spectator, or someone looking to try out a new sport, this tournament is not to be missed. Get ready for a weekend filled with intense matches, incredible spikes, and a whole lot of fun!

Future Roundnet

Blog

Spikeball CEO's Letter Gets a Response from Brookline - H...

ETS Bologna Preview - Can Laura Kunzelmann challenge gend...

Letter from a Spikeball CEO about Brookline situation

Roundnet Germany's Statement

Ugly Truth - Brookline vs Spikeball Saga

European Roundnet Tour Series '24 (ETS) has finally arriv...