"I knew it was going to be a hit!"
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Inventor Jeff Knurek and an originall Spikeball from 1989.
© Jeff Knurek
In 1989 US-citizen Jeff Knurek invented the game Spikeball. Since then it evolved to a sport called Roundnet and is played by over 4 million people worldwide. To reach that point it was a long way. Shortly after the market launch the game was forgotten before having a revival in 2015.
Knurek can call himself “first Spikeball player of the world”. But is he successful playing the sport he invented? He lifts the secret in our exklusive interview. Futhermore, he tells us what other unpopular sports he has been doing and shares his thoughts on the first roundnet world championship.
Magazine of unpopular Sports: What were your thoughts when you invented Spikeball?
Jeff Knurek: I was just trying to do my job and create a cool game. When it came together, I knew it was something special.
MUS: We know that you worked for a toy invention studio. How come you were given the “assignment” to develop Spikeball?
Knurek: Spikeball wasn't an assignment. Our studio would create toy and game inventions, that was our job. Spikeball was one of the ideas I came up with. We all had our specialties. Inventing games was mine. I would invent nearly a hundred ideas every year. if we were able to sell 2 or three of them, that was a good year. Like I said, Spikeball was the first game invention of mine to be manufactured. I have invented many other games since then. Some like, "What's In Ned''s Head?" and "Monster Under My Bed", have won awards.
MUS: Did you have any idea, that it could become a worldwide sport, played by millions of people?
Knurek: As I played it, I knew that the rules and equipment were so simple that it could, and should, be a hit. But the early 90's didn't have the social media and ability to spread the word about thing like the world has now. It is where I thought it should be, it just took a lot longer that I thought it would take.
To read more English articles click here.
MUS: How do today’s rules of roundnet differ from the original idea of the game?
Knurek: My Spikeball rules are mostly still there. However, I want to say that each team had five serves before you turned the serve over to the opponents. I don't believe you were allowed a second serve unless there was a serve that hits off the rim. Other than that, it's still the same game.
MUS: You are the first roundnet (Spikeball) player in the world. Do you still play yourself and how good do you think you are?
Knurek: I still play. Not as often as I would like. I would put me in the intermediate level with the potential to play advanced, if I actually practiced. My serves are pretty pathetic. But I can bump and set fairly well. I played in my first tournament last year, in Indianapolis, and didn't win a game. I didn't really let many people know I invented the game that day.
MUS: Have you heard about the first roundnet world championship taking place in Belgium this year? How interested are you in it?
Knurek: Yes, I have heard about the World Championships. I am sponsoring several teams this year to help them get there. I would love to attend, but I'll have to wait and see until we get closer to see if I'll be attending. I also have my own brand sportswear that I sell at ClubSpike.Net. Please check it out. I am also developing new equipment that will moved the sport forward.
MUS: Are you active in any other (unpopular) sports apart from roundnet? Or have you been in the past?
Knurek: I have always played sports. Obviously I enjoy volleyball, and racquetball, which I think bring similar skills to Spikeball. I high school I wrestled, ran track, (pole vaulting and sprints). I play golf and softball as well.
MUS: Thank you for your time!
Questions were asked by Hannah Wolff.