Seven Jekabpils school teams compete in Catch and Serve Ball

Mothers from seven schools in Jekabpils Municipality took part in a Catch and Serve Ball tournament, as the volleyball-like team sport gains followers in the region, LSM reported, citing Vidusdaugavas Television.

The sport is designed to encourage as many people as possible to be physically active. Some participants played for the first time, while others have been involved for years. Four teams have already formed in the Jekabpils area.

The tournament was organised to bring more women into the sport. “There is a rather dramatic situation in the country when it comes to how much time mothers have for exercise,” said Dace Zariņa-Spravniece, a representative of the Latvian Catch and Serve Ball Sports Federation. She said the sport is played by mothers and women aged 30 and over, who can share the ups and downs of family life.

Iveta Cakule, a member of the Krustpils Primary School team, said the group hoped to meet once a week in the evenings to break up their daily routine. The sport was not too complicated, she said, but keeping moving throughout the game was difficult because “we have been sitting too much.”

Dace Ruško, captain of the Zasa Secondary School team, said the group initially struggled to get organised. Three of its members take part in sports competitions regularly, she added.

In Viesīte, the Pearls team has been meeting for five years and now has 16 women. “The best part is being able to laugh at our mistakes when something does not work out,” said team member Evita Kilbauska.

Supporters watched from the stands. Gaida Zauere, who was cheering on the Jekabpils Secondary School No. 2 team, said she was delighted to see her great-granddaughter play. A supporter of the Sala Secondary School team said it was the first time his mother had played, and that she had worried about breaking her nails.