International Table Hockey Federation
The ITHF ( International Table Hockey Federation , German: Internationaler Table Hockey Association) is the world association for table hockey . The association was founded on June 3, 2005 in Riga , Latvia . The seat is in Pilsen . The make at which official tournaments of the ITHF and its member associations are held is that of the Swedish company Stiga .
tasks
The ITHF has set itself the following goals:
- Spread of the table hockey game
- the organization of international tournaments
- keeping a world ranking
- Elaboration and maintenance of a set of rules
Spread of the table hockey game
Table hockey is particularly popular in the classic ice hockey countries of North America, Northern Europe and Eastern Europe and is far better known than z. B. table football. In other countries like Germany and Austria it is more the passion of a small scene.
The aim of the ITHF is to link the world-wide existing milieus and associations and to find, initiate and promote new scenes or scenes previously unknown to the ITHF. B. happened in Australia and Brazil.
Organization of international tournaments
The ITHF acts as the host of the following tournaments
- World Championships (Open, Team, Juniors, Ladies, Veterans)
- European Championships (Open, Team, Juniors, Ladies, Veterans)
- Tournaments of the ITHF World Table Hockey Tour
The World Table Hockey Tour , an international tournament series under the umbrella of the ITHF , has existed since 2005 . At its core are the tournaments of the six strongest associations from Sweden, Russia, Norway, Latvia, Finland and the Czech Republic. They are known as the Big Six , and a win in such a tournament earns 150 points, double that of any of the many other tournaments on the tour. In addition to those of the European associations, there are around 3 tournaments in North America per season. The Berlin Open are the only tour stop of the German-speaking associations.
- For the World Cup and European Championship, see table hockey
Rules for tournament table hockey
In 2006, a set of rules for tournament table hockey that was written in several languages for the first time replaced the approximate rules at the world championships and tournaments of the national associations held to date. Its elaboration and maintenance is the task of the ITHF.
Keeping a world ranking
Since 2006 the ITHF has officially taken over the maintenance and elaboration of the previously privately initiated world rankings of all players, clubs and associations. All tournaments with more than 3 participants that are played according to the official rules of the ITHF can be entered there and entered in the database.
Structure of the ITHF
Assembly of delegates
The Delegates' Conference is the crucial organ of the ITHF. The assembly of delegates takes place within the framework of every world championship or, if necessary, on the initiative of the board on the Internet. Each association can appoint up to two delegates; an association can nominate other delegates for each new assembly of delegates. When voting, larger associations have two votes, smaller ones only one. An association that was able to send at least eight participants to each of the last two World Championships falls into the two-vote category.
Bodies
There are three governing bodies within the ITHF:
- The Executive Committee
- the technical committee
- the sports court
The Executive Committee
The board consists of the following members (with current officials)
- the President Vladimir Kraus (CZE)
- the Secretary General Intars Zubeckis (LAT)
- the finance director Magor Papp (HUN)
- the sports director Petter Bengtsson (SWE)
- the media officer Bjarne Axelsen (DEN)
Members
The current members of the ITHF (with number of votes):
| country | be right | Association |
|---|---|---|
| Denmark | 1 | Dansk board hockey union |
| Germany | 2 | German table hockey association |
| Estonia | 1 | Eesti Lauahoki Liit |
| Finland | 2 | Suomen Pöytäjääkiekkoliitto Ry |
| Italy | 1 | Hockey Su Tavolo Italia |
| Canada | 1 | Canadian Table Hockey Association |
| Latvia | 2 | Latvijas Galda hokeja federacija |
| Norway | 2 | Norges board hockey alliance |
| Austria | 1 | Association of Austrian table hockey players |
| Russia | 2 | Rossiyskaya Federacia Nastolnovo Hokkeja |
| Slovakia | 2 | Slovenská asociácia stolného hokeja |
| Sweden | 2 | Svenska board hockey förbundet |
| Switzerland | 1 | Swiss table hockey association |
| Czech Republic | 2 | Ceská Asociace Stiga Game |
| Hungary | 2 | Magyar Asztali Jégkorong Szövetség |
| United States | 1 | United States Table Hockey Association |
statute
The ITHF has a statute.
history
prehistory
Before the ITHF was founded, an organization of international table hockey only took place within the framework of the biennial table hockey world championship. There was a meeting here on the evening before the first day of the competition, which was chaired by a representative of the host association and to which each national team participating in the World Cup could send up to two delegates. The main task of these meetings was to decide on the venue for the next World Cup.
In addition, there was international cooperation only on a private or regional level, such as B. in Northern Europe where the associations of Finland, Sweden and Norway organized irregular Nordic championships.
founding
On the eve of the last World Cup in Riga on June 3, 2005, the representatives from 15 associations from Europe and North America who were present founded the ITHF with the above-mentioned aims.
13 of these associations presented statutes of the respective national association, each in their own and English language. The associations of Finland and Italy were only accepted with reservations as they had not yet submitted their statutes. The founding members of the ITHF were the national associations of the following countries: AUT, CAN, CZE, DEN, EST, FIN, GER, HUN, ITA, LAT, NOR, RUS, SVK, SWE and USA.
Then representatives of some associations were asked to elect the first association body, the Executive Committee.
It was also decided that larger associations would have two votes at delegates 'assemblies, smaller ones only one (see point 2.1 Delegates' assembly), and that the 2007 World Cup should take place in Moscow.
Current
The Swiss association had joined by the end of 2006. Slovenia and Ukraine in particular are about to join.
Ukraine's accession is currently prevented by the fact that two parties, each claiming the status of a national association, are competing for admission.
The currently biggest discussions within the ITHF are about whether to introduce prize money at ITHF tournaments, as the organizers of the 2007 World Cup in Moscow are planning, and whether to establish a European Championship alongside the World Cup, so that there is a big one every year international competition. Slovakia, which failed in its application for the 2007 World Cup to Russia and Hungary in 2005, initiated this idea and organized a table hockey European championship in June 2006 under the umbrella of the ITHF - practically on a trial basis. The tournament was largely boycotted by Sweden, Norway, Finland and Germany. The continuation of the EM is therefore still in question.