A ‘mom’ outlet
‘Cachibol’ games give mothers time to savor for themselves
With every spike, pass and serve in the gymnasium of the Jewish Community Center, a chorus of children added their high-pitched cheers to the din.
But it was impossible to tell for whom the cries of “Go, Mama!” and “Yay, Mama!” were intended.
All 12 players on the court on a recent Wednesday night were mothers.
The women were playing a version of volleyball known variously as catchball, cachibol or Newcomb. They compete in the
Columbus branch of a fastgrowing international league known as Mamanet — which, as the name makes obvious, is designed for moms.
The league aims to build community and strengthen ties between the Jewish people of Israel and America.
According to many of those at the community center, it also provides participating mothers another much-needed benefit: time for themselves.
“As moms, we are all so used to cheering on our kids, chauffeuring them to their games and practices, and being their biggest cheerleaders,” said Bexley resident Ayelet Ben-david, codirector of the local league. “And here, at Mamanet, we have the chance to flip things around.”
Indeed, a flurry of husbands and kids turned out on the recent weeknight, marking the start of the first season of league play after several months of practice.
“My family came to see what I’ve been doing every Wednesday night,” said Norah Goldman, 41, an Upper Arlington resident and a member of the Mamanators team. “They want to see if I’ve really been sneaking away to play sports, or I’ve just been going to grab a glass of wine with a bunch of girls.”
From the sidelines, Eric Sribnick stood watching his wife, Sarah-rachel Sribnick, also on the Mamanators.
Their three cheering children — Elijah, 11; Isadora, 8; and Avi, 3 — held up handmade signs reading, “Go, Mama” and “My mom is the one in the blue.”
“I think it’s awesome — it really allows her to get some energy out,” Sribnick said of his wife. “All the dads from Mamanet know that if you don’t work it out so that Mama can play, you’re going to be in trouble.”
Mamanet was founded in 2005 in Kfar Saba, Israel, by Ofra Abramovich.
Catchball is essentially volleyball, with six players on the court for each team. The ball, though, is caught and then passed to another player or thrown over the net; serves, too, are thrown.
“It allows women of all skill levels to be able to get started,” said Tammy Mor, the local co-director. “We say if you can catch and throw the ball, you can certainly get started.”
And young and old alike take part in the Columbus league, Mor said, with players ranging in age from their 20s to 60s.
The sport caught on quickly in Israel, where it now boasts more than 12,000 participants. European and North American leagues have since formed, with teams currently competing in leagues in nine U.S. cities (Columbus is the only city in the Midwest).
The person responsible for introducing it to central Ohio is Merav Levnah-dill, an Israeli serving as the senior community emissary (or shlicha) for Jewishcolumbus, a nonprofit organization devoted to philanthropy and strengthening the local Jewish community.
Before she moved to the city in 2016, Levnah-dill visited Kfar Saba and thought Mamanet would be a good fit here, too.
“It’s a great tool to build community, so why not try it in Columbus?” she said.
Officials at the Jewish Community Center supported the idea, and about 40 women took part in the inaugural season (which roughly mirrors a school year) in 2016-17.
For two seasons, play was informal, focused on
teaching and open gyms rather than competitive games. In the fall of 2018, though, with participation up to about 100 players, six teams were formed.
League play began this month and will run through May. Players pay $20 a month, which helps to cover the cost of equipment and a stipend for the coaches. The JCC and Jewishcolumbus also contribute funds.
With the local growth, committees were formed, including one that’s helping to organize communityservice efforts.
“Community service is one of the cornerstones of the Mamanet movement internationally,” said Elizabeth Twombly, co-chairwoman of the Columbus committee. “We’re trying to move more toward that.”
In the meantime, Mamanet participants say they’ve enjoyed meeting new people, forming friendships, and — of course — getting out of the house.
“I love my three kids, I love my husband, but I love these two hours that I get every week,” Goldman said.
“You get a little bit of yourself back.”