To highlight Dutch sports related organizations, we will promote an OSF member twice a month on our online media channels. YOU.FO is an innovative sports game based on ultimate frisbee and lacrosse. This game can be played in many different ways, making it a great game to increase international sports participation. We spoke with Mr. Bas Ruyssenaars. 
Can you give a short introduction about yourself and YOU.FO?
My name is Bas Ruyssenaars and I am an innovator. This means that I am the developer and entrepreneur behind the innovative sports game YOU.FO.
YOU.FO is an innovative sport game where an aerodynamic ring with specially designed sticks is thrown towards each other, suitable for everyone aged 10 and older. YOU.FO can be practiced as a leisure game as well as a team sport (5×5). YOU.FO contains the game characteristics of (ultimate) frisbee and the sport characteristics of hockey and lacrosse. YOU.FO is ‘easy to play, fun to master’, this means that the basic techniques can be learned quickly, but the challenge remains to improve yourself. YOU.FO won several (inter)national prizes including the National Sport Innovation Prize 2013/2016 and the European Profit Sport Innovation Award. Development partner NOC*NSF (Netherlands Olympic Committee) calls YOU.FO a worldwide new promise for promoting sports participation.
What is the purpose of YOU.FO abroad?
YOU.FO appeals to a variety of people in many different locations around the world. Our goal is to initiate an ‘ecosystem’ in a number of selected countries in which ‘bottom up’ sports development and marketing distribution power together ensure a healthy development of YOU.FO. We focus primarily on the institutional market (schools, universities, sports clubs).
Can you give some concrete examples of successful projects in the Netherlands or abroad?
What you see in countries such as Belgium, France, Denmark and Poland is interesting. There is a good interaction between small sports entrepreneurs or foundations that give YOU.FO clinics. If these clinics (the software) are combined with distributors who have the right channels to sell the stick and rings (the hardware), this offers opportunities for YOU.FO to grow. India is also very promising because it is very open to new sports while there is a nice cultural basis with sports such as cricket and hockey.
Why did you become a member of OSF?
It is interesting to share learned lessons and knowledge about new markets with sports entrepreneurs who also cross borders. In addition, the bundling of forces may result in new entrances.
What can you do for other OSF members and what can OSF members do for you?
We now have contacts and a network in the institutional sports market (schools, physical education, etc.) in more than 10 countries. In addition, we have foreign production experience (China and soon also in India). We like to share these experiences with other OSF members. We naturally also like to use the experiences and relevant networks of other OSF participants.
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