NETPRO^® Sports grew out of the passion of one man, Rick Engel, whose life was changed forever after cross-cultural experiences in Asia. He saw the world in a different way and recognized a need for a better understanding of Asia within Canadian society in general, and felt there was not enough being done to combat stereotyping, prejudice and racism. He left a successful teaching career in 1993 and began piloting a program that eventually grew into Asian Sport, Education & Culture International (ASEC), a non-profit organization whose mandate was to “Build Bridges of Understanding Between Cultures”. Sport and recreation, along with cultural and educational programs, have proven to be effective catalysts in the process of cross-cultural ‘bridge building’. Though ASEC was a cultural organization that had a strong focus on conducting Asia Presentations in schools, part of its goals were also to assist in the development and growth of Sepak Takraw (Takraw for short, also known as Kick Volleyball), and as such, added the sport to its list of unique activities that students could try right in their own Canadian schools.

Rick, red & white jersey, teaching Takraw at a national P.E.
Teachers’ Conference held in Banff, Alberta

Volunteering and contracting himself out, Rick was an ideal person to introduce Sepak Takraw into the schools during ASEC presentations. He had originally learned how to play Sepak Takraw from local Lao Canadians and from training camps in Asia, established the Sepak Takraw Association of Canada (STAC), organized and played in many provincial and national Takraw tournaments in Canada (earning a medal in most of them) and led teams to compete in the world championships in Thailand and Malaysia. He has been a player/coach for Canada’s national team since 1999. Rick has also received his International Coaching and Refereeing Certificates from the International Sepaktakraw Federation (ISTAF) after attending the respective courses in Asia and being an Assistant Umpire in the King’s Cup Sepak Takraw World Championships.

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A search for something that would be more ideal eventually led to a Malaysian Takraw ball manufacturing company named Gajah Emas (meaning Golden Elephant). Frequent, important correspondence regarding the production of a series of balls that would be more suitable to western markets, resulted in meeting with the owner of Gajah Emas in Malaysia for the first time in 1998. Gajah Emas and Rick developed a common vision, and after much cooperation, research and trial & error, a series of 5 different levels of cool colored, superb performing and durable synthetic Takraw balls for different age groups and levels of players were introduced under the trade-mark of NETPRO^®.

All of the balls are approximately the same size, but each higher level ball is a little heavier (providing better control) and a little more tightly woven (providing a higher bounce) than the previous one in the series, starting with the beginner ball being very light, only 145 grams, and fairly loosely woven, providing lots of give on contact with the ball when kicking or heading it – which makes it much less intimidating for a ball that does not have a soft surface or that is not filled with air. The last two more advanced levels of balls (out of the five) were already being previously produced by Gajah Emas, but were eventually improved to meet varying climatic conditions.

National supplier rights in Canada for Sepak Takraw equipment was offered to ASEC International, as a way for the non-profit organization to earn some of its own revenue. Eventually, the increased sales activity in Canada, and then also in the USA, made it necessary for Rick to formalize his personal role in the business part Sepak Takraw, and NETPRO^® Sports was officially registered on October 1, 2001.

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It has been a tremendous challenge, but equally rewarding, to raise up a new sport from scratch throughout the entire country. Rick still plays, teaches and promotes Sepak Takraw in many ways, including making the equipment more easily available to the general public though NETPRO^® Sports in the interests of helping the world wide growth of the sport.

Using his educational background, writing, photography and video talents, Rick has also been involved in the production of several Sepak Takraw videos and several instructional materials products, including “Takraw 101, the Complete Instructional/Coaching Manual”, 108 pages in length. There is no doubt that Rick is considered one of the most knowledgeable and key pioneers in the development of the sport of Sepak Takraw in North America, even establishing official recognition of the Sepak Takraw Association of Canada (STAC) with the Canadian Olympic Committee as a class E member.

There is also no doubt that NETPRO^® Sports, built on such solid background experience and knowledge, is a company that can be trusted to deliver and will be around for many years, providing an invaluable service to a growing sport. It is an ongoing goal of NETPRO^® Sports to cooperate with committees, clubs, associations and companies that are active in supporting and promoting the sport of Sepak Takraw in a forthright and positive way. Ultimately, we want to see Sepak Takraw being played in the Olympic Games one day!

NETPRO^® Sports, rising to the challenge, has EVERYTHING needed to take a Sepak Takraw enthusiast...