YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio - It isn't very often that you come across a sport you've never seen before. Mamanet actually started 13 years ago in Israel but it's new to us, and next week you can start playing in Youngstown at the Jewish Community Center.

Mamanet is a game created in 2005 exclusively for women and moms, which looks a lot like volleyball.

"It's very similar to the American version of volleyball, but instead of hitting the ball you actually throw it and you catch," said Laura Weymer, the JCC's health and wellness director. "You still get two passes before you have to throw it back over. It can get competitive for sure."

It's become quite popular in Israel and is slowly making its way to the United States, trying to give women some "me time" and let them have a little fun in the process.

"We wanted to create something here that they could come and be able to just have time for themselves," said Weymer. 

"It's a blast," said Sarah Wilschek. "I forgot how much fun it is to be competitive and play games and play with your friends."

"As a mother of four kids, I need to have my own time so I can clear my mind and have my own time and enjoy it," said Maayan Sigler, who played the game when she lived in Israel.

The JCC has a couple introductory sessions coming up, one this month and one next month, but the ultimate goal is to have a full-on league in the near future.

"Our goal ultimately is to create tournaments and create a league where women in different communities like Poland, Boardman, Liberty, Hubbard. They create their own teams and we all play each other and we all just get to have fun and spend that time together," said Weymer.

"Our community doesn't have a lot of adult leagues and we don't have a lot of women's leagues," said Wilschek. "This is inside, you can play it all the time and it's exciting to know that something was created just for us."

You don't have to be a member to play. The first open gym is coming up this Monday night from 6 pm-8 pm at the Jewish Community Center in Youngstown, with another open gym scheduled for November 19th, also from 6 pm-8 pm. Women of all ages are encouraged to give the game a try. The open gyms are free.