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Tourball is a simple
game. No rules have been created for the game. Rather, a set of
conventions have been developed to allow the game to be played in a
consistent manner. The conventions are defined on this page.
The conventions codify
the way in which games should be played. However, there are three
tenets that should guide anyone playing Tourball:
1. Tourball
should be fun
2. Tourball should be played in a sporting manner
3. Tourball can be adapted to suit conditions, availability of
equipment and skill levels
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In a blur of
speed and balance, Tourball Champions Dr Ken and
Eamo demonstrate the classic
"front-back" positioning for doubles.
Note also the unusual leg spin
action as Dr Ken releases the ball. |
The Tourball
Conventions
The Premise
Tourball is a tabletop
catching game played by two pairs of players, with each pair
standing on opposite sides of a square table.
The objective is to
catch a ball thrown to you by the opposing team and in that way
protect the teams points.
Structure of a match
Each pair starts the game with ten points. A point is lost each time a
catch
is dropped or when a foul is committed. Once a team has lost all it's
points the
game is over. The team with points remaining is the winner.
Three games are played in a match.
Playing the game
The ball must bounce on the table. It can bounce only once.
Once a player has caught the ball, he must throw the ball back at the
opponent
or to his partner from the position where the ball was caught.
If a player falls when catching the ball he will be allowed to stand
again before
either throwing the ball back at the opponent or passing the ball.
The player does not have to be standing however.
The ball may bounce
against adjacent objects and be deemed "caught" if it has not
touched the ground. In case of dispute the umpire will adjudicate.
Passing
Once caught, the ball may be passed between players on the same
side only once.
The ball may be passed in any direction. The receiving player may move
anywhere in the court before receiving the ball.
Having caught the ball, the player receiving the pass may no longer move.
If the ball is dropped at any point during the pass, the point is lost.
Scoring
Both teams start a
game with 10 points. Points are lost when a member of a team fails
to catch the ball or if a foul is committed.
If the scores reach
one point to both sides, the umpire will call "sudden death" to let
players know that it is the deciding point of the game.
Fouls
A team is deducted one point from its score when the ball is
dropped or if a foul is committed.
The fouls are defined as:
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Missing the table - a foul is called if the ball fails to bounce on the
table top.
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Double Bounce - a foul is called if the ball bounces more than once on
the table.
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Touching the Table - a foul is called if any player touches the table at
any point after a restart and before a point has been
lost.
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Bounce back - a foul is called if the ball hits the table and hits the
ground on the throwing team's side after it has bounced back from the table. If the
ball bounces back and is re-caught by the throwing team,
no foul is committed and the point goes on.
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Throwing when over the table - a foul is called if a player releases the
ball whilst his hand is over the table.
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Two steps when holding the ball - a foul is called if a player moves
more than one step before releasing the ball. One step
is allowed to enable the thrower to be balanced at the
time of release. The step shall not be used as a means
of gaining any other advantage beyond balance. |
Equipment
Table: the table
should be square and made of slatted wood. The recommended size is between 3
and 4 feet square. Alternative tables can be used as available. Some
successful games have been played on pub garden bench seats. The
regulation table is 120cm square and has an 5cm diameter hole in the
centre of the table.
Ball - a senior sized Reader windball or equivalent.
Scoring - table tennis scoreboards have been adapted for
use in Tourball.
Protection - elbow and knee pads are recommended and are
mandatory for recognised Tourball competitions. Gloves may be warn
to protect the hands but not to aid catching.
Footwear - It
is recommended that trainers offering good ankle support are used
when playing Tourball indoors. When played outdoors (on grass),
non-spiked cricket boots are recommended. For added protection,
padded cricket socks are also recommended for playing Tourball on
all surfaces.
Gloves - fingerless gloves may be used to protect the palm of
the hand. However, gloves should not be used in order to give the
player added grip or any other performance advantage. Gloves will
only be allowed by the umpire on safety grounds.
Playing Area
The playing area in Tourball is known as the Court.
There is no maximum or minimum court size laid down in the conventions
of the sport.
However, there should be room to safely play the game. Traditionally the
court would be set up on grass.
The Restart
Each time a foul is committed or when the ball is grounded, the game must be restarted. The team
holding the ball restart the game.
Position of players at restart:
At least six feet from the table and in the centre
Matches and Games
Each match is made up of three ten-point games. To win a match, one team
must win two games.
Each game starts with both teams having ten points. Points are deducted
for each
dropped catch and for each foul.
Let Points
The umpire (or players) shall call a "let point" in the following
circumstances: -Rolling Ball
- where the ball rolls across the table top without bouncing.
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Bounce over hand height - where the ball bounces on the table and over
the height of the opponents outstretched hand.
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Off the side of the table - when the ball has deemed to have bounced off
the side of the table so as to be unreachable by an opponent
standing behind the table.
- Umpire's discretion -
the umpire shall call a let at anytime where he fells that a point
should be legitimately replayed. The umpire's decision is final.
Unsporting Conduct
Unsporting conduct is frowned upon in Tourball and is specifically
enshrined in the conventions. A player should receive one warning in
the case of unsporting conduct, after which each additional case of
unsporting conduct will be penalised by the deduction of one point
from that player's team score.
Examples of unsporting
conduct include:
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Profanity
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Faking to throw
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Unnecessary delays
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Questioning an umpires decision
Convention Update July
2007: It was agreed at the 2007 World Championship that extremely
fast throws, whilst legitimate, do not represent acceptable
behaviour. An "Accelerated Match" (i.e. one with extremely fast
throwing by both sides) can be played as long as both pairs have
agreed this prior to the match. This local rule change will NOT be
acceptable in the Annual Tournament, where it is agreed that guile
and cunning are to be rewarded over brute force.
Umpires
The umpire sits ten feet from the table to one side. The umpire also
controls the scoreboard.
The umpire calls out the
scores as each point is lost and points to the team who have won the
point.
The umpires decision is final. Any questioning of the umpires decision
will
be deemed "unsporting" and will result in the loss of a point.
Tourball can be played without an umpire but an umpire is required
during competitions.
Variants
Tourball is designed to be fun and flexible. Therefore, any conventions
can be changed for the duration of a match subject to agreement by all
players
before the game begins. However, in the case of dispute, the published
conventions shall apply.
Typical variants for example might be to have a single player on each
team. This is acceptable but it should be remembered that Tourball is
ideally played in pairs. |
