GAME RULES

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1. PLAYING FIELD

1.1 Any gymnasium (with the size of at least a volleyball field).
1.2 The playing field takes the whole area of a gymnasium (without outs; exception: the ball touches the ceiling).
1.3 If the game is played on the grass, the playing field is marked out by bounds or restraining lines.
1.4 The ball touches a wall / a bound = the play continues.
1.5 If the ball has gone off the playing field, a free throw is awarded on the spot where the ball went off (out).
The game is also played behind the goal but one can only score a goal from the front.
1.7 The distance between the goal and the wall / bound is 3.0 metres.

2. SMOLBALL EQUIPMENT

2.1 Goal dimensions: 2 metres long, 1.25 metres high (external dimensions)
2.2 Racket length: 45-55 cm
2.3 The ball made of foam covered with a coat, diameter 105 mm, weight 45-55 g.

2.4 For safety reasons only the Smolball equipment is to be used in the game.

3. PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT

3.1 The game does not require any protective equipment.

4. TEAMS

4.1 The number of players in a team: 3 field players + 1 goalkeeper

5. DURATION OF A GAME

5.1 3 x 20 minutes with a 10-minute break.
In the third period of the game after 10 minutes the teams change sides without any break.

6. STARTING THE GAME

6.1 The game starts with a jump ball.
6.2 Standing at the intersection of the half-way line and the circle, the referee is holding the ball.
6.3 The players are standing at the midpoint of the half-way line in such a way that they can look at the referee and touch the end of the serve line with their rackets. After the referee has thrown the ball, the players may jump to "capture" the ball.

6.4 The players may jump but have to land on their sides of the playing field.

6.5 If a player has landed on the opponent's side, this opponent team gets a free throw.

7. JUMP BALL

7.1 The ball is thrown up on the spot of the event..
7.2 The players stand in parallel with the end line / the bound.
7.3 The rackets must touch the ground (the distance between the rackets: 1 m).
7.4 After the ball has been thrown up by the referee, the players may jump in an attempt to "capture" the ball.

8. CHANGING PLAYERS

8.1 A player can be replaced at any point of the game.
8.2 Only after a player to be replaced has left the playing field is another player able to enter it.

8.3 If there are too many players on the playing field, the player who has entered the field too early will receive a 4-minute penalty.

9. BALL IN PLAY

9.1 A player may touch the ball 4 times maximally (without any restrictions to the number of steps).
Exception: raising the ball from the ground is not calculated as touching it (Water Smolball is an exception).

9.2 When balancing the ball on the racket, it is allowed to take 4 steps maximally, after which a player has to pass it to another player.

9.3 Touching the ball lying on the ground = 4 times maximally.
9.4 The ball may lie still on the racket for the maximum of 4 seconds.
9.5 It is not allowed to cover the ball with a racket. The ball has to be passed further immediately.

10. TOUCHING THE BALL WITH FOOT OR SHANK

10.1 Serving the ball with a foot or a shank is forbidden (free throw). However, if the opponent team has the ball, the play goes on (advantage).
10.2 If the ball touches a foot of a player (accidentally), the play goes on (yet the event is counted as touching the ball).
10.3 The ball may be touched with a thigh or chest (which means touching the ball! – example: once with a thigh + 3 times with a racket).
10.4 If the ball bounces off a foot (accidentally!), the players may continue the play. This event is counted as touching the ball once.

11. TOUCHING THE BALL WITH ARM, HAND OR HEAD

11.1 When serving the ball, players are not allowed to hit it with a hand, arm or head. However, if the opponent team has the ball, the play goes on (advantage).

12. ATTACKING FROM BEHIND

12.1 The player who has got the ball at a given moment must not be attacked from behind (free throw).

13. GOALKEEPER

13.1 Goalkeepers play with rackets (and do not need any protective equipment but should not have glasses on).
13.2 Goalkeepers should be visibly designated, e.g., with two crossed bands, a different colour of the T-shirt, etc.

13.3 When shooting from the goal or serving a goalkeeper cannot score a goal immediately (a shot from the goal at the other side).

13.4 In the goal area a goalkeeper may protect the ball with the whole body. He/she is also allowed to hold the ball or kick it off.

13.5 Outside the goal area a goalkeeper is treated as any other player in the field.
13.6 It is forbidden to keep a goalkeeper from introducing the ball in the game (the distance between the goalkeeper and the opponent: 4 m).
13.7 A goalkeeper may keep the ball in his/her hands for the maximum of 4 seconds.

13.8 When shooting from the goal or serving, the goalkeeper must have one foot in the front corner of the goal area and the other in the goal area.

14. GOAL AREA

14.1 Goal area: - width: 2.0 m; - length: 3 m longer that the goal (1.5 m to the left, 1.5 to the right)
14.2 If the defending team breaks the game rules in their own goal area (e.g., by playing with a foot, arm, head or shank, pushing the opponent or playing with one's body on the ground), the opponent team is awarded a penalty throw.

14.3 Playing with one's body on the ground: players are allowed to touch the ground with their whole body.

Exception: in the goal area players are allowed to keep only two parts of their body on the floor.

15. OFFSIDE

15.1 The opponent may not get to the goal area prior to the ball (free throw from a front corner of the goal area)

16. OUT

16.1 If the ball goes out of the playing field (in the event of the field limited by bounds) or touches the ceiling, the team which did not touch the ball is awarded a free throw.

16.2 The throw is shot from the spot where the rules have been broken, maximally 1 m from a wall or bound.
16.3 PLAYING WITH THE END LINE: If the ball goes out of the end line, the team which did not touch the ball as the last one is awarded a free throw (out). The ball is tossed up with a hand and served with a racket directly in the air. Distance from the opponent: 4 m).

PLAYING WITH THE END LINE: If the back shots behind the goal line, the opponent wins a corner made from a corner of the playing field. Distance from the opponent: 4 m).

If a forward shots behind the goal line, the defending team wins a shot from the goal. (This throw is made from a front corner of the goal area).

Distance from the opponent: 4 m.

17. FREE THROW

17.1 All free throws are to be made directly.
17.2 The ball is tossed up with a hand and then served directly with a racket.
17.3 The throw is made on the spot where the rules have been broken.
17.4. The only exception is when the rules have been broken behind the goal or the extension of the goal line, or in the goal area. In such an event the throw is made from a front corner of the goal area.

17.5 Distance from the opponent: 4 m.
17.6 Backs may build a wall but they have to stand with both feet on the goal line (including the goalkeeper).

18. PENALTY

18.1 If due to breaking the game rules a team loses their chance for a goal, it is awarded a penalty throw.

18.2 The picture illustrating the playing field shows how players should stand in the event of a penalty.

18.3 The shooter tosses the ball up with his/her hand and aims with the racket directly to the goal.

18.4 The goalkeeper stands with both feet on the goal line. If he leaves the goal line before the shot, the shooter's team does not score any point and the penalty throw is repeated.

18.5 If the shooter scores a point, it is the goalkeeper who serves next.

18.6 If the shooter does not score a point, the play goes on. If the goalkeeper has defended the goal, the shooting player may continue playing immediately. If the goalkeeper has not touched the ball, the player who took the penalty may not touch the ball directly. First it must be touched by another player.

18.7 The way players are placed during a penalty: see the draft of the playing field.

19. BREAKING THE RULES WITH A RACKET

19.1 It is forbidden to hit the opponent with one's racket (= free throw). However, a slight touch with a racket is allowed.
19.2 It is not allowed to make any misleading gestures (aiming at scaring another player) when taking the ball over or shooting (free throw or warning). If a player does it twice, he/she receives a yellow card and a 4-minute penalty.

19.2 A player who hits another one with a racket is excluded from the game. After 4 minutes the punished team may introduce a new player.

20. PLAYING WITH THE BODY

20.1 It is forbidden to cover the ball with one's own body on the ground.
20.2 It is allowed to slightly touch the body of another player. However, if the latter loses his/her balance, he/she is awarded a free throw.

20.3 Holding, pushing forward or back, or poking the opponent results in an absolute 4-minute penalty.

FOUL!

21. PLAYING ON THE GROUND

21.1 The body contact with the ground in the own goalkeeper’s area (except a goalkeeper) results in a penalty.

In the event of a player in the field a two-point body contact with the ground is permitted.

21.2 The body contact with the ground in the opponent's goal area equals a free kick for the opposing team performed from the front corner of the goal area.

21.3 Outside the goal area the body contact with the floor is acceptable (even desirable).

22. ADVANTAGE

22.1 If a team breaks the rules of the game and the opponent takes the ball over or scores a goal, the referee runs the game on – advantage.

23. PENALTIES

23.1 Warning, yellow card and red card. A player may receive only one warning, after which he/she receives a yellow card, and then a red one. The referee may also immediately give a yellow or a red card.

23.2 Breaking the rules of the game equals a yellow card and a 4-minute penalty. The penalized team may, however, previously introduce a new player if the opposing team scores a goal within 4 minutes. Yet the penalized player will not be able to play for 4 minutes.

23.3 Serious violation of rules of the game means a red card and exclusion from the game. The penalized team may introduce a new player after 4 minutes.

23.4 Deliberate goal displacement:

*by a back: a free throw and a yellow card (4 min.)
*by a forward: a free throw (a front corner of the goal area) and a yellow card (4 min.).

23.5 If a player objects to the referee, shouts at him/her or other players (also from his/her own team), he/she shall receive a yellow card and a 4-minute penalty.

There are two sets of rules for Smolball: school version and league version. The collection of school rules is currently available for download.

Playing field - gymnasium
Playing field - sports ground

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