I’m learning with these new sports that I come across (like Pickleball) is that they are actually old sports that have recently become popular. This is also the case with Angleball which was actually created in late 1960’s by a football coach. The game was created as a way for football players to condition in the off-season.
So, how do you play? According to Wikipedia:
Two large balls are placed atop standards (normally 10′ tall posts with a 10′ radius circle around the post) at opposite sides of a field. In a mixture of soccer and basketball, teams pass a smaller ball back and forth, attempting to knock the other team’s ball off its perch with the smaller ball (normally a regulation size handball). A goal is worth one point. An offensive player who is touched by a defensive player must come to a stop and has three seconds to pass the ball to avoid a turnover. Additionally, once tagged a player cannot shoot for a goal. Requirements on the “time limit” between tagging and passing the ball is usually up to the organizer, but is, as stated above, standardly set at 3 seconds. If a ball is knocked off its perch as a result of the standard being struck it does not count as a goal and results in a turnover. After a score is made, play may not resume until the ball is replaced in its perch at the top of the post. The team scored against then begins with possession of the ball inside of their own circle and can begin to advance the ball towards the other team’s goal. The ball may be thrown, kicked or rolled from player to player. There is no tackling. The organizer should set tagging rules, but it is usually one hand tag.
Like basketball, teams don’t have goalies and the goal is surrounded by a key area where offensive players aren’t permitted. As stated above, this key area is a circle marked on the ground at a certain distance (usually 10′) from the goal. Defensive players may cross into the circle area of the goal that they are defending as often as they wish. Offensive players may never transgress the circle guarded by the opposing team. If at any point a member of the offense crosses the plane of the defensive team’s circle (with or without the ball) the defense may call to account the transgression and demand an immediate turnover. It should be decided before play begins whether defensive players may tend goal. Some rules allow for a single goalie who is allowed inside of the marked area, but is discouraged from exiting it. Teams do not have a set number of players—the number of participants is simply divided in half, although five or six per side is considered ideal.
There is no regulation field size and out-of-bounds, if used, are arbitrarily set; the suggested size is a field large enough to place the standards 35 to 50 yards apart or about that of a soccer field, and out of bounds areas usually do not exist.
As you can see, this game would be a great game to play with youth and young adults. I’m sure younger kids would even find it fun. If you’re interested in learning more, you can watch the video below or go to www.angleball.net where you can actually purchase an Angleball set for $99.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZrjnSmgVsSQ
