sheravolo
Hi, nice to meet you all! biggrin
I wanted to share a sport some friends and I invented: Jesterball. Its super fun and doesn't require a lot of equipment. It combines juggling, basketball, dodgeball and handball into one sport and it can be played on a standard basketball court. There are halfcourt and beach versions of jesterball as well, so you can play it pretty much anywhere you have enough space. The rules are below.
Jesterball is a mashup of basketball, handball, dodgeball and juggling in which two teams of seven players compete against each other to gain possession of a standard kickball and throw it at a juggler (called the jester) at the opposing end of the court in an attempt to disrupt the jester's juggling and cause him or her to drop her balls. Points are awarded to the offense according to how many balls their attack caused the jester to drop and from which part of the court the attack was made. Teams consist of a jester, the jester's shadow and five outfielders. Jesterball is designed so that it can be played on a standard basketball court. A half court version of jesterball exists as well for play in urban areas.
The Court
Jesterball is played on a standard basketball court, with the baskets at either end removed if that is possible. The court consists of three areas of play, all of which, except for the crease, correspond to zones within basketball. The court is divided in half. At either end 24 feet from the mid point of the end of the court a roughly circular line, corresponding to the three-point line in basketball, divides the mid zone from the flex zone. Within the flex zone sit the crease, a penalty area with a D shape 6 feet in radius from the mid point of the end of the court.
Equipment
The equipment needed to play jesterball is modest and includes one standard kickball, perhaps overinflated to make it easier to dribble, and three juggling balls or bags (clubs or rings should not be used). Additionally, tape or orange cones may be used to demarcate the crease from the flex zone.
The Goal
The goal structure in jesterball is unique. Instead of a traditional net or basket, the goal structure in jesterball is a player, called the jester, who continuously juggles three balls and may move around freely within the crease to avoid or dodge attacks. Each ball the jester juggles is worth one or two points depending on where on the court the attack originated. Additionally, striking the jester on any part of his or her body is itself worth one or two points, again depending of the origin of the attack.
Scoring
As described above, each ball the jester is juggling is worth one point or two points. Additionally, striking the jester on any part of their body with the ball is worth one or two points. The amount of points is determined by where the attack was thrown from on the court. Attacks from midzone are worth two points per ball dropped or if the ball strikes the jester. Attacks from the flex are only worth one point per ball dropped or if striking the jester. Attacks on the jester therefore may result in either 1, 2, 3, 4, 6 or 8 points per attack, depending on where the attack was thrown from and how successful the attacker was at causing the jester to drop his or her balls.
Free throws, which are awarded when a defensive player fouls an offensive player in such a way that a legitimate attack on the jester is prevented, are worth the equivalent of an attack from the midzone: two points per ball dropped or if striking the jester.
Players
Jesterball teams consist of seven players, divided into infielder positions and out fielder positions.
Infielders
The infielders consist of those players allowed within the crease. These players are the jester, who continuously juggles three balls and is the target for opposing attacks, and the jester's shadow, also known as just the shadow.
The jester may move around the crease freely in order to avoid opposing attacks, while maintaining a three ball juggle. Dropping a ball or balls, either accidentally or due to opposing attack, results in points for the opposing team. Jesters must always maintain a 90° to 270° angel in respect to the border of the end of court. Any angel smaller or larger than this range in which the the jester's back is turned towards the opposing goal or offensive players is illegal and results in a penalty shot awarded to the opposing team. Jesters also may not step outside the crease. Doing so results in a turnover or a free throw, depending on whether the jester prevented an attack on his or her person by stepping out of the crease or not.
The shadow is the equivalent of a goalkeeper who shadows the jesters movements and tries to always keep him or herself between the jester and the opposition. Shadows have full range of the crease and are allowed to step out of the crease as well. Shadows may use any part of their bodies to intercept attacks on the jester. Good defense usually depends on successful collaboration between the jester and his or her shadow.
Outfielders
There are five outfielders per team, each of which is tasked with gaining possession of the kickball, dribbling or passing it down court towards the opposition's crease and attacking the opposition's jester by throwing the kickball at him or her. Outfielders have full range of the court except for the opposition's crease. Outfielders may enter the opposing crease only after a jump shot where they have leapt in the air and thrown the ball at the jester before landing within the crease (a restriction which has parallels in handball). They then must take the shortest way out of the crease. Only offensive player can enter the crease in this way. Defensive players may not cross the crease to gain an advantage over the offense. Doing so would result in a turnover or free throw, depending on whether the defender stopped an attack on the jester doing so.
Ball movement
The ball may be dribbled or passed down court. Outfielders may also take three steps before dribbling, passing or attacking the jester. Double dribbling is not allowed and results in a turnover. Carrying (walking with the ball for more than three steps) is also not allowed and results in a turnover.
Halfcourt Jesterball
Halfcourt Jesterball is similar to halfcourt basketball in that teams may reduced to 5 players (equivalent to 3 in basketball), two infielders and 3 outfielders, and the kickball must always be cleared at the end of the court farthest from the crease after every offensive play.
Beach Jesterball
Beach Jesterball is an adaption of court Jesterball that is played on beaches. Since dribbling is impossible on sand, Beach Jesterball relies on passing rather than dribbling to move the ball forward. Moreover the traveling rule is relaxed: in Beach Jesterball players may take up to five steps with the ball without traveling. Along with different ball movement, Beach Jesterball simplifies the playing field, taking out the flex zone and leaving the jester and the jester's shadow at either end of the playing field with the crease marked by rope or orange cones. Since there is no flex line, scoring in Beach Jesterball is limited to one point per ball the jester drops or if hitting the jester. Because of this, the typical score in a Beach Jesterball game is lower than in a court Jesterball game.
I wanted to share a sport some friends and I invented: Jesterball. Its super fun and doesn't require a lot of equipment. It combines juggling, basketball, dodgeball and handball into one sport and it can be played on a standard basketball court. There are halfcourt and beach versions of jesterball as well, so you can play it pretty much anywhere you have enough space. The rules are below.
Jesterball
A competitive juggling sport by Sheravolo
A competitive juggling sport by Sheravolo
Jesterball is a mashup of basketball, handball, dodgeball and juggling in which two teams of seven players compete against each other to gain possession of a standard kickball and throw it at a juggler (called the jester) at the opposing end of the court in an attempt to disrupt the jester's juggling and cause him or her to drop her balls. Points are awarded to the offense according to how many balls their attack caused the jester to drop and from which part of the court the attack was made. Teams consist of a jester, the jester's shadow and five outfielders. Jesterball is designed so that it can be played on a standard basketball court. A half court version of jesterball exists as well for play in urban areas.
The Court
Jesterball is played on a standard basketball court, with the baskets at either end removed if that is possible. The court consists of three areas of play, all of which, except for the crease, correspond to zones within basketball. The court is divided in half. At either end 24 feet from the mid point of the end of the court a roughly circular line, corresponding to the three-point line in basketball, divides the mid zone from the flex zone. Within the flex zone sit the crease, a penalty area with a D shape 6 feet in radius from the mid point of the end of the court.
Equipment
The equipment needed to play jesterball is modest and includes one standard kickball, perhaps overinflated to make it easier to dribble, and three juggling balls or bags (clubs or rings should not be used). Additionally, tape or orange cones may be used to demarcate the crease from the flex zone.
The Goal
The goal structure in jesterball is unique. Instead of a traditional net or basket, the goal structure in jesterball is a player, called the jester, who continuously juggles three balls and may move around freely within the crease to avoid or dodge attacks. Each ball the jester juggles is worth one or two points depending on where on the court the attack originated. Additionally, striking the jester on any part of his or her body is itself worth one or two points, again depending of the origin of the attack.
Scoring
As described above, each ball the jester is juggling is worth one point or two points. Additionally, striking the jester on any part of their body with the ball is worth one or two points. The amount of points is determined by where the attack was thrown from on the court. Attacks from midzone are worth two points per ball dropped or if the ball strikes the jester. Attacks from the flex are only worth one point per ball dropped or if striking the jester. Attacks on the jester therefore may result in either 1, 2, 3, 4, 6 or 8 points per attack, depending on where the attack was thrown from and how successful the attacker was at causing the jester to drop his or her balls.
Free throws, which are awarded when a defensive player fouls an offensive player in such a way that a legitimate attack on the jester is prevented, are worth the equivalent of an attack from the midzone: two points per ball dropped or if striking the jester.
Players
Jesterball teams consist of seven players, divided into infielder positions and out fielder positions.
Infielders
The infielders consist of those players allowed within the crease. These players are the jester, who continuously juggles three balls and is the target for opposing attacks, and the jester's shadow, also known as just the shadow.
The jester may move around the crease freely in order to avoid opposing attacks, while maintaining a three ball juggle. Dropping a ball or balls, either accidentally or due to opposing attack, results in points for the opposing team. Jesters must always maintain a 90° to 270° angel in respect to the border of the end of court. Any angel smaller or larger than this range in which the the jester's back is turned towards the opposing goal or offensive players is illegal and results in a penalty shot awarded to the opposing team. Jesters also may not step outside the crease. Doing so results in a turnover or a free throw, depending on whether the jester prevented an attack on his or her person by stepping out of the crease or not.
The shadow is the equivalent of a goalkeeper who shadows the jesters movements and tries to always keep him or herself between the jester and the opposition. Shadows have full range of the crease and are allowed to step out of the crease as well. Shadows may use any part of their bodies to intercept attacks on the jester. Good defense usually depends on successful collaboration between the jester and his or her shadow.
Outfielders
There are five outfielders per team, each of which is tasked with gaining possession of the kickball, dribbling or passing it down court towards the opposition's crease and attacking the opposition's jester by throwing the kickball at him or her. Outfielders have full range of the court except for the opposition's crease. Outfielders may enter the opposing crease only after a jump shot where they have leapt in the air and thrown the ball at the jester before landing within the crease (a restriction which has parallels in handball). They then must take the shortest way out of the crease. Only offensive player can enter the crease in this way. Defensive players may not cross the crease to gain an advantage over the offense. Doing so would result in a turnover or free throw, depending on whether the defender stopped an attack on the jester doing so.
Ball movement
The ball may be dribbled or passed down court. Outfielders may also take three steps before dribbling, passing or attacking the jester. Double dribbling is not allowed and results in a turnover. Carrying (walking with the ball for more than three steps) is also not allowed and results in a turnover.
Halfcourt Jesterball
Halfcourt Jesterball is similar to halfcourt basketball in that teams may reduced to 5 players (equivalent to 3 in basketball), two infielders and 3 outfielders, and the kickball must always be cleared at the end of the court farthest from the crease after every offensive play.
Beach Jesterball
Beach Jesterball is an adaption of court Jesterball that is played on beaches. Since dribbling is impossible on sand, Beach Jesterball relies on passing rather than dribbling to move the ball forward. Moreover the traveling rule is relaxed: in Beach Jesterball players may take up to five steps with the ball without traveling. Along with different ball movement, Beach Jesterball simplifies the playing field, taking out the flex zone and leaving the jester and the jester's shadow at either end of the playing field with the crease marked by rope or orange cones. Since there is no flex line, scoring in Beach Jesterball is limited to one point per ball the jester drops or if hitting the jester. Because of this, the typical score in a Beach Jesterball game is lower than in a court Jesterball game.
