1.1 Court Size
1.2 Playing Area
1.3 Goal Posts
1.4 Penalty Line
1.5 Penalty Spot
1.6 Restricted Area
SECTION 2 - DURATION OF GAME
2.1 Normal Playing Times
2.2 Time Outs
2.3 End of Half
2.4 Extra Time
SECTION 3 - TEAMS
3.1 Team Size
3.2 On Court Positions
3.3 Substitutions
SECTION 4 - COMMENCING PLAY
4.1 Toss of Coin
4.2 Informing Team Positions
4.3 Player Position Prior to Play Commencing
4.4 Centre Hit Off
SECTION 5 - SCORING
5.1 Legal Goal
5.2 Certain Goal, Offence
5.3 Re-commencing Play
SECTION 6 - FREE HITS
6.1 When Awarded
6.2 Disallowed Goal from Free Hit
6.3 Free Hit Between the Penalty Line and Goal Line
6.4 Direct Free Hit
6.5 Free Hit Options
SECTION 7 - ADVANTAGE RULES
7.1 Three Metre Advantage
7.2 Beyond the Penalty Line
7.3 After a Goal has been Scored.
SECTION 8 - BALLOON OUT OF PLAY
8.1 Over Lines of Playing Area
8.2 Re-Commencing Play
8.3 From the Side Line Between the Penalty Line and
the Goal Line
8.4 From the Goal Line
8.5 Re-throw
8.6 Throwing Balloon In
8.7 Throwing Balloon Up
SECTION 9 - WARNINGS AND SUSPENSION
SECTION 10 - EQUIPMENT
10.1 Authority for Use
10.2 Balloon
10.3 Posts
SECTION 11 - OFFICIALS
11.1 Number of Officials
11.2 Referee
11.3 Linespersons
11.4 Use of Whistle
11.5 Signals
1.0 DESIGNATED PLAYING AREA
1.1 The game shall be played indoors on a regulation size
basketball court, twenty eight metres
in length by fifteen metres
in width. Variations in the dimensions are permitted; plus or minus
two metres on the length
and plus or minus one metre on the width, the variations being
proportional to one another.
1.2 The playing area will be divided into an eight square grid, each square being equal in size.
1.3 Two upright goal posts five metres apart will be located
centrally on the goal line at both ends. A crossbar will be
fixed to the goal posts
at a height of 2.5 metres.
1.4 There will be a penalty line three metres from the goal line at both ends.
1.5 A penalty spot will be marked at the centre of the three metre line.
2.0 DURATION OF GAME
2.1 The game is divided into 2 x 10 minute halves with 2 minutes for halftime.
2.2 Time Outs
2.2.1 Each team may call two time outs in any half of a
game. Three time outs per half are
permitted
in finals. A time out is a break of play of thirty seconds duration
and can only be
called
during a stoppage of play - e.g. ball out of bounds, after goal etc.
2.2.2 A time out can only be called during a stoppage of play.
2.2.3 The central umpire may call an indefinite time out
should a player sustain an injury requiring
treatment
- or for a matter of safety. No substtitution of players - other than
the injured
player
may occur at this time.
2.3 Each half will conclude when the timekeeper signals time. The umpire will then end play.
2.4 Extra Time
2.4.1 Should scores in a final match be level at the completion
of two halves of normal time, then
Extra
Time, being two by five minute halves shall be played following a two minute
break.
Following
the first half of extra time, there will be a one minute break - and teams
shall
change
ends.
2.4.2 Each team may call one time out during extra time
but only due to a breakdown of a
wheelchair.
2.4.3 In extra time, should scores be level at the completion
of two halves of playing time, the team
with the
most number of points gained in the Round Robin Competition will be declared
the
winner.
Should both teams have an equal number of points, the team with the
highest
number
of Round Robin Goals will be declared the winner.
3.0 TEAMS
3.1 Size
3.1.1 A team shall consist of six players, five on the court
and one substitute who may be
interchanged
throughout the game.
3.2 Positions
3.2.1 Each player from both teams must use four adjoining areas of the grid.
3.2.2 One player from both teams may use six adjoining areas
of the grid. This player is to wear a
number
6 bib of a different colour.
3.2.3 There can be more than one player from a team in any position, except adjoining six.
3.2.4 Positions can only be changed during a time out.
This does not include the six position. The
six position
may change position during a break in play (ie ball over the sideline,
corner hit,
after
a goal has been scored, and when a team has been awarded a free hit only
the attacking
team can
change) and is the ONLY position that can be changed.
3.2.5 A player may still participate in the play as long
as that player’s wheels are inside their
designated
playing squares.
3.3 Substitutions
3.3.1 Team substitutions may occur at a time out.
(Except:
Refer 2.2.3)
4.0 COMMENCING PLAY
4.1 The referee will toss a coin and the team winning the
toss has the right to choose which end to
attack or take the centre
hit off to commence play.
4.2 The captain or coach of each team will inform the referee
of team positions prior to play
commencing, and when team
positions alter throughout the game.
4.3 Each player will take up their positions in the court prior to play commencing.
4.4 The Centre Hit Off
4.4.1 A centre hit off will take place to commence each
half of the game and to re-commence the
game after
a goal has been scored.
4.4.2 The team not having taken the centre hit off to commence
the game will take the centre hit
off to
re-commence the second half.
4.4.3 Each team will change ends at the completion of the first half.
5.0 SCORING
5.1 A goal is scored to the team attacking that end when
more than half of the inflated balloon has
passed over the goal line
and between the goal posts.
(Exception: Refer to 6.2)
5.2 When the team attacking that end has a certain
goal, and an offence occurs against a player on
that team, the minor
penalty will be negated in favour of awarding that team the goal.
5.3 When a goal has been scored, the opposing team will
take the centre hit off to re-commence
play.
6.0 FREE HITS
6.1 A free hit is awarded to the opposing team when a player:
6.1.1 Rams, holds or pushes an opponent from any direction if the balloon is not playable.
6.1.2 Crosses a line with any wheel from their legal court
position to another, and interferes with
play.
6.1.3 Holds the balloon nozzle by the hand or in the mouth.
6.1.4 Moves a hand or foot from its usual stationary position
on the body or wheelchair, and
deliberately
interferes with play.
6.1.5 Is within three metres of an opponent taking a centre
hit off, or free hit, at the moment the
balloon
makes contact with the opponent or ground.
6.1.6 Behaves in a manner showing poor sporting conduct such as:
* Arguing with the referee or linesperson.
* Uses offensive language.
* Deliberately wastes time.
* Deliberately rams, or pushes court equipment.
6.1.7 Is shown a yellow or red card.
6.1.8 Requests a re-throw on more than two occasions for the one incident.
6.2 When a centre hit off, or free hit is awarded to the
team attacking that end, and the balloon
passes over the goal line
between the posts, not having made contact with a wheelchair, or
body of any player or one
player twice or post or ground, a penalty line hit will be awarded to
the opposing team, anywhere
on the penalty line.
(Exception: Refer
to 6.4.1)
6.3 Between the penalty line and the goal line
6.3.1 When the opposing team commits an offence, and there
was no certainty of a goal being
scored,
a penalty line free hit will be awarded to the team attacking that end,
in a direct line
from where
the offence occurred.
6.3.2 When the team attacking that end commits an offence,
a penalty line free hit will be awarded
to the
opposing team, in a direct line from where the offence occurred.
6.4 Direct Free Hit
6.4.1 When a free hit is given to the team attacking that
end, on the penalty line, and the opposing
team commits
a second offence prior to the free hit being taken, a direct free hit for
goal will
be given
to the team attacking that end, from the penalty spot.
6.5 When an offence occurs the referee may award a free hit to the offended team either:
a) Where the offence occurred;
or
b) Where the balloon was
at the time of the offence;
or
c) Allow play to continue
if it is to the advantage of the offended team;
or
d) Three metres from where
the offence occurred.
7.0 ADVANTAGE RULES
7.1 A three metre advantage free hit will be awarded to
the team attacking that end, when the
opposing team commits an
offence before the balloon makes contact with a player or the
ground at a centre hit off,
or free hit.
7.2 When a team is awarded a three metre advantage free
hit which would move the player
awarded the free hit to
a point beyond the penalty line, the free hit will be taken from the
penalty line.
7.3 After a goal has just been scored.
7.3.1 When the team that has just scored then commits an
offence, a three metre advantage free
it will
be awarded to the opposing team, from the centre, to re-commence play.
7.3.2 When the team that has just scored is then offended
against, that team will be awarded a
centre
hit off free hit to recommence play.
8.0 BALLOON OUT OF PLAY
8.1 A balloon is out of play when more than half of the
inflated balloon has passed over the lines of
the playing area.
8.2 To Re-Commence Play
8.2.1 From the Side Line
8.2.2 When the balloon has passed over the side line, a
side line hit will be taken by an opponent
of the
team who last hit the balloon, from where the balloon went over the side
line.
8.2.3 When the ball has passed over the side line, and the
linesperson is unsure about a decision
(who last
hit the balloon), the balloon will be thrown in from where the balloon
went over the
side.
8.2.4 When the balloon bursts or is held still for more
than five seconds, the balloon will be thrown
in from
the nearest side line, in a direct line from where the incident occurred.
8.3 From the Side Line Between the Penalty Line and the Goal Line
8.3.1 When the balloon has passed over the side line between
the penalty line and the goal line, a
side line
hit will be awarded to an opponent of the team who last hit the balloon,
from the
penalty
line.
8.3.2 When the linesperson is unsure about a side line decision
or the balloon bursts or is held still
for more
than five seconds the balloon will be thrown in from the penalty line.
8.4 From the Goal Line
8.4.1 When the balloon has passed over the goal line and not between the goal posts.
8.4.1 i If the balloon was last hit by the opposing team,
a corner hit will be awarded to the
attacking team from the nearest corner.
8.4.1 ii If the balloon was last hit by the team attacking
that end, a penalty line hit will be awarded
to the opposing team, anywhere on the penalty line.
8.5 Re-Throw
8.5.1 The player awarded a centre hit off, or any free hit,
may request a RE-THROW, on two
occasions
only, providing the wheelchair or body of that player or the ground does
not make
contact
with the balloon before making the request.
8.6 Procedure for Throwing Balloon In
8.6.1 When the linesperson is unsure about a side line decision
or the balloon bursts or is held still
for more
than five seconds, the linesperson will proceed to the side line, wait
five
seconds
and throw the balloon in over the head while facing away from the court.
8.7 Procedures for Throwing Balloon Up
8.7.1 A centre hit off, or free hit, will take place by
the referee tossing the balloon up in front of a
player
in position.
8.7.2 A side line or corner hit will take place by the linesperson
tossing the balloon up in front of a
player
in position.
9.0 WARNINGS AND SUSPENSIONS - Refer to Governing Rules
10.0 EQUIPMENT
10.1 The following equipment has been authorised for use in Balloon Soccer.
10.2 Balloon
10.2.1 A double dipped monster inflated to a 650 - 675mm diameter.
10.3 Posts
10.3.1 Upright posts of prescribed specifications.
11. OFFICIALS
11.1 There will be one referee and two linespersons.
11.2 Referee
11.2.1 The referee will be responsible for making the final
decision on fair, unfair, safe and unsafe
play, goals and line decisions, and can seek advice from either linesperson
before making
those decisions.
11.3 Linespersons
11.3.1 The linesperson will be responsible for side line
decisions and can seek advice from the
referee before making decisions.
11.3.2 The linesperson can inform the referee of significant
offences not sighted by the referee,
offences that bring the game into disrepute or contribute to a significant
unfair advantage to
a team.
11.4 The officials will blow the whistle when commencing,
recommencing and stopping play,
unless ‘play
on’ is called to ensure the offended team is not further penalised.
11.5 Signals
11.5.1 Ramming
11.5.1 i The referee will thrust a clenched fist into an
open hand.
11.5.2 Holding
11.5.2 i The umpire will hold a wrist with the other hand.
11.5.3 Pushing
11.5.3 i The referee will push an open hand away from the body.
11.5.4 Dangerous Play/Poor Sporting Conduct
11.5.4 i The referee will make a calming movement by raising
both hands horizontally, palms
downwards, in front of the body, moving them slowly up and down.
11.5.5 Goal Scored
11.5.5 i The referee will call ‘all clear’ and point to the centre of the court.
11.5.6 Commencing each Half
11.5.6 i The referee will hold the balloon aloft.
11.5.7 Time Out
11.5.7 i The referee will blow the whistle, call ‘time out’, and form a T shape with both hands.
11.5.8 Balloon Out of Play
11.5.8 i The linesperson will call ‘out of play’, and point
with outstretched arm down the side line,
toward the attacking end goal line of the team taking the side line hit.
11.5.9 Ending Each Half
11.5.9 i The referee will raise both hands vertically above the head.