Jul 12
Sky Ball Game
Sky Ball is played on a surface just a bit bigger than a basketball court. There are 2 customized scoring grids at each end of the court. The bottom edge of the grid is 12 feet from the ground and the top edge is 16 feet from the ground. The 3 flat scoring pads are positioned at varying heights.
2 Teams compete for 40 minutes and scoring is done in 2 ways…1 point for throwing and hitting a scoring pad or smack the Sky Ball out of mid-air (like a Volley Ball serve) and connect with a scoring pad, it is worth 3 points. You can bounce or throw the ball to your team as you dribble your way towards your goal. In the Spring of 2011, there was a 5 city tour launched to find the athletes who would become part of the Sky Ball League. The athletes are coed and are between the ages of 16 to 40. The 5 cites are: 1.) Tampa. FL on April 23 Here are the teams that now make up the League: Sky Ball League Teams (So Far!) The press has given this game and league some great coverage! Maui Toys, the manufacturer of the Sky Ball, recently was featured on July issue on pg. 36 that spoke of the great success of “Sky Ball with Bat”, CNBC’s Sports Toy of the Year! The League will broadcast every weekend (Sat./Sun.) on Fox Sports Florida, New York Sports Network, Fox Sports Arizona, Comcast Sportsnet Chicago, Comcast Sportsnet New England and Fox Sports Prime Ticket. The sport was invented by the creator of Sky Ball Brian Kessler and Danny Swartz a gaming expert. Brian’s plan is to have 2011 be the Sky Ball League (SBL) competition to pick the 5 teams. 2012, they hoped to expand that by including more cities. Their dream only gets bigger from there…they are going to take this game into the Junior Highs, High Schools and colleges to compete at the scholastic level and then internationally. Right now, they are dedicated to taking it one step at a time. There is a lot of similarities to other ball games. The difference is a ball that can bounce about 75 feet in the air. When you throw it, you have to be careful how hard and what surface you hit with it because it will bounce many more feet away than a normal ball. It takes some getting use to.
Sky Ball League Game Regulations -Regulation dress is a trademarked Sky Ball TM smash pad and glove and jersey to legally participate in Sky Ball League play. -Four coed players make up each team. Each team has a max of Ten Teammates per roster. -Regulation time is four 10 min. quarters and a 3 min. OT is allowed if scoreboard shows it’s tied after regulation play. -You can substitute up to 3x’s throughout the playing time. -Every offensive start will begin with a smash or bounce at mid court to begin each team’s offense BUT if the opposing team steals the ball, it is not necessary to stop play and bounce or smash the Sky Ball. Scoring… -Each end of the court has 3 pads on a scoring backboard that are 12′-17′ in height. -Every time a participant tosses the ball and connects with a backboard pad, the team receives one point. -A participant who smacks (like a volleyball spike) the ball with their smash gloved hand, causing the ball to connect with a backboard pad, their team receives three points. -Seven fouls are the maximum fouls allowed for any one player. They are then asked to leave the game. -When a foul occurs, the player’s team restarts the offense series again. -A player is awarded a free smack at the ball from the foul line if he is fouled trying to smack or throw the ball at the scoring backboard. -The fouled player must smack the ball or the other team will take over. -Successfully hitting the scoring pads on a foul shot is rewarded with one point.
2.) Austin, TX on May 21
3.) Boston MA on June 4
4.) Denver, CO on June 11
5.) Los Angeles, CA on June 17