Speedball Unit Notes

1. Speedball Unit Notes Unit #3 Coach Marberry-Profitt Physical Education Class

2. History • The game of speedball is a game of American origin invented in 1921 by Elmer D. Mitchell at the University of Michigan as part of the men’s intramural classes. The purpose of the game was to provide an opportunity for players of average athletic ability to participate in a game. By 1926, Mitchell had the rules standardized and popularity of the game spread rapidly. Some of the countries where the game is now played include the United States, Canada, Mexico, Philippines, and China.

3. The Activity • The game of speedball is a combination of soccer and basketball, and utilizes the skills of kicking and passing. The object of the game is to advance the ball toward the goal being defended by the opponents. At certain times kicking only and at other times by passing only may advance the ball. An important part of the game is to put a ground ball into the air and an aerial ball onto the ground when the opponents do not expect it. • There are eleven players on a team designated as left end, left forward, center, right forward, right end, right halfback, left halfback, fullback, right guard, left guard, and goal keeper. • Play is started with a kick-off by the center forward from a point on the middle or halfway line. The defensive team must stay behind the restraining line and the offensive team must not cross the middle line until the ball has been kicked. • When the ball is kicked into the air it becomes an aerial ball and may be advanced using basketball rules with one exception. The regular dribble cannot be used because when the ball touches the ground it automatically becomes a ground ball, which cannot be touched by the hand. However, the juggle or overhead dribble can be used one time per possession. • Once a ball becomes a ground ball it must be played according to soccer rules until the ball is raised into the air by a kick. A ball caught directly from a kick becomes an aerial ball.

4. Field and Equipment • Regulation size field – 100 x 60 yards • Ball – soccer ball or playground type ball • Official team – 11 players • During our PE games the field will be the soccer or football field, with smaller PE goals.

5. The Games Official Rules • Length of game: • 8 minute quarters (4 quarters) • 2 minute intermissions between quarters • 10 minute intermission between halves (2 halves) • Official game has a coin toss, winning captain chooses to kick off or receive. • Goals shall be changed at halftime. • Game started by place-kick on centerline in direction of opponent’s goal. Ball must be kicked at least the distance of its circumference. It may be lifted to a teammate. • Player taking kick-off may not touch ball again unit it is played by another player. • On a kick-off, no opponent shall cross the restraining line, and no teammate may cross the center or halfway line until a player taking the kick-off has kicked the ball. • Following a score, the team scored upon shall kick-off. • Substitutions can only be made when the ball is not in play. • A player can reenter any number of times. • No team can play with fewer than nine players.

6. Scoring • Drop kick (3 points) – Drop ball from hands to ground and kick as it bounces. The ball must pass over the crossbar and between the uprights and must be taken from outside the penalty area. • Touchdown (2 points) – Completion of forward pass from outside the penalty area to across the goal line outside of the goal posts. The ball and the player must be completely behind the goal line. • Field goal (2 points) – Ground ball kicked between posts, under crossbar from any spot on the field. This includes the drop kick and headed ball. • Penalty kick (1 point) – Drop ball from hands to ground and kick as it bounces. The ball must pass over the crossbar and between the uprights and must be taken from outside the penalty area.

7. Rules • Kick-off – place-kick from center in direction of opponents goal; teammates behind halfway line; opponents behind restraining line; may be lifted to a teammate; cannot be played by the center forward who kicks off. • Out of bounds (sideline) – throw-in or kick-in; any type of one or two hand throw; cannot be played by thrower; cannot score a goal from here; same for aerial ball or ground ball; halfback takes this. Kick in cannot catch aerial and must be played from the ground first. Throw in must also be played from the ground first. • Out of bounds (end line) – put in play by any player of opposite team where ball crosses line. All players five yards away; the ball must travel forward; use a place-kick, punt, drop kick, or throw-in; the forward for the attack team takes this; the fullback or goalkeeper takes this from the defense. • If the ball travels out of bounds off two players simultaneously, the two players take a toss-up five yards from the boundary line; all other players are five yards away. The jumper may tap the ball twice, but may not catch it. If the ball touches the ground, it is played as a ground ball.

8. Individual Fouls • Kicking, tripping, tagging, handling, traveling, hacking, blocking, holding, pushing, dangerous kicking, charging goalkeeper (with or without the ball). • If foul occurs outside your own penalty area – halfback takes free throw or free kick depending if ball was on the ground or in the air. All players must be five yards away. The ball can be played in any direction. • If the foul occurs within your own penalty area or behind your goal line by the defense the best drop kicker takes a penalty kick. A penalty kick is a drop kick from 12 yards out and must pass between the uprights and over the crossbar. • If a foul occurs by the attack team behind the opponent’s goal line – a free throw or free kick is taken on the goal line opposite where the foul occurred by the fullback. • For double fouls, a toss-up is taken by the two players involved and at the spot the foul occurred or on the five-yard line opposite where the foul occurred (if the fouls occurred behind the goal line).

9. Team Fouls • For violations pertaining to time-outs, substitution, more than 11 players – the best drop kicker takes a penalty kick from the penalty mark. • For rough play, un-sportsman-like conduct, etc. “Personal foul” – the offended player is given a penalty kick or “free kick” at the spot where the infraction occurred. • There are other infractions of the rules called violations. Included among them are: traveling with the ball, touching a ground ball with the hands, offside on the kick-off, etc. If the violation occurs outside of a team’s own penalty area, the ball is given to the opponents out of bounds. If the violation takes place in a team’s own end zone or penalty area, the opponents are given a penalty kick with a follow-up.

10. Definitions • Offense – The team with possession of the ball. Also called the attack team. • Defense – The team that is attempting to gain possession of the ball. • Aerial Ball – A ball raised directly from a kick; a ball passed, air-dribbled (once), punted, or drop kicked; an aerial ball may be volleyed off the body. Traveling is called for taking two steps with the ball although two steps may be taken when coming to a stop. • Ground Ball – A ground ball is a ball that is stationary, rolling, or bouncing on the ground. It may be kicked, headed, or bounced off the body (no hands). The use of the body other than the foot does not convert a ground ball to an aerial ball. • Kick-up – Converting a ground ball to an aerial ball by lifting it to yourself or another player. Methods: roll back and lift, two-leg lift, ball rolling up leg. • Goal Keeper – May pick up ball, bounce it once, punt, drop kick, throw, or combine a bounce with a punt, drop kick, or throw. Only two steps may be taken with the ball.

11. Field Dimensions and Positions Must draw in your notes