BASIC IDEA OF THE GAME

This sport is fast paced with a minimal amount of stops to game play. One element of the game which  makes it exciting to play and watch is that each team has three scoring opportunities. The Schlamm pits, made of mud in official game play, add to the excitement and create the uniqueness of this new sport.

 

SCHLAMMBALL RULES AND OBJECTIVE

Object of the Game

Score the most points to win.

Glossary

Range: The field of play. Usually grass or turf . Game may also be played on a hard surface court.

Carry: Player steps while holding onto the ball

Pass back: passing the ball back, by hand, to the same player that passed the ball by hand to the playerin possession

Stalling: Holding the ball longer than 3 seconds

Warden: End goal defender (Must stay within Defensive Zone)

Guard: Side goal defender (May enter Offensive Zone)

Schlamm Pits: 2 areas on either side at center of range marked by painted lines. May consist of mud or mud like substance, sand, air filled mattress, foam mats, or even the same consistency of the range may be used.

Schlamm Zones: surround the perimeter of the Schlamm pits. Depending on the rules set out by league, there may or may not be contact in this area.

Schlamming:  Pushing or checking another player

Schlammer: an area off the field where a player will go to wait out their penalty time. Game play continues with one less player every time a player goes into the schlammer. The player may be replaced with a new player when the penalty time has ended. Wardens and Guards are not to be placed in the schlammer. If one of them are penalized, a player from their team will be chosen by the opposing team and that player will serve their time in the schlammer.

Ticket: 1 minutes penalty, 3 minutes penalty for player upon received 3 tickets and subsiquent. 6 tickets received by one player results in a 3 minute penalty and the palyer is removed from the game

Fault: 1 minute penalty, 3 faults received by team results in 3 mintue penalty to be served by player of the other teams choosing

Game Play

• 1. Played with a Size 3 or 4 soccer ball
  2. 4 quarters of 15 minutes. Clock is paused whenever play has stopped
  3. Each quarter is started by a Warden’s throw-in from his/her goal zone. First possession is determined by a coin flip or similar. Switches every quarter.
  4. After a point is scored the Warden of the team who had been scored upon will start play again with a throw-in from his/her goal zone.
  5. There are 3 goals per side of the range (1 end, 2 side)
  6. 2 points are awarded for scoring into an end goal, 1 point is awarded for scoring into a side goal
  7. Players may kick or throw the ball to score. Players are not allowed to enter the goal zones. Only the respective Warden or Guard are allowed in the goal zones. If an offensive player enters the zone, the ball is given to the guard or warden of the zone for a throw-in. If a defensive player enters the zone, a penalty throw is awarded to the opposing team from outside the zone
  8. 8 players on the range per team including the “Warden”  (End Goal) and “Guards” (Left and Right side goals)
  9. “Schlamming”  is only allowed in the Schlamm Zones. Allowance of schlamming  is determined by the league. May be played as a non-contact sport.
  10. “Tickets” are given to players when officials decide unsportsmanlike conduct or intentional contact beyond natural play has been made. The player is placed in the Schlammer for 1 minute. Depending on severity of the infraction the player may be removed immediately from the game. When a player receives three tickets and there after, he/she is penalized and put in the Schlammer for 3 minutes.
  11. If the same player is ticketed six times during a game he/she is removed from the game. When a player is removed from the game he/she may be replaced by another player after 3 minutes has past.
  12. Players must stay on his/her half before the Warden’s throw-in to start the quarter and after each point scored. There is no offside called in the Neutral Zone once play has started.
  13. Once play is started, offside is called if a player is in the Defensive Zone of opposing team when ball is not already in the zone.
  14. When offside is called, play is re-started with a throw-in from closest corner in the defensive zone of the team that was at fault.
  15. A player is put in the schlammer for 1 minute if “Schlammed” into, or otherwise enters, a Schlamm Pit. Game play is not delayed and continues with one player less on the range. Same player may come back on the range or a replacement player may take his/her place on the range after the 1 minute has past.
  16. Players may kick, throw, or hit the ball with any part of his/her body other than the head. There is no penalty for an unintentional ball to head. Heading the ball is not allowed, and will result in fault.
  17. The ball may be caught but not carried ( two steps may be taken while holding the ball but then a throw or kick must be made). A carry results in a fault.
  18. A player in possession of the ball cannot pass it back by hand to the same player that passed the ball by hand to that player. A pass back results in a fault.
  19. The ball must touch the ground before kicking. If the ball is dropped from hand to foot directly, it is deemed “Punting” and results in a fault on the player. A player may not touch the ball by hand after dropping it to the ground unless another player touches it.
  20. When the ball goes out of bounds, possession is given to the team not touching the ball last. Depending on which team takes possession, the ball is thrown in by the closest goal Warden/Guard (Offensive foul) or from the closest corner (Defensive foul)
  21. When the ball goes out of bounds into a Schlamm Pit,  the player who last had control of the ball, or tried to take control and had last touch of the ball, is penalized the same as being Schlammed (1 minute in the schlammer)
  22. A player may not purposely touch the ball when another player is holding the ball. Results in a ticket.
  23. A fault is called on a player when the ball is carried, stalling, punting or touched by hand within a goal zone. Player is put in the Schlammer for 1 minute. Possession given to other team for a throw-in (the same as an out of bounds ball).
  24. Upon the third fault called on a team, a player is penalized and put in the Schlammer for 3 minutes. This player is chosen by the other team. Wardens and Guards are not to be removed from the range. A player may not be chosen a second time until all other players on the range at time of a third fault has been chosen previously.
  25. Although not an official rule, picking the ball up off the ground by hands could place players in vulnerable position. League rule may be put in place to disallow this practice.