Official Rules of Play
Main Rules
Bounceball is best played with a regulation (hard) or practice (soft) lacrosse ball.
Bounceball can be played by two players (singles game), four players (doubles game), or up to twelve players (knockout game).
Bounceball: 1 V 1 / 2 V 2
Beginner Version
Service
A player/team must serve the ball from their side of the court to the opponent's side of the court.
The ball must land past the line closest to the Bounceball unit.
A player/team is awarded two attempts to get their service into their opponent's court.
Catch And Release
A player may use both hands to catch the ball.
A player may plant both feet on the ground after they have caught the ball.
A player can take one step towards the Bounceball unit before throwing the ball.
A player is given three seconds before releasing the ball after they have caught it.
The opposing team counts out loud 1 second, 2 second, 3 second, fool. If their opponent has not released the ball before they say foul, they are awarded the point and the following serve.
Scoring System
A player/team may only be awarded one point/rally.
All points are scored by a team causing their opponent to be unable to return the rally off the Bounceball rebound surface.
The player/team that scored the previous point is also awarded the next serve.
A game is concluded when the first player/team arrives at 15 points and is winning by at least 2 points. If no player/team is winning by 2 points when they arrive at 15 points, then the game continues until one player/team is winning by 2 points.
Professional Version
Service
A player/team must serve the ball from their side of the court to the opponent's side of the court.
The ball must land past the line closest to the Bounceball unit.
A player/team is awarded two attempts to get their service into their opponent's court.
After every serve a player/team will switch the side of the court they are serving on.
Catch And Release
A player must catch the ball with one hand.
A player may catch the ball with one hand and release the ball with the other.
It is forbidden for a player to change the direction of their momentum after they have caught the ball. They must instead release the ball moving in the same direction as they have caught the ball.
A player can only take one step after they have caught the ball. This step must remain in the same direction of momentum they caught the ball in.
A player must not plant two feet on the ground at any given time.
A player must completely leave the ground (both feet off the ground) when they are throwing the ball at the rebound surface of the Bounceball unit.
Boxing Out
After a player has thrown the ball at the rebound surface, they may attempt to take a “position” on the court designed to interfere with the playability of another player.
A player may move into their “set position” from anywhere on the court; however, once a player decides to establish a “set position” on the court, represented by planting both feet on the ground and extending their arms outwards, they cannot move their feet from that position. The player may attempt to obstruct another player using their arm width; however, they must be facing the rebound surface when they take their “set position” and they are forbidden to look backwards at the opposing player(s).
The player throwing the ball is forbidden from intentionally hitting an opposing player(s) in a “set position”. If such an offense happens a referee may award a point to the player/team that was intentionally hit by an opposing player and the team awarded the point is also awarded the serve.
Scoring
Basic Scoring System (15 Point System)
A player/team may only be awarded one point/rally.
All points are scored by a team causing their opponent to be unable to return the rally off the Bounceball rebound surface.
The player/team that scored the previous point is also awarded the next serve.
A game is concluded when the first player/team arrives at 15 points and is winning by at least 2 points. If no player/team is winning by 2 points when they arrive at 15 points, then the game continues until one player/team is winning by 2 points.
Advanced Scoring System (21 Point System)
Two lines are placed horizontal to the Bounceball unit within the official gameplay area. One line is placed roughly 8 feet back from the unit and the second line is placed 15 feet back from the unit.
If a player throws the ball within area A (within 8 feet from the Bounceball unit) and they hit the centre panel of the Bounceball rebound surface without the opposing team being able to return the ball off the rebound surface, they are awarded 1 point and they are awarded the next serve.
If a player throws the ball within area A (within 8 feet from the Bounceball unit) and they hit a pedal of the Bounceball rebound surface without their opponent being able to return the ball off the rebound surface, they are awarded 2 points, and they are awarded the next serve.
If a player throws the ball within area B (between 8 feet and 15 feet from the Bounceball unit) and they hit the centre panel of the Bounceball rebound surface, without the opposing team being able to return the ball off the rebound surface, they are awarded 2 points and they are awarded the next serve.
If a player throws the ball within area B (between 8 feet and 15 feet from the Bounceball unit) and they hit a petal of the Bounceball rebound surface, without their opponent being able to return the ball off the rebound surface, they are awarded 3 points, and they are awarded the next serve.
If a player throws the ball within area C (outside of 15 feet from the Bounceball unit) and they hit the centre panel of the Bounceball rebound surface, without the opposing team being able to return the ball off the rebound surface, they are awarded 3 points and they are awarded the next serve.
If a player throws the ball within area C (outside of 15 feet from the Bounceball unit) and they hit a petal of the Bounceball rebound surface, without their opponent being able to return the ball off the rebound surface, they are awarded 4 points, and they are awarded the next serve
Knockout Rules
Up To 12 Players
Service
All players line up in a row approximately 15 feet from the rebound surface.
Player A (the first player in the line) throws the ball off the rebound surface. The ball cannot hit a petal.
If player A misses their serve, they lose the opportunity to serve and will move to the back of the line.
After player A serves, and assuming the serve is done correctly, player B (second in the line) will have to catch the ball and return the serve off the rebound surface. Every player after player A is deemed eligible to receive a point against them if they are unable to return the ball off the rebound surface.
After player A serves the ball and player B returns the ball, the order continues through player B, C, D, E, F and so on until it returns back to player A, or any player is unable to return the ball off the playing surface.
Once a player is unable to return the ball off the playing surface, they will receive a point against them. Once a player receives three points against them, they are considered knocked out of the game.
The game continues until the last player is still eligible to play the game (they are eligible only if they haven’t received three points against them).