Loofball is a team sport played on a rectangular court by two teams of five players with a furry ball. The playing court is 17m long and 8m wide and has two main zones viz. the home zone and the fore zone. The net height from the turf is 2.3m for men or 2.28m for women and Under-20s. The game is played either indoors or outdoors.

OBJECT OF THE GAME

The object of loofball is to launch the ball over the net in a manner such that it lands on the appropriate zone or section of the court and prevent the same effort by the opposition. A game begins with a serve by launching the ball over the net and into the opposition’s home zone. A team scores a point by grounding the ball on the appropriate zone or section of the opposition’s court, or when the opposition fails to return the ball by committing a fault.

The basic skills required in the game are jump-shooting, chest-passing, catching, lobbing and serving. A plan regarding movements and tricks is also of great importance for a team to win a game.



A match is played to best two of three sets. In other words, a match is won by the first team to win two sets. The first two sets are played for 25 points whereas the third set is played for 20 points. Each set must be won with a 2 point advantage.

GAME EQUIPMENT

The game is played with a specially designed inflatable and furry ball, known as loofball. The ball is made of an artificial furry fabric or animal fur and has a diameter of between 16 and 20cm. A size 1 or mini loofball weighs 150-190g whereas a size 2 loofball weighs 190-240g.The net used has nearly the same dimensions as volleyball net.



BASIC GAME RULES

TEAM MEMBERS

There are five players per team.

BALL CONTACT

• Contact with the ball is by the hand or forearm. In other words, the ball must not touch a part of the body other than the hand and forearm before it's held.
• A player makes no more than two steps with the ball
• A player does not hold or throw the ball more than once within a game turn.
• Minimum of one and maximum of two passes in a turn.
• Mishandling the ball or touching the ball more than twice in quick succession is not allowed.
• A player does not hold the ball for more than 3 seconds.
• Only one player is allowed to catch or hold the ball at a time.

POSITIONING

• Before service, players arrange themselves (within the home zone) in rows: three players in the front row and two in the back row.
• Players may change or switch positions before service.
• Switching positions during play is not allowed.

SERVICE

• During service, a left back row player throws the ball (from the service area) into the opposition’s home zone. A serve that fails to pass over the net, or results in a ‘net ball’, or is deemed a ‘high ball’ constitutes a foul serve, and the serve must be retaken by the same player. Serving from inside the home zone, or not within 3 seconds of the referee’s whistle also constitutes a foul serve. A succession of two foul serves is a scoring by the opposite team.
• In a set, the winner of a game makes the next serve.

BALL IN

• When a serve or a ball launched from the home zone or fore zone lands on the opposition’s home zone, it is said to be a ‘ball in’. A ball launched from one section of the fore zone is also ‘in’ when it lands on the diagonally opposite section of the fore zone. A ‘ball in’ is a scoring by the sending team.
• A ‘line ball’ is a ‘ball in’ (not applicable to the olive).

BALL OUT

A serve or a ball launched from the home zone is 'out' when it lands on a part of the court other than the opposition’s home zone. A ball launched from one section of the fore zone is also ‘out’ when it lands on a part of the court other than the opposition’s home zone and the diagonally opposite section of the fore zone. A ‘ball out’ is a scoring by the receiving team.

LAUNCHING THE BALL

• The ball is launched with only one hand.
• A player does not touch or overreach the net when attacking.
• A ‘high ball’ constitutes a fault during attack and a foul serve during service.
• A ‘net ball’ during service is not allowed.

MOVEMENT

• A player may jump when catching the ball.
• A player within the home zone may jump when launching the ball (jump-shoot). However, both feet must have contact with the ground when launching from the fore zone.
• A player may land in the fore zone or olive after jump-shooting from the home zone.
• A player stepping on the sideline or baseline is in the free zone. Similarly, a player stepping on the frontline is in the fore zone.
• A player stepping on the crossline or both sections of the fore zone is in neither of the sections.
• A player stepping on the olive is outside the fore zone.



FAULTS/VIOLATIONS

A fault or violation results in a scoring by the opposite team. The most possible and recognized faults are as follows;
• The ball touches a part of the body other than the hand and forearm before it's caught.
• A serve or attack results in a "ball out".
• A player holds the ball more than once within a turn.
• A player holds the ball for up to 4 seconds (or more) during a game.
• A team makes less than 2 or more than 3 touches within a turn.
• A player takes more than two steps with the ball (termed ‘traveling’)
• A player plays a ‘high ball’ when attacking.
• A player makes 2 consecutive foul serves.
• A player touches the net or enters the opposition's court before and after releasing the ball.
• A player serves or attacks with two hands.
• Two or more players hold the ball simultaneously.
• A player mishandles the ball.
• A player blocks the ball.
• A player jumps when attacking from the fore zone.
• Players switch positions during play.

GAMEPLAY

OFFICIATING

The officiating crew may comprise a referee, two or four line judges, a scorer and assistant scorer.

TOSS

At the start of a match, the teams represented by their captains take part in a toss. The winner of the toss chooses either a side of the court or the first serve. If the winner chooses a side, the other team makes the first serve. And if the winner chooses to make the first serve, the other team chooses a side.

SCORING SYSTEM

Loofball uses a point scoring system, whereby a point is awarded to the team winning a game. A match may be played in 2 or 3 sets. The first two sets are played for 25 points, while the third is played for 20 points. At 24 all, the team that gains a 2 point lead first, wins the set. The same applies in the third set when the scoreline is 19 all. The first team to win 2 sets carries the match.

CHANGE OF SIDES

Teams change sides after completing the first set. The first serving team in the first set becomea the first receiving team in the second set. A new toss is conducted when a match enters the third set, just like in the beginning of the match.

SUBSTITUTION

A maximum of four substitutes (per team) may be used in a match. Substitution is conducted at the sideline near the fore zone.

BREAK

1 minute time-out (per team) is allowed in a set. A 2 minute interval is also allowed between sets.

For more details, visit: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Loofball

A game for recreation and fitness

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[img]https:///a/img921/3286/tgqmvK.jpg[/img]

AdeyemiF12:
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[img]https:///a/img921/3286/tgqmvK.jpg[/img]

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You can call 07030511517 or send email to loofballng@gmail.com. Sorry for the delayed response.

AdeyemiF12:
A pleasure, but how do I get the ball?

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Thanks

johnsonjrule:
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