Competitive Fitness Activities - Nineball Soccer


The object of this game is for each of a team’s five goalies to have one ball.

Players
There are 25 to 50 players on each team, five of whom are goalies. The other players are divided into four equal groups. The goalies play between the goal line and 5-yard line of a standard football field. The other four groups start the game between the designated 10-yard segments of the field. The goalies and all other players must stay in their assigned areas throughout the game. The only exceptions are midfielder who stand between the 35- and 45-yard lines. These players may occupy both their assigned areas and the 10- yard free space at the center of the field.

The Game
The game starts with all players inside their own areas and midfielder on their own 40-yard line. The nine balls are placed as follows. Four are on each 45-yard line with at least five yards between balls. One is centered on the 50-yard line. The signal to start play is one long whistle blast. Players must pass the balls through the opposing team’s defenses into the goal area using only their feet or heads. The first team whose goalies have five balls wins a point. The game then stops, and the balls are placed for the start of a new set. The first team to score five points wins.
There are no time-outs except in case of injury, which is signaled by two sharp whistle blasts. The teams change positions on the field after each set. Team members move to different zones after the set.

Rules
A ball is played along the ground or over any group or groups of players. The ball may travel any distance if it is played legally.
Goalies may use their hands in playing the ball and may give a ball to other goalies on their team. For a set to officially end, each goalie must have a ball. If players engage in unnecessary roughness or dangerous play, the referee removes them from the game for the rest of the set and one additional set. He also removes players for the rest of the set if they step on or over a boundary or sideline or use their hands outside the goal area.
If a goalie steps on or over a boundary or sideline, the referee takes the ball being played plus another ball from the goalie’s team and gives these balls to the nearest opposing player. If the team has no other ball in the goal area, the referee limits the penalty to the ball that is being played. If a ball goes out of bounds, the referee retrieves it. The team that caused it to go out of bounds or over the goal line loses possession. The referee puts the ball back into play by rolling it to the nearest opposing player.