User:Hashland Oregon/sandbox

New Football
New football is a proposed sport designed to be a creative evolution in sport — speed, strength, skill, finesse, and height are all necessary as there are many strategies to be found. Mostly based off of soccer and rugby, the sport should be fast paced and entertaining, with several unique rules instituted to give offensive creativity and defensive challenge, as well as a scoring system that rewards different plays according to their relative difficulty. The sport should make any manager drool as there are innumerable ways to form the team, assign roles, and utilize all-around stars.

Ball
Round, slighly smaller and bouncier than a soccer ball

Pitch

 * Surface: Anything rectangular and playable (within reason), larger pitches preferred
 * Goals: H-Shaped base frame (Rugby dimensions standard, American football adaptations/Gaelic football dimensions accepted)
 * Markings: Lateral touchlines, mid line, goal lines, end lines, 30-meter lines (measured from goal not mid point), penalty/handling area (two vertical lines 40 meters apart extending from goal line to 30-meter line), penalty spot 10 meters from goal

Teams

 * Number on pitch: 15
 * Bench: 15
 * Substitutions: Unlimited in between quarters, Five per half at dead balls

Time

 * Length: Four 20-minute quarters
 * Clock: Soccer style (Continuous, stoppage time)
 * Extra time: Additional ten-minute period (two for major finals, with penalties afterwards if still level)

Scoring

 * Point: Over the crossbar, between the uprights; 1
 * Try: Touching the ball down in the end zone; 4
 * Goal: Under the crossbar, betwixt the posts; 5
 * Penalty goal: 3

Rules
Initiating play: Each team kicks off at the beginning of a half; after scores, teams that were just scored upon kick off and have possession first

Handling and passing: In the midfield, players are permitted to kick, dribble (basketball style), or carry the ball. When entering and playing in the handling area (lateral 30-meter attacking zones), individual players must either carry the ball or dribble with the feet (and cannot switch between the two); however, if the ball is passed to a teammate, that player may elect to play the ball either way as long as he continues to do so. In the end zone hands are allowed, but in the 30 x 40 penalty area no hands are allowed. There are no forward throws allowed in the handling area; other than that, passing may be achieved using any means and in any direction as long as it was handled legally beforehand (i.e. no throwing in the penalty area).

Defense: Players may dispossess the ball according to how the attacking player is handling it — When dribbling with the feet, soccer rules apply; when dribbling with the hands, some contact may be made but a player cannot be brought to the ground or collided into; when carrying the ball full tackling is permitted as long as first contact does not land on the head/neck. Hands may be used to deflect or steal the ball anywhere except in the penalty area.

Possession rules: If a player carrying the ball is tackled to the ground without off loading the ball, he should play the ball as in rugby league; on the fourth tackle of the possession a turnover results. Free play continues with any form of direct, legal dispossession (slide tackle, interception, stripping the ball carrier). If an attacking team plays the ball out of the end line, a goal kick results; if a defending team plays the ball out of its end line, a corner kick ensues. Putting the ball into touch results in a throw-in, except when the attacking team puts it into touch in the final 30, resulting in a kick-in from the spot.

Fouls and cards: Fouls should be judged along the lines of normal situations in other sports (bad challenge in soccer, high tackle in rugby). However, physicality should be tolerated and flopping will be frowned upon. Needless to say, cards will be issued for egregious offenses. Fouls result in a free kick except in the penalty area.

Penalties: Taken from the spot, one defender is allowed to be in goal (this is the only time hands are allowed to be used in the penalty area as there is no designated keeper). In normal time, a kick off ensues after a penalty — if the penalty is converted, the offending team kicks off; if the penalty is missed, the attacking team retains possession and kicks off. Rules for taking penalties apply in shoot outs.

Officiating
Referee, assistant, 2 linesmen, 2 goal judges, timekeeper/subs (“fourth official”), scorekeeper

Sample narration of game
Five years ago, an internet phenomenon heralded the beginning of a new era in sport. A new game, inspired and created on the web, combining the best elements of all football codes, has traveled from the pitch of the mind to the pitch of reality. We’re about set to kick off here, for an international friendly of new football at Wembley Stadium. Though surely none of the traditional games have subsided in interest and respect, with their nuances and style, everyone wants a look at the new generation of play, the definition of Total Football. As momentous as this occasion is, the sport can only grow from here. A sell out crowd here to watch host England take on the United States. Who will assert themselves as the first team to win an internationally sanctioned new football match? Kick off is a few moments away.

England are lined up in a 5-2-3-2-3, well that’s a mouthful if you ask me but the game is sure to be brilliant. Five in the back, two defensive midfielders, three attacking playmakers, two bulldozers and three forwards. The Americans are slightly more aggressive, lining up in a 4-3-3-4-1. They’re depending on those four converted running backs from American football to plow through the rugby raised back line and score the four-point try. Meanwhile, England have a few men who can, as they say in Madden culture, use the truck stick as well. And with the finishing talent in both midfield and up front, they’re sure to score some goals, counting five points as well — worth so much more than in association football, it might be said to devalue it, but with the skill and beauty it requires I think it deserves such a reward.

First half
Well they’re lined up now, foot on the ball. It’s defeaning here in London, they can’t wait to see what the next eighty minutes will bring. Referee looks at his watch…and there’s the whistle! England kicks off to the roar of ninety thousand, setting up posession on the ground in the midfield. They’re content to kick it around a little bit as the crowd begins to chant in anticipation. The midfield trio of Johnson, Walcott, and Cleverley form a triangle a la Barcelona on the right wing, now sending a long ball down field where its caressed by Holt! He’s in the handling area now, marked by Bocanegra with men coming forward, he beats him and is cutting into the penalty area, serves up a little cross…it’s headed back by Cherundolo, but it’s in the end zone and there’s a scramble for the ball! The Americans come up with it and clear out of the defensive third. That was a nice move back there by Holt searching for Crouch but the Americans marked well in front of goal knowing there would be no keeper to save them. The initial run was spurred by a great pick by Lennon, freeing up Holt for the run down the wing.

Iverson is dribbling in the midfield now, he looks like a point guard out there, oh he makes that midfielder look absolutley silly with the crossover, this ain’t just soccer folks. He’s going at pace downfield now, forcing off a defender and now tossing it to Bush, oh he’s shifty eluding one as he carries it into the handling zone where he bowls over a defender, now swarm tackled and brought down. He back heels it to Sproles who swings it to Payton and now Bettis, who plows forward through two defenders! And knocks off another one and jogs into the end zone, the first four points in international new football. Well some of the fans are booing but some are gasping after witnessing such tremendous power. Lescott was left in a heap after that blow, he came over bravely from midfield to help Worsley, more of a soccer marker than a run stopper, but he appears to be ok, he knows that’s what you sign up for in this game.

Now England kicks off again, hoping to cheer up the home fans. They send it down to Holt again playing it on the ground, now finds Lampard in the penalty area, first touch beats the defender Urlacher and he’s heading to the goal line now slotting it between Woodson and Revis with a streaking Greenwood diving forward and grabs it for the try! Beautiful timing on the run and Greenwood collects on it, placed perfectly by Lampard. Brains and brawn, that’s what this game is all about. The home fans are on their feet again as it’s all level at four.

The Americans kick off now and decide to mix it up, Sproles and Bush linking up on a speedy run down the midfield, now Bush sends it along to Dempsey who enters the handling area, he surveys the two hulking defenders marking him and back heels it to a trailing Donovan, chipping it up in the end zone on the first touch looking for Johnson who hauls it down and gets another try. Well they call him Megatron in the States, the home crowd will be wondering where Optimus Prime is.

Now the English are down again late in the first quarter, what’ll they do now? They’re working it up with little runs on the ground and in the air, Greenwood and Ashton providing solid runs against a mismatched midfield, now sent on the ground to Gerrard in the handling area, controls it, plays a little keep away with Suggs, nutmegs him towards the penalty area, touches forward and leaps over a sliding Reed! Well the referee whistled the play dead before it even ended and Gerrard is telling off Reed for such a reckless challenge. The crowd boos as Reed sees yellow, the video replay showing Gerrard nearly getting a broken leg as he avoids the American. The quarter ends with a testy atmosphere — new football certainly carries its risks.

England set up for a free kick in a dangerous area to start the second period, down 4-8 to the USA. Gerrard looks calm as he and Lampard direct the set piece. Lampard makes a run forward and back heels it to a trailing Gerrard, who sends a long cross into the far side of the end zone, Greenwood and Irving jockeying but here’s Cleverley climbing up and securing the ball for the try! Well that was some Aussie Rules type of play right there, Cleverley using the two to scramble up not for a mark but a try, and it’s all level again here at Wembley.

The Americans go back to their power running game, carving up the midfield going forward. It’s Forte, now McGahee, now Spiller, but he’s brought down just outside the handling area. Lynch picks it up on the play on and bursts forward but the English were there take down Beast Mode, now back to Spiller, to McGahee, brought down once again not too far from touch. It’s played back to Altidore who looks for a quick chip to Johnson, it’s not in the end zone though and he’s brought down for a turnover on the four tackle rule.

Terry receives the short free kick from Baines, turning up and sending it to Gerrard, now Lampard, Greenwood gets free for a short run before turning it back to Gerrard, finding an overlapping Walcott in the handling area, sending up a cross, finding Crouch’s head but he can only direct it through the uprights for a point. He’ll be disappointed he didn’t find goal but England have a narrow lead.

USA start bombing throws and kicks downfield, but England have cleared their lines so far. Now Donovan plays give and go with Altidore, they’re working the left flank, Donovan rainbows it and Spiller has it on pace, the defense swarms but he gives a little kick into open space in the end zone with Gronkowski looking for the try but it’s hastily cleared away by Shawcross. Donovan collects it looks to the penalty area, he finds Dempsey who makes a beautiful run turning a shot towards goal, and it hits the woodwork! Oh my it hit the cross bar but bounces out, not even a point for the Americans as England try to work a quick counter, Lampard collecting it down field but he’s dispossessed by Cherundolo. The Americans slow down the tempo a bit and try to build possession. It looks like it will be a full line change up front for the US in a minute though, looking to put their starters in for a last go before halftime. Altidore loses it into touch as the four running backs and Megatron come in.

England use Greenwood and Ashton to break through the midfield, now laying off to Gerrard, Walcott and Johnson coming forward to support the front three, played to Walcott, now Holt who’s going to have a go from distance…and he strikes it in the top right corner, what a finish as the goal judge signals the first goal in new football, England up 14-8.

The Americans look to answer now, Donovan and Dempsey determined to find a shot as Iverson brings it up the pitch, no one has hands to dispossess him! He finds Donovan on a bounce pass and now he steadies the ball, faking to Altidore and now lofting it up for Johnson who elevates, gets a head on the ball and puts it between the posts! Well how about that, US within one now after Johnson made a beautiful run from the end zone, burning his marker and sneaking behind the back line for an easy header. Give credit to Donovan for the service, but now we know Megatron can use both his hands and his head.

England try to get something going but it’s getting stopped up in the midfield. They have one last go on a long searching pass but it gets knocked away safely and we come to half time with England up by one, 14-13. It was a good half for both teams and fans got an exciting look at the new football revolution.

Fourth Quarter
Well after three quarters it’s 23-22, a try for Ashton and a goal for Lampard followed by a Spiller try and a Dempsey goal. The US have a corner kick to start the last period, to be taken by Donovan. It’s short corner to Altidore, tries to swing a cross into the end zone but its punched away as the English didn’t allow Megatron anywhere near that ball. Sproles catches it and bursts towards the right flank, offloading to Bush who spins around a tackler and grinds his way as players from both sides mob into the maul outside the handling area, the ball gets passed back and Bettis gains ground up left, offloads to Payton who bursts forward, Lescott and Terry attempting to slow down the running back but he’s too strong and he gets the try! US up front 26-23 as the Wembley crowd can’t believe the power that the Americans can unleash.

England waste no time trying to get the lead back. They work it up the midfield on the ground, keeping possession until they find Ashton cutting back across the field. He goes back and forth with Greenwood, occasionally using the dribblle while still trucking through tacklers, now it’s to Lampard in the penalty area, he finds Walcott making a supporting run, beats a defender, steadies the ball next touch left and he’s been clattered into by Butkus! The referee’s pointing to the penalty spot and England have a chance to draw level in the last period. Lampard is the obvious choice to take the penalty, the question is who has the nerve to face him and be a hero. It’s Megatron, Calvin Johnson to play the temporary part of keeper. The goal is narrower than in soccer, but it is also taller, how will Lampard take this penalty!? The ref whistles and Lampard takes his run up, and chips it over the diving Johnson through the goal frame. How smart was that, the hesitation just enough to wrong foot Johnson who watched the ball sail over him to tie the game.

It’s a midfield battle as both teams look to be wearing a bit thin, looks like quite a lot of subsitutes are in line for the final stretch of the game. It’s still level at twenty six but both sides ought to be giving it their all to the end. Beckerman takes a kick-in to start play, gets it to Altidore who then lofts it to Lynch, now running up field with Spiller and Forte for support, back and forth, now they bounce it to Iverson, who dribbles just outside the 25 meter zone. The Americans look to be setting up a play, Dempsey coming forward to get it in the penalty area, passes left as Donovan lets it through to Altidore who has room to shoot, but it’s blocked as Terry and Lescott made sure the ball couldn’t get through, Altidore was calling for a hand ball but it looks clean on the replay. Terry and Lescott play it in the back with Johnson and Cleverly, now they kick a long ball upfield where Greenwood is waiting for the catch. He turns up field now passing it to Lampard, but he turns it over to Bocanegra, now firing it back upfield to Spiller, to Forte who gets wrapped up and offloads it to Donovan, who plays it back to Dempsey, now to Altidore, he lifts it up for Lynch who grabs it but doesn’t have enough room and is pushed into the penalty area conceding a goal kick to England.

Just under five minutes to go in what it is already a classic match to remembered for a long time, Wembley Stadium still packed to see the thrilling end to new football’s first major match. Gerrard throws it in to Cleverley, now back to Gerrard, he finds Ashton who looks to run with good pace, now to Greenwood who isn’t slowing down for anyone as he’s got plenty of space into the handling area, Urlacher and Suggs approaching but Greenwood dishes it back to Ashton who grinds his way to a try! Oh and the fans are going nuts after Greenwood looked like Steve Nash out there with a behind the back pass to Ashton.

The Americans hurry the ball back to midfield, kicking off and starting immediately down the middle with McGahee and Spiller, now Forte, wrapped up and taken down well, Iverson picks up the play on and dribbles further upfield, now he rolls it to Donovan who passes it back to Dempsey who has a go from out side the 25 meter area and gets a quick point for the Americans. It’s now 30-27 England with only a couple minutes plus stoppage time, the Americans need to get a stop and quickly counter.

England are content to play keep away as the whole American team truns up the defensive pressure. Now Greenwood and Ashton take turns gaining a few yards and letting some time elapse on the play on. Lescott gets the next one and passes to Terry who sends it deep down field for a jump ball, but it’s knocked into touch for a US kick-in. We’ve entered stoppage time now with only two minutes added on. Cherundolo passes to Bocanegra, now Donovan comes back to get it, he works his way to some freedom and now he sends it deep down field with a gang of players looking up to catch it, it’s tipped several times but it’s brought down by Spiller who goes to ground, both sides scrambling in the end zone, played on Lynch driving forward but England’s there to smother the run. Played on to Forte but still nothing doing, now Iverson picks it up in the handling area as he’s swarmed he lobs it up into the end zone and…Megatron comes down with it for the try! Oh my goodness what an effort by Johnson, streaking to the ball and rising above Crouch who just couldn’t knock it away and the US are up one.

England frantically bring the ball to midfield, kicking off and sending it up quickly to Ashton who subtly knocks it on to Terry, every man for England pushing forward, Greenwood now getting it, back to Ashton to Cleverley to Lampard who aims between the goal posts and shoots, but it’s blocked as Butkus barrels through the screen set up and gets a hand on the ball. Now Terry’s gone to retrieve the ball but the referee blows his whistle and signals full time! Oh what an end to the game, Wembley Stadium murmuring as England goes down by one to the US, 31-30. The English can’t believe they lost but it’s all celebration for the Americans as they become the first international side to win a game of new football. Calvin Johnson was the man of the match tonight, scoring a goal and two tries, including the game winner off the Hail Mary in stoppage time. Even if the home side did lose tonight the fans here cannot deny that they have seen an impressive sporting performance this evening, and both sides are getting a round of applause after this historic match.

Future headlines
Nakagawa claims first double double in new football (two goals, two tries), but the Spring Boks edge Japan in an extra time thriller in Cape Town.

Spain and the Netherlands play a masterpiece at Camp Nou, adding a twist to their classic game in a hundred-point score fest.

The mark is instituted for the handling area, providing more opportunities for set pieces and quick points.

Joga Bonito has found a way to mesh with tough running as the hosts play their way to the Olympic finals of the new football demonstration competition.

Some recent injuries in club and junior division matches raise questions as to the safety of the game. More cards are shown as the game sheds some of its violence.

New Aussie, a variation of new football and Aussie rules, finds its way to ovals around the world.

Internet fantasy football game usage reaches more than two billion people. Thank god we’ve invented free sustainable energy by now.

NewEFA (haha, get it) champions league final breaks World Idol’s record television and internet streaming viewership, with four billion tuning in to see Spartak Moscow and the Manchester Red Devils at the San Siro.

New cricket and new hockey in development stages.

Manning celebrates hundreth cap as American field general, passing for four tries and assisting two goals in friendly against Argentina.