User:MagneticSouth/360Ball

1. 360Ball - Sport in a Circle

Court 360ball is a racquet and ball game played between two (singles) or four (doubles) players on a circular walled court. It 	involves bouncing the ball off a circular disc which is horizontally placed in the centre of the court. Play pivots around this disc. There are no separating sides to the court and although play is started from two diagonally oppositely placed serving stations - and the positions of players at the service are dictated - players may rotate around the court as dictated by play.

The object of the game is to hit the ball in such a way that it bounces off the disc and lands within the boundary of the court or alternatively force an error on the part of your opponent(s). Players or teams must use two shots to play the ball before 	bouncing it off the disc. The use of two shots is obligatory. During play, it is common for players to rotate right around the 	court, dive to the ground and perform a wide range of athletic movements in an effort to outplay opponents.

1.1 Terminology The actual act of striking the ball with the racquet is referred to as a “Shot.” The game of 360ball involves striking the ball twice per side; i.e. playing two shots, before the ball is bounced off the disc. These shots are referred to 	as “The Set” and “The Strike”. The act of striking or setting the ball including moving into position and the actual hitting of the ball is referred to as “playing” the shot.

1.1.1 The Shots

The service shot aside, 360ball has two playing shots, in the execution of which each is governed by its own rules namely: “The Set” & “The Strike.” The taking of two shots is mandatory. Players who specialize in setting or striking are often referred to as setters or strikers.

1.1.2.	The Court & Equipment The court can be divided into three parts namely:

The Surface The Surface is the floor that one plays on. This can be made up of a number of materials but will always be known as the surface. The Walls (& Kicker Board) The Walls & Kicker Board (Fig.1) are particular to Court 360ball and are used to “contain” the entire playing surface. The Kicker Board allows the ball to be kept in play for longer by eliminating the ball dying in the corner between the wall and the surface.

The Disc (& Ricochet Board). The Disc & Ricochet Board (Fig.1) is the circular concave Disc placed in the very center of the surface. The Disc is surrounded by the Ricochet Board which is also circular and stands slightly higher than the Disc.

1.1.3.	Serving Stations Serving Stations are 4 disc shaped markings in each quadrant from where one must serve.

1.1.4.	The Racquet The Racquet is the apparatus used to strike the ball when playing a shot.

1.1.5.	The Ball The Ball is the ball, of specific design and density, that is struck by the racquet in order to play the game.

1.1.6.	The Game The Game is the whole period of play to establish a winner. A game is usually, but not restricted to, 3 sets.

2. Court

2.1.	Dimensions

Total Diameter of The court is 9.2m this is made up as follows

Diameter of the Disk is 1.5m The gutter between the Disk and the Ricochet Board is 100mm The Ricochet Board is 500mm wide. The total central playing configuration is thus: 1.5m + (2 x 100mm) + (2 x 500mm) = 2.7m The internal edge of The Quadrants, "The Core Line" is 5.8m in diameter. The Quadrant area or “The Cage" around the edge of the court is 1.7m thick and is divided into 4 equal quarters        “The Cage Quarters”.	The external Circumference of the Court is 28.9m.

2.2. Markings

2.2.1.	The floor and the walls of the court should have distinct colours.

2.2.2.	All of the lines on a court 360 ball must differ distinctly in colour from the colour of the floor and wall.

2.2.3.	The Core Line is a circular line defining the core area of the court and is 5.8 meters in diameter.

2.2.4.	The Quarter Lines are 4 straight lines defining the Cage Quarters of the court. They extend directly away from the centre of the court - from the core line to the court wall - and up to the top of the court wall. These Quarter lines divide the Cage into 4 equal parts.

2.3.	Central Disk and Ricochet Board

2.3.1	The Disc is the central item of playing equipment placed at the epicentre of the court. The whole concept of the game of 360ball revolves around bouncing the ball off the strike surface of the centrally placed concave Disc. The design of the strike surface of the Disc, its dimensions, surface texture and curvature have evolved over time with the purpose of producing a predictable ball bounce thereby fostering the ideal game.

2.3.2.	The Ricochet Board is the apparatus that is placed surrounding the circumference of the disc and augments the game of 360 ball by prolonging its rallies.