Slamball, something new

As I've become a couch potato recently, I've found out a lot of fancy things in this world. Wao, just like the slogan of Discovery Channel, the world is really amazing! Among them, something that really triggered me to blog about is Slamball. Interesting enough, my bro also wanted to blog about it, just that I got the computer first. Lolx...

"Imagine a mash-up sport combining the best of basketball, football, hockey and gymnastics and you get slamball."

Does it intrigue you? Haha, let's find out what it is, shall we?

By the name itself tells you that it must somehow related with basketball. Indeed, it just seems to be another variation of basketball beside street ball and and1. But the concept goes a bit further, to create a combination of sports that approximated a real-life video game and was brought out by Mason Gordon. With some assistances, the first exhibition series was held in 2001 and since then, Slamball continues to thrive, though there is no international governing body for Slamball as a sport.

The Slamball court is not much different than a basketball court, just instead of hard surface like hardwood(indoor) and asphalt(outdoor), a bed of spring flooring is used to create a shock absorbent playing surface. Besides, a set of four trampoline is placed under both rims and the court is surrounded with an 8 ft (2.4 m) plexi-glass wall much like in a hockey rink.

Top viewWithout three-point line(added in later)

So that is the court. With the trampoline, everyone can reach an inhuman height so normally they slam to score. Just like basketball, almost without shooting and lay up. Each team contains four players and can divide into three different positions:

• Handler: This would be the primary ball handler on the team. It is his job to run the offense and organize the other members while controlling the flow of the game. Typically he would be responsible to set up the gunners to attack the basket while adding in his own offensive threat.

• Gunner: The primary scorer on the team. A team's gunner will be the player on the team that will attack the basket and finish plays against the opposing teams' stopper, comparable to a forward or wing player in soccer or hockey.

• Stopper: This position is for the primary defensive player. He trails the offense only when necessary, and he protects the rim from attacking players by using himself as a shield. (equivalent to a goalkeeper)

A gunner(yellow) & a stopper(green)

Scoring methods also mainly follow basketball, a successful score can be worth two points if the ball is thrown through the hoop without the offensive player touching the hoop. Slam dunks are scored three points. All shots outside three-point arc are worth three points as well.
Like basketball, four quarters but each quarters only 5 minutes. Game started with a "bounce-off" at the center court and each offending team is given 20 seconds shot clock, which means a team can't hold the ball longer than 20 seconds to ensure the game is going on smoothly. Teams change ends for the second half. A tie score at the end of regulation time is settled by a series of "face offs".

Full body contact is allowed within certain limitations. A player can be hit or "checked" at any time when he is not in possession of the ball. If the player has received the ball, he cannot be hit until he dribbles the ball; at that point he is known as "live" or "hot" and can be hit. Players cannot be hit or checked in the back; doing so results in a foul.

Players will be fouled out if they commited three personal fouls in a game; two technical fouls (fighting, arguing vehemently against an official or any unsportmanlike conducts) results in disqualification. In the case a foul is called, the player who has committed the foul, will then take position on the baseline of the lower trampolines while the player who was offended will take up offensive position at center court. This is called a 'face-off'. Upon a signal from the referee the offensive player will be free to mount an attack at the basket, which the defender now must endeavor to stop. The defender must enter the lower trampoline only after bouncing in from the side trampoline. If the offensive player is successful, then points will be awarded depending on the shot converted and the offensive players' team will retain possession of the ball.

Hmm, i think that's all bout Slamball. Haha, as a basketball fans, this concept really burns me up again, wondering if I got a chance to try this. Yet, I still prefer basketball more than any thing else. But with the condition I am, it is really hard for me to play without worries.

By the way, I'm getting much better now, though bed time still remains some kind of disaster to me (can't find a comfortable position) and raining days make the pain worse. With the progression, most slightly I can get back to normal (write, wash up dishes and some light houseworks) in 2 or 3 more weeks, so still manage to go back to school in time but have to take my piano exam next march (thought that I will be free from it after this August).

p.s. will post my surgery experience next so stay tune!