Speedball (American)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
For other uses of the term speedball, see Speedball (disambiguation).
Speedball is a code of football, which was devised by combining elements of American football and soccer.
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[edit] History of Speedball
Speedball was invented by Elmer D. Mitchell at the University of Michigan in the early 1920s. There is a coincidental resemblance to Gaelic football. Speedball is mostly played as part of a high school's P.E. curriculum. However, there are no well-known professional or amateur leagues. There are two variations: the outdoor game and the indoor game.
[edit] Field of play
Outdoors, the game can either be played on a soccer field or football field using the goal posts as markings for the goal. The area behind the goal posts is the 'endzone', where scoring takes place. Out-of-bounds markings on either field are also used in the same way they would be in soccer or football.
Indoors, the game is usually played on a basketball court using floor hockey or indoor soccer goals. The ball is allowed to bounce off the walls and still remain in play. Most of the rules for outdoor and indoor speedball are the same save the out-of-bounds rules.
[edit] Rules
There are two ways to play the ball. The player can either play the ball with his feet like in soccer, or he can kick the ball up to himself with his feet and pass to his teammates. Teammates can pass between each other to move down the court. A single person can move the ball, but he has to dribble it with his hands as he runs. On the other hand, the goalie is allowed to pick up the ball in the penalty area and run around inside that area.
Play usually begins with a kickoff by one of the teams, the ball having to travel one full circumference before the offense may pick it up. Play can also be started with a jumpball instead of a kickoff. Jumpballs are also used when it can't be decided to whom the ball belongs.
In outdoor speedball, when the ball goes over the end line without scoring or over one of the two sidelines, the ball can either be passed or kicked back into play. Any kind of maneuver to play the ball in is allowed, unlike soccer.
[edit] Scoring
Different sources give different information about scoring in speedball:
1. One way to score is by passing it to a teammate who is standing behind the endline. 1 point.
2. Another way to score is by kicking the ball into the goal. 2 points (3 points in some sources).
These other ways of scoring are different between sources:
3. Kicking the ball through the uprights on top of the goal. 2 points. - This scoring method is the most common among sources.
4. Throwing the ball through the net. 2 points. - This scoring method is much less common.
5. A penalty kick into the net. 1 point. - This scoring method shows up occasionally.
6. Kicking the ball into the field goals. 3 points. -
7. Running the ball into the endzone. 7 points.
