| rocketball1.jpg The Rocketball playing field |
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| Year Introduced | 2008 |
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| Country of Origin | United States |
| Used In | United States United Kingdom |
| Last Used | present |
| Number of Contenders | 2 |
| Number of Gladiators | 2 |
| Time Limit | 60-90 seconds |
Rocketball is an event played in the revival of the television series Gladiators. In this event, two Gladiators attempt to stop contenders from depositing scoring balls in baskets attached to a pole hanging from the ceiling.
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Two Gladiators face off against two contenders, with each Gladiator having an assigned contender. All participants start in a corner of the playing field marked by four posts with a button on top of them. Near each Contender's button is a bucket filled with balls of their color (The buckets and balls are the same ones used in Powerball). In the center of the arena, 20 feet off the ground, is a pole with two baskets attached, Red on top, Yellow on the bottom.
On the whistle, the contenders race to the bucket and grab one of their respective coloured balls, running back to their respective post. By pressing the button on the post, contenders are launched into the air towards the scoring buckets. Contenders receive 1 point for every scoring ball placed in the lower yellow bucket and 2 points for every ball placed in the top red basket.
The Gladiators job is to defend the scoring buckets, blocking contenders out. Kicking and headshots are not allowed. Contenders are only allowed to pick one ball at a time and can only pick up their allocated coloured balls.
In America the event lasts for 60 seconds and in the UK it lasts 90 seconds. And in America the baskets are red and yellow in the UK they are white and yellow.
Years active: 2008(ii)-
Rocketball was the first brand new event to debut in the second series of the 2008 Gladiators revival. The game is similar to Swingshot from the original series of Gladiators, and can be seen as an improvement on the event in that no time is wasted in participants having to climb back up their platforms and no scoring balls being knocked away from the central scoring pole. Interestingly enough, it was rumoured that Swingshot was "ready and waiting" to be unveiled for the second series if needed.
Years active: 2009-
Rocketball was one of three new events that debuted in the second (2009) series of UK Gladiators. Contenders and Gladiators are launched at a much slower rate than in the U.S. The event lasts 90 seconds due to the slower speed of the hoisting mechanism during play.
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