BRIEF EXPLANATION OF THE RULES OF THE GAME

The GAME is played on a field by 2 teams having the goals at which they score points being at opposite ends of the field.  The ball is given to one of the teams and the team with the ball is the offense.  The offense players can try to score points by throwing or kicking the ball at their scoring goal from anywhere on the field that is at least 15 yards from their scoring goal; or, they can run the ball to their scoring goal.  Of course, the closer a player is to the scoring goal, the better his/her chance is to hit the goal and score points.  So, the offense tries to move the ball closer to their scoring goal by throwing or kicking the ball to another player or running with the ball.  However, when the player with the ball is touched by a defense player, the player touched cannot run or score, but must throw or kick the ball to another player.  The defense cannot interfere with the throw or kick and cannot intercept the ball as long as the offense keeps its throws or kicks off the ground.  If a second defense player touches the offense player who still has the ball after being touched by a defense player, that offense player must surrender the ball to those 2 defense players, and the defense becomes the offense.

The defense gets the ball and becomes the offense if an offense player makes a kick or throw at their scoring goal (whether they score points or fail to score points on that attempt), if the offense loses the ball out of bounds, if a defense player gets control of a thrown or kicked ball after it hits the ground and before an offense player can touch it, or if 2 defense players touch an offense player that has the ball before he/she can throw or kick it away.

Defense players can only touch the offense player who has the ball, and can only touch him/her on that player's arms, back, or stomach.  They cannot touch the feet, anywhere below the belt line, the chest, the neck, or the head.  Players cannot dive at the ball or another player, try to block a throw or kick, collide with another player, or play in a reckless manner that might result in injuring themselves or another player.

Scoring Points -- Points are scored at the scoring goal which consists of 3 poles and 2 arcs or semicircles out in front of the poles.  One semicircle is 15 yards out from the center pole and the other is 25 yards out.  The 3 poles are lined up on the boundary line in the center of the end of the field.  One pole is a larger pole that can be 8 feet long and from 6 to 13 inches in diameter and is between the 2 other poles.  The 2 side poles are 40 inches apart and equidistant from the center pole.  They can be 8 to 9 feet tall and 3 to 4 inches in diameter.  1 point is scored by carrying the ball into the area inside the 15 yard semicircle or catching a pass thrown from outside the 25 yard semicircle under certain conditions.     1 point is scored by throwing or kicking the ball between the 2 outside poles or that space above them.  2 points are scored if the ball hits the center pole and then goes through the space between the center pole and an outside pole, or after hitting the center pole hits an outside pole.  3 points are scored if the ball hits the center pole and bounces back out on the playing field without hitting  anything else.  An extra 1 point is added to the score if the ball is thrown or kicked from outside the 25 yard semicircle.  In addition, 1 point can be scored if the ball hits an outside pole and then goes through the space between the center pole and the outside pole or first hit the outside pole and then hits the center pole whether or not it then goes in any direction.  No extra point is added for such a kick or throw from outside the 25 yard semicircle.

Moving the ball around the field -- There are 5 to 10 players on the field for each team. The team members move the ball by contact with any part of their body except the head or the neck.  the ball can be thrown, kicked, deflected, carried, or dribbled.  It can be caught and controlled with the hands or the feet.  When a member of the other team touches the player who has the ball in his/her control, that player, if walking or running, must stop, and once stopped can throw or kick the ball to another player.  However, if touched by another opposing player before being able to throw or kick the ball away, the ball is turned over to the opposing team.

Other turnovers occur when the ball goes out of bounds, when there is a penalty, and when a team scores.

Players cannot play in such a way as to endanger themselves or others.  Good sportsmanship, fair play, and the safety of the players are important aspects of the game. The game is designed to limit injuries, and tries to eliminate serious injuries.  Thus, the only touching of another player should be when the player has the ball.

A complete explanation of the game's rules is set out in the Rule Book.