Method of playing a game, Triball, and an apparatus

Abstract

An apparatus defining a playing area and a method of playing a new fast paced soccer like game, Triball. Triball has elements of basketball, soccer, hockey and indoor soccer and only requires two players per team. Unlike soccer or hockey, no goalie is required in Triball. Because only three players are needed for each team, it is easier to organize a game of Triball. The apparatus is arranged in a kit for easy shipping and assembly and has new features such as a raised and integral goal area, a completely enclosed playing area, netting for rebounding, and corner panels providing a curved rebounding surface. These features enhance the pace of the game compared a traditional soccer game.

1 . An apparatus for playing a ball game comprising a playing area comprising a playing surface; 
 said playing surface having a generally planar surface and two short sides and two long sides,    said playing surface and said two short sides and two long sides forming a generally rectangular shape,    said playing surface having two short walls and two long walls wherein each of said short walls corresponds to and extends upward a certain height from each of said two short sides, and each of said long walls corresponds to and extends upward a certain height from each of said two long sides,    wherein a plurality of support portions attach to and support said two short side walls and said two long walls,    wherein said two short walls, said two long walls, said two short sides, said two long sides, said plurality of support portions and said playing surface join together to form a playing area, wherein each short wall having an elevated goal area located a certain distance from the generally planar surface of said playing surface and located another certain distance from the intersection of one of said two short walls and one of said two long walls, and said a certain distance and said another certain distance is the same for each elevated goal area.    
   
   
       2 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising wherein said two short walls, two long walls, two short sides, two long sides and 
 said playing surface join together to form an enclosed playing area.    
   
   
       3 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising wherein said generally planar surface of said playing surface having a range of elasticity that allows for a ball to bounce.  
   
   
       4 . The apparatus of  claim 3  wherein said range of elasticity allows said ball to bounce from said generally planar surface into said elevated goal area.  
   
   
       5 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising a first corner portion having a certain radius, said first corner portion being located between and joining a short wall and a long wall.  
   
   
       6 . The apparatus of  claim 5  further comprising a second corner portion, a third corner portion and a fourth corner portion, wherein said second corner portion, said third corner portion and said fourth corner portion each having a certain radius which is equal to the radius of said first corner portion, each said corner portion being located between and joining a short wall and a long wall.  
   
   
       7 . The apparatus of  claim 6  further comprising said elevated goal area having a generally rectangular shape and a depth defining an empty space of sufficient size to allow a ball to travel through and out of said playing area.  
   
   
       8 . The apparatus of  claim 7  further comprising wherein said elevated goal area is integral to each of said two short walls.  
   
   
       9 . The apparatus of  claim 2  further comprising wherein rebounding means is attached to and extends upwards a distance from said two short walls and said two long walls.  
   
   
       10 . The apparatus of  claim 9  further comprising wherein said generally planar surface of said playing area having a range of elasticity that allows for a ball to bounce from said generally planar surface into said elevated goal area.  
   
   
       11 . The apparatus of  claim 9  further comprising a first corner portion having a certain radius, 
 said first corner portion being located between and joining a short wall and a long wall.    
   
   
       12 . The apparatus of  claim 11  further comprising a second corner portion, a third corner portion and a fourth corner portion, wherein said second corner portion, said third corner portion and said fourth corner portion each having a certain radius which is equal to the radius of said first corner portion, each said corner portion being located between and joining a short wall and a long wall.  
   
   
       13 . The apparatus of  claim 12  further comprising an elevated goal area having a generally rectangular shape and a depth defining an empty space of sufficient size to allow a ball to travel through and out of said playing area.  
   
   
       14 . An apparatus for playing a ball game comprising a playing area comprising a playing surface, 
 said playing surface having a generally planar surface and two short sides and two long sides,    said playing surface and said two short sides and two long sides forming a generally rectangular shape,    said playing surface having two short walls and two long walls wherein each of said short walls is assembled from a plurality of panels, said panels corresponding to and extending upward a certain height from each of said two short sides, and    each of said long walls is assembled from a plurality of panels, said panels corresponding to and extending upward a certain height from each of said two long sides,    wherein a plurality of support portions attach to and support said plurality of panels,    wherein said plurality of panels, plurality of support portions and said playing surface join together to form a playing area, wherein each short wall having an elevated goal area located a certain distance from the generally planar surface of said playing surface and located another certain distance from the intersection of one of said two short walls and one of said two long walls, and said a certain distance and said another certain distance is the same for each elevated goal area.    
   
   
       15 . The apparatus of  claim 14  further comprising wherein said plurality of panels, two short sides, two long sides and said playing surface join together to form an enclosed playing area.  
   
   
       16 . The apparatus of  claim 14  further comprising wherein said generally planar surface of said playing surface having a range of elasticity that allows for a ball to bounce from said generally planar surface into said elevated goal area.  
   
   
       17 . The apparatus of  claim 14  further comprising a first corner panel having a certain radius, said first corner panel joining a panel of a short wall and a panel of a long wall.  
   
   
       18 . The apparatus of  claim 17  further comprising a second corner panel, a third corner panel and a fourth corner panel, all said corner panels having a certain radius which is equal to the radius of said first corner panel and said second corner panel, said third corner panel, and said fourth corner panel each joining a panel of a short wall and a panel of a long wall.  
   
   
       19 . The apparatus of  claim 18  further comprising said elevated goal area having a generally rectangular shape and a depth defining an empty space of sufficient size to allow a ball to travel through and out of said playing area.  
   
   
       20 . The apparatus of  claim 19  further comprising wherein said elevated goal area is integral to each of said two short walls.  
   
   
       21 . The apparatus of  claim 15  further comprising wherein rebounding means is attached to a plurality of post and said rebounding means extends upwards a certain distance from said plurality of panels.  
   
   
       22 . The apparatus of  claim 21  further comprising wherein said generally planar surface of said playing area having a range of elasticity that allows for a ball to bounce from said generally planar surface into said elevated goal area.  
   
   
       23 . The apparatus of  claim 22  further comprising a first corner panel having a certain radius, 
 said first corner panel joining a panel of a short wall and a panel of a long wall.    
   
   
       24 . The apparatus of  claim 23  further comprising a second corner panel, a third corner panel and a fourth corner panel, all said corner panels having a certain radius which is equal to the radius of said first corner panel and said second corner panel, said third corner panel, and said fourth corner panel each joining a panel of a short wall and a panel of a long wall.  
   
   
       25 . The apparatus of  claim 24  further comprising said elevated goal area having a generally rectangular shape and a depth defining an empty space of sufficient size to allow a ball to travel through and out of said playing area.  
   
   
       26 . The method of playing a game comprising the steps of: 
 a. providing a playing area of a rectangular configuration having a predetermined length and width having a resilient playing surface;    b. providing a plurality of side wall and end wall having a certain height that are supported by support portions and with the playing area form an enclosed rectangular playing area;    c. dividing the playing area lengthwise into two halves by a middle line;    d. marking the middle line;    e. providing a middle point located at a mid point of the middle line;    f. marking the middle point;    g. providing a goal area on each end wall of the rectangular playing area;    h. providing a small area on the playing surface and located near each said goal area of said each end wall;    i. marking a perimeter of the small area;    j. providing a ball;    k. placing a ball on the middle point;    l. providing a team and an opposing team, each said team having a preselected number of player and assigning each said team and said opposing team to a different one of the two halves of the playing area;    m. providing a referee;    n. providing a time keeping means;    o. establishing a duration of the game as consisting of two halves;    p. starting the game by said referee signaling the start of game; upon said signal at least one of a player of each said team and said opposing team moving to posses the ball;    q. having said at least one of a player attempting to cause the ball to enter an opposing team goal area;    r. having the team not in possession of the ball attempting to prevent entry of the ball into its goal area; and    s. having the team not in possession of the ball attempting to acquire possession of the ball, and if successful at acquiring the ball, having at least one of a player from said team attempting to cause the ball to enter an opposing team goal area;    t. having the referee keeping track of the scoring of the number of goals scored by each team,    u. starting each half of the game by placing the ball on the middle point;    v. determining a winner of the game as the team with the most goals scored;    w. determining a winner of the game if each team has the same number of goals scored or each team has no goals scored, by having each team taking two consecutive penalty kicks, the team having a higher amount of goals scored by penalty kicks declared the winner by the referee, if the teams have the same number of goals scored by penalty kicks, each team will take one penalty kick until one team outscores the other team, the team with more penalty kick goals being declared the winner.    
   
   
       27 . The method of playing a game of  claim 26  further comprising the steps of: 
 penalizing a player for committing a foul as determined by the referee to be careless, reckless or excessive use of force wherein said foul is selected from the group consisting of kicking or attempting to kick an opponent, tripping or attempting to trip an opponent, jumping at an opponent, charging at an opponent, striking or attempting to strike at an opponent, pushing an opponent;    awarding a free kick to an opposing team;    a defending team positioning the ball on said perimeter of the small area;    wherein said players of the defending team must be on their half of the playing area.    
   
   
       28 . The method of playing a game of  claim 26  further comprising the steps of: 
 penalizing a player for committing a foul as determined by the referee wherein said foul is selected from the group consisting of tackling an opponent to gain possession of the ball, making contact with an opponent before touching the ball, holding an opponent, spitting at an opponent, intentionally handling the ball, playing in a dangerous manner, impeding the progress of an opponent, attempting to score a goal with any part of a players body being inside the small area, dribbling through the small area;    awarding a free kick to an opposing team;    a defending team positioning the ball on said perimeter of the small area;    wherein said players of the defending team must be on their half of the playing area.    
   
   
       29 . The method of playing a game of  claim 26  further comprising the steps of: 
 penalizing a player for an occurrence of any of the following event as determined by the referee wherein said event is selected from the group consisting of a defending player standing in the small area, a defending player blocking a kick with any part of said defending player's body located within said small area, an intentional hand-ball, the game ends in a tie;    awarding a penalty kick to an opposing team;    positioning the ball on the middle point;    wherein all said players are located on the half of the playing area not having the goal area of said opposing team.    
   
   
       30 . The method of playing a game of  claim 26  further comprising the steps of: 
 penalizing a player for an occurrence of any of the following event as determined by the referee wherein said event is selected from the group consisting of committing unsporting behavior, showing dissent by word or action, persistently infringing the rules of the game, delaying restarting of play, failing to respect the required distance when play is restarted with a free kick, entering the playing area without obtaining the referee's permission, deliberately leaving the playing area without obtaining the referee's permission;    showing the player a yellow card; and    removing the player from the playing area for thirty seconds or until one goal is scored against the team of the player who was penalized.    
   
   
       31 . The method of playing a game of  claim 26  further comprising the steps of: 
 penalizing a player for an occurrence of any of the following event as determined by the referee wherein said event is selected from the group consisting of committing serious foul play, committing violent conduct, spitting at an opponent or any other person, denying the opposing team a goal or an obvious goal scoring opportunity by deliberately handling the ball with hands, denying an obvious goal-scoring opportunity to an opponent, moving towards the player's goal area by an offense punishable by a free kick or a penalty kick, using offensive or insulting or abusive language and/or gestures, receiving a second yellow card in the same match;    showing the player a red card; and    removing the player from the playing area,    inserting a substitute player in place of the player receiving the red card after the earlier of the occurrence of one minute passing or one goal being scored against the team of the player who was penalized,    wherein said player who was shown the red card will not be able to play the next game.    
   
   
       32 . The method of playing a game of  claim 26  further comprising the steps of: 
 all said player avoiding entering the small area; and    penalizing said player that enters the small area.    
   
   
       33 . The method of playing a game of  claim 26  further comprising the steps of: 
 providing a coach for each said team;    each said team having a substitute player, said substitute player with the permission of the referee and after a stop in play or after a goal has been scored may enter the game relieving one of the starting player;    said starting player who was relieved by the substitute player now assumes a roll of substitute player and may relieve one of the players on the playing area;    the coach with the permission of the referee is allowed to manage which player are on the playing area playing the game and which player are substitute player.    
   
   
       34 . The method of playing a game of  claim 26  further comprising the steps of: 
 all said player adhering to rules of the game;    all said player not having an item selected from the group consisting of watch, bracelet, necklace, earring and jewelry.    
   
   
       35 . The method of playing a game of  claim 34  further comprising the steps of: 
 all said player wearing indoor shoes, shorts, and t-shirt.    
   
   
       36 . The method of playing a game of  claim 35  further comprising the steps of: 
 any of said player may wear any item selected from the group consisting of shin guard, knee guard and protective cup.    
   
   
       37 . A method of playing a ball game comprising the steps of 
 providing an apparatus for playing said ball game,    providing a ball,    providing two teams, each team having two players and one substitute player,    players moving towards the ball and competing to control the ball with their body, other than hands, as is known in the game of soccer,    providing a referee or a game leader,    providing a time keeping means,    establishing a duration of the game as consisting of two halves;    providing a means for determining time lost due to play stopping,    starting the game with a signal from the referee,    providing first and second teams of players alternately playing offense and defense and having as objectives (i) offensively to move the ball into the defenders' goal area whereby movement of said ball is accomplished by a player passing said ball to another player, and/or shooting the ball through the goal area, and (ii) defensively stopping movement of the ball by the offensive team toward the defenders' goal area by blocking a player of said offensive team who is in possession of the ball, acquiring possession of the ball from the offensive team, disrupting a pass between players on the offensive team and/or disrupting an attempt by a player on the offensive team to shoot the ball through the goal area;    players offensively moving the ball by selecting from a group consisting of passing the ball to a team member, shooting on goal, rebounding the ball off of a wall, rebounding the ball off of a net, rebounding the ball off another player, and rebounding the ball off of a playing surface,    referee restarting play after goal is scored with a signal,    players committing a foul or a penalty and referee enforcing rules of the game.    
   
   
       38 . A method of playing a ball game of  claim 37  wherein said apparatus for playing said ball game comprises a playing surface, 
 said playing surface having a generally planar surface and two short sides and two long sides,    said playing surface and said two short sides and two long sides forming a generally rectangular shape,    said playing surface having two short walls and two long walls wherein each of said short walls corresponds to and extends upward a certain height from each of said two short sides, and each of said long walls corresponds to and extends upward a certain height from each of said two long sides,    wherein a plurality of support portions attach to and support said two short side walls and said two long walls,    wherein said two short walls, said two long walls, said two short sides, said two long sides, said plurality of support portions and said playing surface join together to form a playing area, wherein each short wall having an elevated goal area located a certain distance from the generally planar surface of said playing surface and located another certain distance from the intersection of one of said two short walls and one of said two long walls, and said a certain distance and said another certain distance is the same for each elevated goal area.    
   
   
       39 . A method of playing a ball game of  claim 38  wherein each said half comprises five minutes as determined by said time keeping means; 
 playing a first half of the game;    adding time lost due to play stopping immediately after the end of each five minute half;    providing a rest period of one minute in between each said half;    playing a second half of the game; and    adding time lost due to play stopping immediately after the end of the second half of the game.    
   
   
       40 . A method of playing a ball game of  claim 26  wherein said apparatus for playing said ball game comprises a playing area comprising a playing surface, 
 said playing surface having a generally planar surface and two short sides and two long sides,    said playing surface and said two short sides and two long sides forming a generally rectangular shape,    said playing surface having two short walls and two long walls wherein each of said short walls is assembled from a plurality of panels, said panels corresponding to and extending upward a certain height from each of said two short sides, and    each of said long walls is assembled from a plurality of panels, said panels corresponding to and extending upward a certain height from each of said two long sides,    wherein a plurality of support portions attach to and support said plurality of panels,    wherein said plurality of panels, plurality of support portions and said playing surface join together to form a playing area, wherein each short wall having an elevated goal area located a certain distance from the generally planar surface of said playing surface and located another certain distance from the intersection of one of said two short walls and one of said two long walls, and said a certain distance and said another certain distance is the same for each elevated goal area.    
   
   
       41 . A method of playing a ball game of  claim 40  wherein each said half comprises five minutes as determined by said time keeping means; 
 playing a first half of the game;    adding time lost due to play stopping immediately after the end of each five minute half;    providing a rest period of one minute in between each said half;    playing a second half of the game; and    adding time lost due to play stopping immediately after the end of the second half of the game.    
   
   
       42 . A method of playing a ball game comprising the steps of: 
 a) providing a playing area comprising two short walls and two long walls;    b) providing a ball having the general shape of a number three soccer ball;    c) providing a first goal area on one of said two short walls;    d) providing a second goal area on another one of said two short walls;    e) providing rebounding means enclosing said playing area;    f) providing a first team of players having as an objective to move said ball into the second goal area wherein movement of said ball is accomplished by a player optionally 1) running and making no-hands contact with the ball, 2) passing said ball to another player, 3) rebounding the ball off of a wall, 4)rebounding the ball off of a net, or 5) kicking said ball through said second goal area;    g) providing a second team of players having as an objective to defend said second goal area by stopping the movement of the ball by said first team toward said second goal area, whereby said movement may be stopped by players of said second team by either optionally 1) disrupting a pass from one player of said first team to another player of said first team, 2) disrupting an attempt by said first team to kick the ball through said second goal area; 3)stealing the ball from a player of the first team;    h) said second team of players having as an objective to move said ball into the first goal area wherein movement of said ball is accomplished by a player optionally 1) running and making no-hands contact with the ball, 2)passing said ball to another player, 3) rebounding the ball off of a wall, 4)rebounding the ball off of a net, or 5) kicking said ball through said first goal area;    i) said first team of players having as an objective to defend said first goal area by stopping the movement of the ball by said second team toward said first goal area, whereby said movement may be stopped by players of said first team by either optionally 1) disrupting a pass from one player of said second team to another player of said second team, 2) disrupting an attempt by said second team to kick the ball through said first goal area; 3)stealing the ball from a player of the second team;    j) providing a referee;    k) providing a predetermined time for the game wherein the time is divided into two halves;    l) said first team having as an objective to score more goals than said second team;    m) said second team having as an objective to score more goals than said first team;    n) said teams while playing the game switching between offense and defense, repeating steps f), g), h) and i) until the predetermined time has ended;    o) determining a winner of the game as one of said first team and said second team with the most goals;    p) determining a winner of the game if each team has the same number of goals scored or each team has no goals scored, by having each team taking two consecutive penalty kicks, the team having a higher amount of goals scored by penalty kicks declared the winner by the referee, if the teams have the same number of goals scored by penalty kicks, each team will take one penalty kick until one team outscores the other team, the team with more penalty kick goals being declared the winner.    
   
   
       43 . The method of playing a game of  claim 42  further comprising the steps of: 
 penalizing a player for committing a foul as determined by the referee to be careless, reckless or excessive use of force wherein said foul is selected from the group consisting of kicking or attempting to kick an opponent, tripping or attempting to trip an opponent, jumping at an opponent, charging at an opponent, striking or attempting to strike at an opponent, pushing an opponent;    awarding a free kick to an opposing team;    a defending team positioning the ball on said perimeter of the small area;    wherein said players of the defending team must be on their half of the playing area.    
   
   
       44 . The method of playing a game of  claim 42  further comprising the steps of: 
 penalizing a player for committing a foul as determined by the referee wherein said foul is selected from the group consisting of tackling an opponent to gain possession of the ball, making contact with an opponent before touching the ball, holding an opponent, spitting at an opponent, intentionally handling the ball, playing in a dangerous manner, impeding the progress of an opponent, attempting to score a goal with any part of a players body being inside the small area, dribbling through the small area;    awarding a free kick to an opposing team;    a defending team positioning the ball on said perimeter of the small area;    wherein said players of the defending team must be on their half of the playing area.    
   
   
       45 . The method of playing a game of  claim 42  further comprising the steps of: 
 penalizing a player for an occurrence of any of the following event as determined by the referee wherein said event is selected from the group consisting of a defending player standing in the small area, a defending player blocking a kick with any part of said defending player's body located within said small area, an intentional hand-ball, the game ends in a tie;    awarding a penalty kick to an opposing team;    positioning the ball on the middle point;    wherein all said players are located on the half of the playing area not having the goal area of said opposing team.    
   
   
       46 . The method of playing a game of  claim 42  further comprising the steps of: 
 penalizing a player for an occurrence of any of the following event as determined by the referee wherein said event is selected from the group consisting of committing unsporting behavior, showing dissent by word or action, persistently infringing the rules of the game, delaying restarting of play, failing to respect the required distance when play is restarted with a free kick, entering the playing area without obtaining the referee's permission, deliberately leaving the playing area without obtaining the referee's permission;    showing the player a yellow card; and    removing the player from the playing area for thirty seconds or until one goal is scored against the team of the player who was penalized.    
   
   
       47 . The method of playing a game of  claim 42  further comprising the steps of: 
 penalizing a player for an occurrence of any of the following event as determined by the referee wherein said event is selected from the group consisting of committing serious foul play, committing violent conduct, spitting at an opponent or any other person, denying the opposing team a goal or an obvious goal scoring opportunity by deliberately handling the ball with hands, denying an obvious goal-scoring opportunity to an opponent, moving towards the player's goal area by an offense punishable by a free kick or a penalty kick, using offensive or insulting or abusive language and/or gestures, receiving a second yellow card in the same match;    showing the player a red card; and    removing the player from the playing area,    inserting a substitute player in place of the player receiving the red card after the earlier of the occurrence of one minute passing or one goal being scored against the team of the player who was penalized,    wherein said player who was shown the red card will not be able to play the next game.    
   
   
       48 . The method of playing a game of  claim 42  further comprising the steps of: 
 all said player avoiding entering the small area; and    penalizing said player that enters the small area.    
   
   
       49 . The method of playing a game of  claim 42  further comprising the steps of: 
 providing a coach for each said team;    each said team having a substitute player, said substitute player with the permission of the referee and after a stop in play or after a goal has been scored may enter the game relieving one of the player of each said team;    said player of each said team who was relieved by the substitute player now assumes a roll of substitute player and may relieve one of the players on the playing area;    the coach with the permission of the referee is allowed to manage which player are on the playing area playing the game and which player are substitute player.    
   
   
       50 . The method of playing a game of  claim 42  further comprising the steps of: 
 all said player adhering to rules of the game;    all said player not having an item selected from the group consisting of watch, bracelet, necklace, earring and jewelry.    
   
   
       51 . The method of playing a game of  claim 50  further comprising the steps of: 
 all said player wearing indoor shoes, shorts, and t-shirt.    
   
   
       52 . The method of playing a game of  claim 51  further comprising the steps of: 
 any of said player may wear any item selected from the group consisting of shin guard, knee guard and protective cup.