Ball tossing game and method

Abstract

A ball tossing game apparatus includes a playing court defined by a pair of longitudinal lines and a pair of lateral lines. The playing court is divided into two equal halves by a central line and each half of the playing court includes a playing zone. The tossing game apparatus further includes a bar assembly disposed on the playing court which includes a pair of vertical bars arranged at either side of the central line extending vertically upwardly from the playing court; and at least one crossbar arranged horizontally between the pair of vertical bars and arranged above and substantially parallel to the central line of the playing court. A ball is provided for two or more players to toss back and forth over or through the at least one crossbar.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A ball tossing game apparatus comprising:
 a playing court including a court boundary defined by a pair of longitudinal side lines and a pair of lateral end lines, and first and second play zones defined by a lateral central line, splitting the playing court into two equal halves;   a bar assembly positioned at the central line of the playing court, the bar assembly including a pair of parallel vertical bars arranged at opposite sides of the central line and extending vertically upwardly from the playing court, and at least one crossbar arranged horizontally between the pair of parallel vertical bars at a predetermined height and substantially parallel to the central line of the playing court; and   a ball configured to be thrown over the at least one crossbar by a player.   
     
     
         2 . The ball tossing game apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the pair of vertical bars each include a base attached at a bottom thereof for supporting the bar assembly on the playing court. 
     
     
         3 . The ball tossing game apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the bar assembly includes one crossbar arranged horizontally between the pair of parallel vertical bars. 
     
     
         4 . The ball tossing game apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the bar assembly includes a pair of crossbars arranged horizontally between the pair of parallel vertical bars, the pair of crossbars separated by a predetermined distance and defining a space therebetween, and wherein the ball is configured to be thrown through the space between the pair of crossbars. 
     
     
         5 . The ball tossing game apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the ball is made from rubber. 
     
     
         6 . The ball tossing game apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the ball is a size 5 ball. 
     
     
         7 . The ball tossing game apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the ball is a size 3 ball. 
     
     
         8 . The ball tossing game apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second play zones are each separated into a free zone and a closed zone by first and second lateral zoning lines, respectively. 
     
     
         9 . The ball tossing game apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the first and second zoning lines are parallel with the central line. 
     
     
         10 . The ball tossing game apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the free zone is a larger area than the closed zone. 
     
     
         11 . The ball tossing game apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the closed zone of each of the first and second play zones spans from the central line to a respective zoning line of the first and second lateral zoning lines, and wherein the free zone of each of the first and second play zones spans from the respective zoning line to one of the pair of lateral end lines. 
     
     
         12 . A method of playing a ball tossing game, the method comprising the steps of:
 providing a ball tossing game apparatus, the ball tossing game apparatus including:
 a playing court including a court boundary defined by a pair of longitudinal side lines and a pair of lateral end lines, and first and second play zones defined by a lateral central line, splitting the playing court into two equal halves; 
 a bar assembly positioned at the central line of the playing court, the bar assembly including a pair of parallel vertical bars arranged at opposite sides of the central line and extending vertically upwardly from the playing court, at least one crossbar arranged horizontally between the pair of parallel vertical bars at a predetermined height and substantially parallel to the central line of the playing court; and 
 a ball; 
   standing, by at least one first player, in one of the first and second play zones, and standing, by at least one second player, in another of the first and second play zones; and   rallying, by the at least one first player and the at least one second player, the ball back and forth over the at least one crossbar for a predetermined number of rallies, wherein a rally includes:
 simultaneously jumping and tossing, by one of the at least one first player and the at least one second player, the ball over the at least one crossbar, such that the tossing of the ball is completed whilst said one of the at least one first player and the at least one second player is airborne; 
 simultaneously jumping, catching and return tossing, by another one of the at least one first player and the at least one second player, the ball tossed over the at least one crossbar by said one of the at least one first player and the at least one second player, such that the catching and return tossing of the ball is completed whilst said another one of the at least one first player and the at least one second player is airborne; and 
 wherein one rally is completed once the ball is grounded. 
   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein a point is awarded against a player not airborne during the tossing, catching and return tossing steps. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the bar assembly includes one crossbar arranged horizontally between the pair of parallel vertical bars, and wherein the tossing and the return tossing steps include tossing and return tossing the ball over the one crossbar. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the bar assembly includes two crossbars arranged horizontally between the pair of parallel vertical bars, the two crossbars separated by a predetermined distance and defining a space therebetween, and wherein the tossing and the return tossing steps include tossing and return tossing the ball through the space between the two crossbars. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the first and second play zones are each separated into a free zone and a closed zone by first and second lateral zoning lines, respectively, wherein when the ball lands in the closed zone, no point is awarded, and wherein when the ball lands in the free zone, a point is awarded against a player associated therewith. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein when the ball lands outside of the court boundary, one point is awarded against a player who caused the ball to land outside of the court boundary. 
     
     
         18 . A ball tossing game apparatus comprising:
 a playing court including a court boundary defined by a pair of longitudinal side lines and a pair of lateral end lines, and first and second play zones defined by a lateral central line, splitting the playing court into two equal halves, the first and second play zones each separated into a free zone and a closed zone by first and second lateral zoning lines, respectively, the first and second lateral zoning lines parallel with the central line, the closed zone of each of the first and second play zones spanning from the central line to a respective zoning line of the first and second lateral zoning lines, and the free zone each of the first and second play zones spanning from the respective zoning line to one of the pair of lateral end lines;   a bar assembly positioned at the central line of the playing court, the bar assembly including a pair of parallel vertical bars arranged at opposite sides of the central line and extending vertically upwardly from the playing court, and a pair of crossbars arranged horizontally between the pair of parallel vertical bars at a predetermined height and substantially parallel to the central line of the playing court, the pair of crossbars separated by a predetermined distance and defining a space therebetween; and   a ball configured to be thrown through the space between the pair of crossbars by a player.   
     
     
         19 . The ball tossing game apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein the ball is a size 5 ball. 
     
     
         20 . The ball tossing game apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein the ball is a size 3 ball.