Bossaball is going to rule the courts in years to come. It is literally the most modern game in every aspect.
Being the finest blend of Volleyball, Soccer, Gymnastics, and Music, Bossaball offers the very essence of its every entertaining component.
We have attempted our best to bring you a concise-cum-complete guide to help you learn Bossaball thoroughly.
This elaborate Bossaball Players Guide contains the brief history, game object, equipment, and the Rules of Bossaball, including the court dimension, players’ positions, Scoring system, Fouls, Penalties, skills, and tactics to Play bossaball excellently.
Bossaball is played on an inflatable court that contains one hanging net and two trampolines. Its playing manner resembles Volleyball and Soccer but involves gymnastics.
Let’s start exploring this wonderful sport in detail
Bossaball: How to Play Bossaball Rules | Court Makeup & Team Composition, Scoring & Skills [ Players Guide 2022]
Contents
Bossaball is a brand new team sport that came on the scene recently, in 2004, with the efforts of Filip Eyckmans, a Belgian citizen living in Spain. In Bossaball, each team has 3 to 5 players.
Bossaball is played on an inflatable court with a three meters high net in the middle and two trampolines, one on each side of the net, for making one player (at a time) from each team bounce higher while spiking the ball to the opposite side.
The court has varying sizes as per age and proficiency factors. However, a standard Bossaball court is 150 ft long and 90 ft wide.
This sport is a unique blend of volleyball (for its playing pattern and court), soccer (for the use of feet, head, and chest), acrobatics or gymnastics (for flexible moves), and music (for non-stop entertainment).
To score points, the players of a team have to make the ball pass the net and ground it on the opposite playing court after beating opponents.
Players can play by jumping all the way on the inflatable court and hitting the ball with hands (as in volleyball), feet, head, and chest (like soccer) to make it cross the net and fall on the other side of the net.
Each hit is uniquely rewarding. When a player hits the ball “with his hands” and the ball falls on the opponent’s side on the inflatable court, he gets 1 point. But, if the same ball falls inside the trampoline, he gets 3 points.
Conversely, when a player sends the ball to his opponents’ side with the help of his “head, feet or chest,” he gets 3 points for making the ball land on an inflatable court and 5 points for making the ball ground inside of trampoline.
This game is played as best of 3 or 5 sets. A set is won when one team gets 25 points before the opposing team.
Whereas to win a match, a team has to win 2 out of 3 sets or 3 out of 5 sets.
Bossaball, although being a recently invented sport, has acquired phenomenal attention from sports lovers and has made its way in various European, American, and Middle Eastern countries such as Brazil, Argentina, Colombia, Paraguay, Mexico, Turkey, France, Switzerland, Portugal, Czech Republic, Romania, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Netherlands, Spain, Germany, Kuwait, Chile, Ecuador, Venezuela, and Hungary.
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Object of Game
The object of this game is to score 25 points before the opposing team wins a set and to win two sets (in a best of 3 sets) or three sets (in a best of 5 sets) to win a match.
In Bossaball, players from both teams try to hit the ball so that it may cross the net and land on the opponents’ court, just like in Volleyball.
However, its object is not exactly similar to that of Volleyball.
Unlike Volleyball, which only allows the use of hands for hitting the ball, Bossaball permits the use of feet, head, and chest along with hands.
Equipment Needed to Play Bossaball
Bossaball requires a special type of court. The entire court has to be inflatable except the middle net. Apart from its court, it needs 2 trampolines.
Each trampoline is fixed on each side of the court in the middle of the front zone to assist players in high jumps.
Additionally, it requires an airtight rubber ball similar to that of Volleyball or even the ball that is used in Volleyball.
Players of both teams should wear different colored uniforms.
Since the game is played on a soft inflatable court, it does not require wearing shoes or anything else that can lead to the deflation of the court.
Rules of Bossaball; A Detailed Guide
Bossaball game obeys certain rules that make it an organized and competitive sport.
The rules of Bossaball are as unique as this game is. Let’s learn its rules thoroughly.
Rule #1. Court Dimension for Bossaball
The court of Bossaball comes in different sizes due to the component of age or level of players i.e., professional, intermediates, novice, mature, minor, adult, young, and kids.
However, the recommended size of its court is 50 yards (150 ft) long and 30 yards (90 ft) wide. The court has to be bulky enough to ensure jumps.
Players should stay inside the limits of the court to avoid fouls because the area other than this inflated court is out of bounds.
The court is completely inflatable with two Pre-attached trampolines, one trampoline on each side of the court, positioned near each other in the middle of the court and sliced by the net.
These two oppositely placed trampolines are used by only two players (each player from one team) at a time.
Each new player occupies their own trampoline when his team scores a point. Players have to enter the trampoline in a clockwise pattern to ensure the entry of all the players.
There is a hanging net in the middle of the court. This net is 3 meters high. Players must avoid touching this net with any of their body parts to prevent fouls.
Rule #2. Team Composition
Bossaball, being a team sport, is wonderfully awesome;
- The game can be played by 3 to 5 Players
- It can also be played by either males or females or even mixed.
- In a mixed team, you can pick any number of any gender.
- However, you are not bound to select a specific number of males or females.
Rule #3. Position of Players
As for as the position of players is concerned, the following rules apply;
Any one player from each team has to occupy his trampoline all the time.
The remaining players stand outside the trampoline and assist their teammate (the one who is inside the trampoline) by diverting an awkward ball to him with the help of hands, feet, head, or chest.
The outer players act as helpers.
While the inner player acts as the scorer by hitting the ball to the opponent’s court while jumping acrobatically in a continuous manner inside the trampoline.
The sole responsibility of the player holding trampoline is to score points for his team since he is supported by the trampoline to make high jumps and hit the ball forcefully at his opponents. As per rule, every player on the team has to enter the trampoline on alternate turns.
This change of trampoline player is subjected to scoring a point. When a team scores points, the player standing inside the trampoline leaves his place, and his new teammate enters the trampoline.
Note: Each team has to appoint its new player on the trampoline in a clockwise pattern.
Rule #4. Duration of Match
This sport is not time-bound. In contrast, it relies on a specific number of sets and points being scored.
- If a team scores 25 points and is 2 points ahead of its rival team, wins a set.
- To win a match, a team should win more sets than those opponents.
Normally, a Bossaball match may comprise 3 to 5 sets. Each set can be short or long depending on the time taken while scoring a targeted number of points (25).
Rule #5. Bossaball Scoring System
As we have discussed above that;
- The winning target for a set is 25 points, and for a match is either 2 sets (out of 3 sets) or 3 sets (out of 5 sets).
- In a situation when both the teams have scored 24-24 points, the first team to lead by 2 points wins the set.
In Bossaball, points are scored when a team makes the ball land on the opponent’s side after crossing the net.
There are, basically, two ways to make the ball cross the net and fall on another side of the court, and they are as follows:
Using hands (Volleyball Touch)
Players can use their hands to make the ball cross the net and land on the other side of the court by means of hands.
When the ball, thrown/hit with hands, falls on the opponents’ court, outside of the trampoline,1 point is scored.
If it falls inside the trampoline, it offers 3 points to the team which has hit the ball.
Using feet, head, chest, or any other part except hands (Soccer touch)
When a team hits the ball with the foot, head, or chest and that ball manages to land on the opponents’ court (other than trampoline), gets 3 points.
if that ball kisses the inner part of the trampoline, the team gets 5 points.
Rule #7. Fouls and Penalties
A game without rules seems a haphazard and disorderly activity. Whereas a game without fouls and penalties is a mess.
Fouls are the result of a violation of existing rules, and penalties are the punishment for that violation. Thus, they (fouls and penalties) go hand in hand in all the sports on the planet.
Let’s find out what we should avoid while playing Bossaball to prevent fouls and subsequent penalties.
- Players are not allowed to touch the net with any of their body parts. If they touch it, they are considered to have committed a foul.
- Players are not allowed to touch the ball with their hands more than once. They can the ball with their hands only once.
- Players are allowed to touch the ball five times when it is in their possession.
- They have to send the ball to the opposite side as soon as they have touched the ball 5 times. Otherwise, the whole team is said to have committed the foul.
- It is a foul when the ball goes out of bounds.
- It is a foul when the ball collides with the net and falls inside the same side of the court from where it was hit.
Rule #8. Referees in Bossaball
There are usually three referees in a Bossaball match. One is the major referee, and two are his assistants.
The major referee is an in-field referee, “Samba,” standing inside the court just near the net holding post. He is to declare points, legal serves, and fouls.
Whereas the other two assistant referees (sitting outside) have to assist the major referee in decision making.
Their work is to count the number of touches, both; volley touches and soccer touches.
Rule #9. Skills, Techniques, and Instructions
Bossaball probably requires extra skills when compared with Volleyball or Soccer. Volleyball and Soccer are, without any shadow of a doubt, highly challenging and demanding sports, but Bossaball asks for something more than they.
It not only combines both of them (Volleyball and Soccer) but also includes an additional component that is gymnastics.
Let’s find out which skills and techniques are necessary for playing Bossaball.
1. Acrobatics or Gymnastics
This is undoubtedly the most important skill to learn before even thinking of Bossaball.
Since the court of Bossaball is inflatable and added with trampolines, players have to continuously jump and tumble while responding to the shots of opponents.
Interestingly, each player of both the playing teams has to enter a trampoline, which offers extra bounces.
Therefore, it is imperative to strengthen your heart, acquire confidence and improve your moves to comfortably play the game.
2. Use of hands, feet, head, or chest
Unlike Volleyball, this game permits you the use of hands, feet, head, and chest to hit the ball. So, each player must be able to use all these body parts to perfection to score points for his team.
Additionally, each player must be conversant with the rules as to how many times he can use his hands, feet, head, or chest for touching/hitting the ball and how many points he will score when he uses his hands, feet, head or chest for grounding the ball on opponents’ side.
3. Aiming in the Right Direction
As we have discussed, a team can score more points (in a single shot) if its players target a specific area for landing the ball on the opposite side of the court.
When a player hits the ball directly into the opponent’s trampoline, he gets the most points.
However, he should target the vacant area because he has more chance to score a point there.
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Brief History of Bossaball
This sport has no rich history for the reason that this game was introduced recently in 2004 by Filip Eyckmans, a Belgian tennis player and football fan living in Spain for the time being.
How young this sport may be, it has certainly got an impetus in a positive direction. Bossaball got its daunting and bossy name from Brazilian music “Bossa Nova.” Etymologically, the word Bossa means “flair or attitude.”
Probably this is the reason which makes music an integral part of this sport.
Whenever you chance to play or watch a Bossaball, you will surely enjoy its music, which is solely played to boost players’ confidence and entertain its audience.
After five years of its invention, this game rose to prominence, and its first World Cup was played in 2009, in Turkey.
From 2010 to 2011, three European Cups were also held. The second World Cup was held in 2013, Bonaire.
After two years of gape, again European Cup was held in 2014 in the Netherlands. In 2015, on the decennary of this game, the third World Cup was held in Spain.
And the latest major event of Bossaball was held in 2016 in Brazil.
Conclusion
Bossaball, a modernly flamboyant game combining the ingredients of Volleyball, Soccer, Gymnastics, and Music, brings you a hail of entertainment and fun.
It is a game that regales its players as well as spectators. When you play this uniquely delightful game, you will get fully engrossed in its charmingly pleasurable moves and mellifluously majestic music.
We are damn sure that you won’t ask for more when you get addicted to this lively sport!!
