Spartanball

Spartanball is a Minecraft field sport devised by jphgolf4321 which draws influence primarily from field lacrosse, American football, and Ultimate frisbee. It is played in teams of no fewer than two and no more than four players on a rectangular field with rounded corners measuring 103 blocks long by 57 blocks wide. Players use bows and spectral arrow "balls" in an effort to enter their opponent's crease and score a point.

The Field

A full view of the Spartanball field at Roosevelt Stadium in Laclede.

The Start Line, where each game and possession immediately following a score is launched.

One of the two Mobility Zones on the Spartanball field.

A view of one of the Creases on the field which a team must reach to score a point.

Spartanball is played on a field measuring 103 by 57 blocks featuring several key lines and zones. The perimeter line marks the boundaries of the field of play. Anything beyond that perimeter is considered out of bounds.

At the narrower ends of the field are the creases, which are arc-shaped zones filled in with red sand. The creases serve as the Spartanball equivalent to a goal in that they serve as the objective for the team with possession of the ball. When a team moves the ball into their opponents' crease, they are awarded one point. If the ball lands in the crease on a launch, the receiving team begins their next possession on the start line.

Out in front of the creases is the start line, where each team stands for each launch that takes place in the game. One team launches the ball toward the other team, and the other team receives and gains possession of the arrow.

At midfield are the mobility zones, which are redstone lamps with wooden buttons surrounded by a circle on the ground. Teams may shoot the buttons on the lamp from anywhere outside the circle. If their shot successfully activates the lamp, they retain possession and may move anywhere within the zone before taking their next shot.

Equipment

Each player must carry a bow with no enchantments (other than unbreaking, which is optional), a stack of 64 spectral arrows, a stack of 64 steak or comparable foodstuffs, and a stack of 64 enchanted golden apples. Each player must wear a leather helmet dyed the same color as their teammates', and each team must select a different color. Should this helmet break during the course of a game, a new one must be procured.

Rules

1. Players are expected to honestly self-officiate games, regardless of whether a call benefits or detriments their own team or their opponents.
2. Launches.

2.1. Each game begins with a launch from the visiting team's start line in the direction of the home team's.

2.2. The launching team fires a spectral arrow in the general direction of their opponents, who gain possession from the spot at which the arrow hits the ground.

2.3. The receiving team may begin offensive play as soon as one of their members gains possession.

2.3. Each score is followed by a launch from the scoring team to the team scored upon.

3. Possession.

3.1. Possession is considered to be established initially when a member of the team which receives the first launch picks up the ball (the arrow in the ground).

3.2. When in possession of the ball, a player may not move from the spot at which they gained possession unless they are within one of the two mobility zones.

3.3. Changes in Possession.

3.3.1. If a player successfully passes the ball to a teammate (hits them with a spectral arrow), possession is considered to be transferred to that team member.

3.3.2. If a player misses a pass, the opposing team gains possession at the spot the ball lands.

3.3.3. If an opposing player intercepts a pass, they gain possession where they intercepted the pass.

3.3.4. Out of Bounds.

3.3.4.1. If an errant pass lands out of bounds, the opposing team gains possession on the out-of-bounds line at the spot closest to where the ball lands.

3.3.4.2. If an errant pass lands in or behind the opponent's crease, the opposing team gains possession on their own start line.

4. Scoring.

4.1. Each team must attempt to move the ball into their opponents' crease in order to score points.

4.2. A team cannot score against itself.

4.3. Each game is played until one team scores three points.

4.3.1. The margin of victory to a game must be no less than two.

4.3.2. If a team cannot score three points while maintaining a two-point margin of victory, the game must continue until such a margin can be established.

5. Defense.

5.1. No defender may stand within spleefing distance (close enough to be able to break the block directly beneath) the player in possession of the ball.

5.2. Defenders may not enter a mobility zone while an opposing player has possession within it.