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showdownrules2005
showdownrules2005.docIBSA Showdown Rules
IBSA Showdown Sub-committee
(The rules have been negotiated and approved by the IBSA Showdown Sub-committee, Prague, on 23rd April 2005.
The validity of the rules as of 15th June 2005.)
1. General Rules
Showdown is played by two players. The game is played on a rectangular table with goal pockets at each end, and a centreboard screen. The game is played with bats and a ball, in which stainless steel pellets have been inserted to make it audible. The object of the game is to bat the ball across the table, under the centreboard screen, and into the opponent's goal, while the opponent tries to prevent this from happening.
1.1 The rules of the game are set out below.
1.2 The IBSA Showdown Committee, in consultation with the event organiser shall determine the type of tournament play.
1.3 Should there be any misunderstanding of the IBSA Showdown rules, the English version shall prevail.
These regulations consist of four parts:
A: Rules of play.
B: Equipment Specifications.
C: Definitions Appendix.
D: Table Blueprint Appendix.
A. Rules of Play
2. General Rules
2.1 Officials for each table during Tournament play shall be:
A: Referee (fully sighted)
B: Time-keeper (elapsed time and time-out)
C: Score-keeper (score and number of serves)
The score-keeper and time-keeper may be the same person.
2.2 The Referee will ensure that the rules of the game are observed in all cases. The decision of the Referee is final.
2.3 Play will be started and stopped by the Referee sounding a whistle, one blast to stop or start.
2.4 The winner is the first player to reach eleven (11) having a two (2) point margin over the opponent, up to a score of 16. After that the next point wins, even if the player does not win by a margin of two (2) points.
2.5 During Tournament play, the time allotted for each game will be restricted to fifteen minutes in total time. The time limit will be waived for the final game of the Tournament.
2.6 If the game is played to a time limit, the player that is ahead when the time allotted for the game has expired will be declared the winner. If, when time has expired there is a draw, a coin will be tossed to determine which player will serve, and the next point wins.
2.7 The players will change ends after each game in match play. In the last game of the match, the players will change sides after six (6) points are scored by one person. Or after one half of stop time has expired.
2.8 If only one game is being played, players will change sides after six (6) points are scored by one person. Or after one half of stop time has expired.
2.9 The maximum time limit for changing ends is one (1) minute.
2.10 In changing ends, players will move to their right.
2.11 After finishing each set the communication is allowed only between the player and the coach until the moment when the player reaches the playing position.
2.12 Before the start of the match the player must announce his coach to the referee.
2.13 When changing the sides the player is allowed to refresh himself/herself but must stay close by the playing table (one metre at most).
3. Time Outs
3.1 Each player/team will be entitled to one time-out of forty-five (45) seconds during a game. Time-out requests must be made to the Referee during a break in play. Time-out can be called either by the player or the coach. Only during a time-out can any discussion (except under 2.11) occur between the coach and player.
3.2 The Referee can stop play whenever he/she deems it necessary (e.g. injury, excess noise, etc). The Referee resumes the game with a re-serve.
3.3 The game clock will be stopped during a time-out or referee break in play.
4. Scoring
4.1 Two (2) points are awarded for a goal. When a goal has been scored, the Referee gives a double-whistle signal.
4.2 Players may score points regardless of which player is serving.
4.3 One (1) point is awarded to the opponent of the player who hits the ball into the centreboard screen, and stops its forward motion.
4.4 One (1) point is awarded to the opponent of the player who hits the ball over the centreboard screen.
4.4 One (1) point is awarded to the opponent of the player who touches the ball with any part of his/her body, other than the bat or batting hand, within the playing area.
4.5 One (1) point is awarded to the opponent of the player who bat or batting hand causes the ball to leave the playing area of the table
4.6 One point is awarded to the opponent of the player who traps and stops the ball, and does not resume play within two (2) seconds.
5. Beginning play
5.1 Before the game begins, the Referee, Time-keeper, Score-keeper, the players and the coaches will introduce themselves.
5.2 Before the game begins, the Referee will inspect the opaque eye protection, the bats, any hand protection and the attire worn by the players.
5.3 Prior to the start of play, the Referee will toss a coin. Players will be asked to choose heads or tails. The person guessing correctly will be given the choice of first serve.
5.4 The Referee will roll the ball to the person serving and ask both players if they are
ready to play. When the Referee receives positive acknowledgement from both players, the Referee will signal the commencement of play by blowing the whistle once.
6. Service
6.1 After a whistle signal from the Referee, the player serving the ball must do so within three (3) seconds. If, after the whistle signal from the Referee, the player does not serve the ball within the three-second time limit, the player will lose that serve and one point awarded to the opponent.
6.2 When serving, each swing at the ball will count as one (1) serve.
6.3 Each player will serve five (5) times consecutively, then relinquish service to the opponent. In the deciding set (3rd set) each player will serve once by turns.
6.4 . A served ball must bounce off the sidewall only once, prior to passing under the centreboard screen. When this does not occur, the Referee must stop the play, and the player will be penalised by losing that serve, and one (1) point will be awarded to the opponent.
6.5 The Referee has the option to call a "let", and thereby designate a re-serve if he/she has not been able to properly assess a situation with certainty.
7. Play
7.1 Play must be from the end of the table. A player must not play from the side of the table.
The ball must pass under the centreboard screen to be considered in play.
7.3 The bat must be held in one hand at all times, except when switching hands. An infraction of this rule will result in a one (1) point penalty.
7.4 One (1) point shall be awarded to the opponent of a player who holds his/her non-batting hand within the playing area except when switching hands.
7.5 One (1) point shall be awarded to the opponent of the player who hits the ball and it touches the top of the sidewall and/or the contact board and/or jumps back into the playing area.
8. Dead ball
8.1 The Referee will call a "Dead Ball" and a re-serve when, in his/her opinion, the ball is moving so slowly that the game is being unnecessarily delayed, or a player has lost track of the ball.
9. Penalties
9.1 If, in the opinion of the Referee, the player is intentionally keeping the bat in the goal area or over the goal pocket, the Referee will award one (1) point to the opponent of the player.
9.2 If, in the opinion of the Referee, the player is hooking the ball with their fingers or thumb, the Referee will award one (1) point to the opponent.
9.3 If the player drops the bat, he/she looses one point immediately .
9.4 If, in the opinion of the Referee, a player or coach is guilty of misconduct, such as:
A: Shaking the table in a disturbing way,
B: Scraping the bat in a disturbing way,
C: Talking during play or break in play, (see 2.11 and 3.1)
D: Any other activities judged by the Referee to be in this category.
The following penalties apply:
1st infraction: warning and a re-serve
2nd and subsequent infractions: one (1) point to the opponent and loss of serve.
9.5 In the case of very serious misconduct (e.g. throwing the ball or the bat), the Referee is authorized to immediately penalize the offending player (without having to warn him/her first). The offending player loses the game by a score of 11-0.
9.6 One (1) point is awarded to the opponent of the player who pushes any part of his/her body into the goal area from outside.
10. Attire
10.1 Players must wear a short sleeve shirt, with sleeves not longer than elbow length.
10.2 It is recommended that players wear hand protection. Hand protection must not go beyond six (6) cm past the wrist joint of the player, and not enlarge the hand by more than two (2) cm.
10.3 Players must wear opaque eye protection that completely obscures the player's vision.
10.4 The Referee must wear white so he/she is clearly identifiable as the Referee.
B. Equipment Specifications
11. Bats
Bats are to be constructed of a hard smooth material, with a length of 38 cm.
Maximum Dimensions:
Blade Length: 25 cm
Blade Width: 9 cm
Blade Thickness: 1 cm
Handle Length: 13 cm
Handle Diameter: 4 cm
The blade can be rounded and/or squared (see the technical blue-print of the showdown bat).
12. Balls
Balls are to be made audible by inserting small pieces of metal into them (e.g.: stainless steel metal bearings, bee bees, etc.). Balls are to be six (6) cm. in diameter with a hard, smooth surface.
13. Table
Interior Length: 364-366 centimetres
Interior Width: 121-122 centimetres
Height: (playing deck from floor): 78 centimetres
Sidewall: 14 centimetres
Corners: Interior Radius 23 centimetres
Goal Pocket: (semi-circle): Diameter 30 centimetres
Rectangular vertical hole: 30 x 9-10 centimetres (in endwall)
Tactile boundary line for goal area: Diameter 44 centimetres
Contact Board: 5 centimetres overhang, and no extension back outside of the table.
Centreboard screen: 46 centimetres from deck top
DEFINITIONS APPENDIX
1. Batting Hand: The hand (up to and including six (6) cm. past the wrist joint) that is holding the bat. The batting hand includes hand protection as described in rule 10.2.
2. Centreboard Screen: The rectangular board dividing the playing area in two. The centreboard screen rests on the sidewalls above the playing area.
3. Contact Board: The narrow wooden cap that rests on the top of each of the two end walls.
4. Game: First player to reach eleven (11) by a two (2) point margin over their opponent, up to a score of 16. After that, the next point wins even if a player does not win by a margin of two (2) points.
5. Goal: A goal is scored when the ball passes fully into the goal pocket or the player who conceded a goal pushes the ball intentionally out of the goal pocket with any part of his body and the referee is aware of it.
6. Goal Area: The space between the goal pocket and the tactile boundary line.
7. Goal Pocket: The opening in the horizontal playing deck and the vertical end wall.
8. Match: Any combination of games: for example, best two
(2) out of three (3) games.
9. Playing Area: The space that is defined
A: at the sides - by side walls and end wall
B: at the bottom - by the surface of playing deck.
C: the top of the sidewalls and endwalls are excluded
10. Playing deck: The surface of the horizontal board.
11. Service Turn: A string of five (5) serves.
12. Stop Time: The total accumulated playing time.
Jaroslav Pata
IBSA Showdown Subcommittee Chairman
