Topend Sports Logo

Loofball

Loofball is a relatively new sport, created by Winner Vidiyeno Matahula from Nigeria in 2017. Loofball is a non-contact sport played on a distinctive rectangular court in which two teams of five players each compete by throwing of a specially designed hairy ball (also called Loofball) over the net, with intent to down the ball in the opposition half subject to set rules and regulations.

The sport is played either indoor or outdoor, and combines some elements of Volleyball and Handball. It is a 'catch-and-throw' type of sport in which only the hand and forearm are allowed to touch the ball. 



OBJECT OF THE GAME 

The object of loofball is to launch the ball over the net such that it lands on the appropriate zone or section of the court, and prevent the same effort by the opposition. A play (or combat) begins with a serve by launching the ball over the net and into the opposition's home zone. A team scores a point when the ball lands on the appropriate zone or section of the opposition's court, or when the opposition fails to return the ball by committing a fault. 

The basic skills required in the game are the ability to defend or catch the ball firmly with the hands and the ability to launch it over the net during combat or service. A game plan regarding positioning, movement and tricks is also of great importance for a team to win a combat. 

A match is played for best two out of three sets. In other words, a match is won by the first team to win two sets. The first two sets are played for 25 points whereas the third set is played for 20 points. Each set must be won with a 2 point advantage. loofball logo

PHILOSOPHY OF THE GAME 

Loofball is an exciting, recreational and competitive sport created against the backdrop of the societal ills and violence happening in the 21st century to promote peace and peaceful coexistence, through active participation of youths in sports and sports development. Our goal is to propagate the game of Loofball from the grass roots to national and international levels, as we seek to develop and establish a fun sports activity that will advance the cause of peace and promote growth and development. 
The physiological, social and moral objectives of the game include; 

Loofball also offers numerous mental and emotional benefits, and is suitable for children, adults and old folk alike. The unique and dynamic nature of the game renders it one of the most attractive and promising games in emerging contemporary sports.

BASIC GAME RULES 

Team Members:  There are five players per team.  

Ball Contact: 

Positioning: 

Service:

In Ball: 

Out Ball: 

When a serve or 'home shot' lands on a part of the court other than the opposition's home zone, it is said to be an 'out ball'. A 'fore shot' is also 'out' when it lands on a part of the court other than the opposition's home zone and the diagonally opposite section of the fore zone. An 'out ball' is a scoring by the receiving team. 

Launching The Ball: 

Movement: 

ERRORS/FAULTS 

Any error or fault committed is a scoring by the other team. The most possible and recognized faults are as follows; 

GAMEPLAY 

Officiating: The officiating crew may comprise a referee (also called the umpire), two or four line judges, a scorer and an assistant scorer.   

Coin Toss: At the start of a match, the teams represented by their captains take part in a coin toss. The winner of the toss chooses either a side of the court or the first serve. If the winner chooses a side, the other team makes the first serve. And if the winner chooses to make the first serve, the other team chooses a side. 

Scoring System: Loofball uses a point scoring system, whereby a point is awarded to the team winning a combat. A match may be played in 2 or 3 sets. The first two sets are played for 25 points, while the third set is played for 20 points. At 24 all, the team that gains a 2 point lead first, wins the set. The same applies in the third set when the scoreline is 19 all.  The first team to win 2 sets carries the match.  

Change of Sides: Teams change sides after completing the first set. The first team to be served in the first set makes the first serve in the second set. A new coin toss is conducted when a match enters the third set, just like in the beginning of the match.  

Substitution:  A maximum of four substitutions (per team) are allowed in a match. Substitution is conducted at the sideline near the fore zone.  

Break: 1 minute time-out (per team) is allowed in a set. A 2 minute interval is also allowed between sets. 

loofball court dimensions

GAME TERMINOLOGY 

Equipment Required

THE BALL  

The game is played with a specially designed inflatable and hairy ball, also called loofball. The ball is made up of two components; an inner inflatable and an outer hairy surface. The surface may be made of a hairy fabric or animal skin (i.e. the fur) and must be homogeneous materially, uniform in design and color or combination of colors. 

The ball is made in two standard sizes namely; size1 and size 2. Size 1 or mini loofball weighs 150-190 g, and has a circumference of 50.3-53.4 cm and diameter of 16-17 cm.  Size 2 loofball, on the other hand, has a circumference of 59.7-62.8 cm, diameter of 19-20 cm and a weight of between 190 and 240g. A single strand on the surface does not exceed 2.5 cm in length, and the ball must be inflated to the required hardness before use. 

THE NET 

A basic requirement is the net, a mesh stretched at the centre of the court over which teams exchange the ball. Like in tennis or volleyball, the net is fastened to the two posts at the opposite sidelines, with its upper edge (at the centre) 2.28 m (for men) or 2.10 m (for women) above the Olive. The net should be of a white or black color and must be at least 1 m in width and 8.5 m long with mesh of uniform sizes (say 10 cm x 10 cm). The posts must be 2.15 to 2.45 m tall and 3 to 6 inches in diameter (or square). 

loofball field

THE FIELD  

Loofball may be played on a standard loofball court, on grass or sand. The field or court measures 17 m x 8 m. The scoring area comprises two zones namely; the Home Zone and the Fore Zone. The Home Zone and Fore Zone have dimensions of 5.9 m x 8 m and 5.2 m x 8 m respectively. The Fore Zone is divided into four equal sections with two sections on either side of the net or centre line. The Olive (A circular or wreathlike region of 2 m diameter) is drawn at the middle of the court or Fore Zone.  
The playing surface must be horizontal, flat, uniform and clear of any solid and sharp objects capable of causing hazard or injury to the players. Moreover, a match must not be played on a rough or slippery surface. 

DRESS 

All teammates must wear uniform jerseys which are distinct in color and design from those of the opponents, and numbered in the range of 11 to 25. A player's number must be on both the front and back of the jersey. Names shall be placed only on the back of the jersey above the number. Track suits or vests may be worn in cold or hot weather respectively, provided they are of the same color and design for the entire team.  

Other recommended players' equipment includes sneaker footwear, fabric gloves, socks and arm band (for game captains only).

 



Related Pages

send us a comment Any comments, suggestions, or corrections? Please let us know.

Disclaimer

This information about new sports is presented as provided by users of this site. No copyright infringement is intended, please let us know if you have objections to anything published here so it can be rectified. See more: Disclaimer.

New Sports

New sports are being created all the time. Check out our list of over 300 new sports submitted by visitors to this site. If you want to submit a new sport, check out our guide first.

Sport Extra

Check out the 800+ sports in the Encyclopedia of Every Sport. Well not every sport, as there is a list of unusual sports, extinct sports and newly created sports. How to get on these lists? See What is a sport? We also have sports winners lists, and about major sports events and a summary of every year.

 → How to Cite