I’ve been thinking about this sport and how to make it a reality since 2003. The one thing that I never really considered was using a giant wave pool – these are now much more available and accessible. This morning I was playing with ChatGPT and asked it to lay out the details of the sport in the hopes that it might come up with some ideas I hadn’t considered. It did – ChatGPT gets full credit for putting the sport in ‘Arena Wave Pools’ which is actually just an amazing idea.
Here are the rules and format of SurfBall so far:
Surfball is a new and exciting ball sport that combines the skills of surfing and ball handling. The objective of the game is to score as many goals as possible while riding the waves and accumulating points through strategic ball passes and maneuvers.
Gameplay:
- The game is played with two teams of four players each, including a goalkeeper.
- The playing field is a large arena wave pool with a length of 50 meters and a width of 30 meters.
- Each game consists of two halves, each lasting 20 minutes, with a 10-minute break in between.
- The game starts with a toss-up, and the team that wins the toss-up starts with the ball.
- The ball used in Surfball is a specially designed ball that floats and is easy to catch while surfing.
- Players can only handle the ball while surfing. They can use their hands, feet, or any other part of their body to pass, dribble, or shoot the ball.
- The goalkeeper can use their hands to catch the ball but cannot leave the goal area, which is marked by a yellow line on either side of the playing field.
- To score a goal, the ball must cross the opponent’s goal line and pass under the crossbar.
- Each goal is worth one point, and the team with the most points at the end of the game wins.
- In addition to scoring goals, players can also accumulate points by performing tricks and maneuvers while surfing. For example, a player who performs a 360-degree turn on the wave will earn two points for their team.
- The game allows for physical contact, but excessive force and dangerous play are prohibited.
Penalties:
- Fouls such as excessive physical contact, dangerous play, and unsportsmanlike conduct will result in a free kick for the opposing team.
- Yellow cards will be issued for minor fouls, and the player will have to leave the game for two minutes.
- Red cards will be issued for serious fouls, and the player will be expelled from the game.
- If a team accumulates three yellow cards, one of their players must leave the game and cannot be replaced.
Surfball is an exciting and challenging sport that requires a combination of surfing skills, ball handling, and strategic thinking. With its fast-paced gameplay and unique scoring system, Surfball promises to be a hit with players and spectators alike.