Abstract:
A method of playing soccer on a reduced size playing area with a plurality of zones. A spherical ball is provided as is a netted goal and an upper boundary surface. Two opposing teams consisting of one or more players commence the game by kicking said spherical ball from one of the provided serve boxes against the serve wall, the said spherical ball coming into general play on landing in the opponents serve area, the game then being played under the general rules of soccer until a prescribed goal score is achieved, a prescribed goal score difference is achieved and/or a prescribed period of time expires.

Description:
This invention relates to a ball game and refers particularly although not exclusively, to a ball game adapted to be played on a court which may be indoors or outdoors. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The game of soccer originated in England many years ago. It developed from a hurley-burley game played through the streets of a village with teams of any number, to the modern game which is the most popular sport in the world. The popularity of soccer has reached the stage that the final of the World Cup is watched by more people than would watch the most spectacular events of the Olympic Games. Television audiences of in excess of 600,000,000 people are not unexpected for such events. 
     the problem with soccer is that it is generally considered a winter sport. It must be played on a playing field using teams of eleven players. For recreational players, quite often it is not possible to have sufficient people in each team to field a full team. Furthermore, access to the appropriate playing field (which may be level or otherwise) may be difficult. Also, they may not have the desire to play the game in inclement weather or adverse conditions. 
     It is therefore the principal object of the present invention to provide a game similar to soccer and which can be played on a court which may be indoors or outdoors. 
     A further object of the present invention is to provide a ball game similar to soccer and which can be played by two players. 
     Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a court on which such a game can be played. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     With the above and other objects in mind the present invention provides a court for playing a ball game, the court having a service wall parallel to and opposite the service wall, two spaced-apart and parallel side walls extending between the service wall and the goal wall, and a floor extending between the four walls; the four walls being mutually perpendicular, the floor being divided into a plurality of zones including a goal zone, at least one service box, at least one attack zone, and a strike zone. 
     Preferably, there is provided a goal on or adjacent the goal wall. More preferably the goal zone extends outwardly from the goal and for the full width of the goal. Advantageously, the service wall has a legal service area and non-legal service area. Preferably, the attack zone extends for the full width of the floor from the goal wall for more than half of the length of the floor. More preferably, the strike zone is betwen the attack zone and the service wall. 
     It is preferred there be provided service line extending across the floor between the two side walls. Preferably, the service box is between the service line and the goal wall. More preferably, there is a service box on each side of the floor, at the intersection of the service line and the side wall. 
     It is preferred that there be a longitudinally extended line along the centre of the floor extending from the centre of the goal to the end of the attack zone adjacent the service wall. 
     the invention also provides a game, wherein the game commences by a kick-off from a service box, the game using a spherical ball, the kick-off being legal if initial contact with a service wall is on or below a service line, and first contact with a floor is in an opponent&#39;s attack zone, the game being played under rules similar to those of soccer until: a period of time expires, a prescribed goal score is achieved, and/or a prescribed goal-score difference is achieved. 
     Preferably, there in no out-of-play. 
     More preferably, in the event of a penalty kick or free kick, the opponent must stand with heels adjacent the goal line, and cannot move until the penalty kick takes place. 
     Advantageously, there is a goal zone which is a player exclusion zone. 
     More advantageously, a deliberate “hand ball”may result in a penalty kick no matter where on the court the offence occurred. 
     Preferably, off-side occurs when a player plays the ball from the strike zone to attempt a headed goal from the attack zone but is goalside of an opponent when initially playing the ball. 
     A goal may be secured on kick-off, or by kick from the strike zone, or by an on-side header from anywhere except the goal zone, or from a free kick or penalty kick. 
     At kick-off, or service, the opponent of the server should be in the attack zone behind the service line. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING 
     In order that the invention may be fully understood there shall now be described by way of non-limitative example only a preferred construction of a court for playing a ball game, as well as a ball game, in acordance with the present invention, the description being with reference to the accompanying illustrative drawing which is a perspective view from above of a court in accordance with the present invention. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     To refer to the drawing there is shown a court which has a floor  10 , a service wall  12 , a goal wall  14 , and two identical and parallel side walls  16  extending along the length of the floor  10  from the service wall  12  to the goal wall  14 . A roof o ceiling of any suitable material may also be provided, if desired. 
     Extending across the service wall  12  at approximately the mid point of its height is a service wall line  18 . The purpose of the service wall line  18  is so that any serve (or kick off) which lands above the line  18  will be considered an illegal serve. Any serve landing on or below the line  18  will be considered a legal serve. That area below the service wall line  18  is the legal service area, and that above the service line  18  is the illegal service area. If the serve or kick-off is illegal, the right of service passes to the other player. 
     Extending across the floor  10  between the side walls  16  is a service line  20 . This is approximately in the middle of the floor  10  between the walls  12 ,  14 , although it need not be exactly central, and as long it is in the central region it is satisfactory. For example, it may be in the range of between 40 to 60% along the floor. Extending towards the goal wall  14  from the service line  20 , and adjacent each side wall  16 , is a service box  22 . These are substantially identical. 
     Extending in an arc from one wall  16  to the opposite wall  16  between the service line  20  and the service wall  12  is a strike zone boundary line  24 . Also extending longitudinally is a dividing line  26  which extends from the goal wall through to the strike zone boundary line  24 . The dividing line  26  is along the central axis line of the floor  10  and divides the floor  10  up to boundary line  24  into two substantially equal portions. At the junction of the dividing line  26  with the strike zone line  24  is a free kick spot  28 . At the junction of the service line  20  and the dividing line  26  is a penalty spot  30 . 
     Mounted on the floor  10  against or adjacent the wall  14  is a goal  32 . The goal is designed so that any ball contacting on its top  34  or contacting a side  36  will rebound or fall into play. Although the goal may be of any suitable size, it is preferably of a sufficient size that the scoring of a goal is not overly easy, nor excessively difficult. It is preferred that it be less than a meter high, and less than three meters wide. Dimensions such as 850 mm high, and 2.4 meters wide are preferred. Extending in front of the goal  32  is a goal zone line  38  creating a goal zone  40 . 
     Between the strike zone line  24  and the service wall  12  is a strike zone  42 . Between the strike zone line  24  and the goal wall  14 , but excluding the goal zone  40 , is the attack zone  45 , having the two service areas  43 ,  44 , each of which has a service box  22 . One attack zone  43  is on one side of the dividing line  26  and the other attack zone  44  is on the other side of the dividing line  26 . 
     In playing the game, a ball somewhat similar to a soccer ball may be used. However, it is preferred that the ball be somewhat smaller, given the smaller area in which the game is played. Furthermore, in view of the size of the area, it is preferred that the ball be somewhat softer than a normal soccer ball. For example, a beach volleyball, or similar ball, or even a ball of slightly smaller size, may be used. It is preferred that the ball be able to swerve as does a soccer ball, be able to be headed, yet not be so hard that it would cause significant injury to a person if accidentally struck. it must have the ability to rebound from the walls with minimal loss of energy. The ball may be solid, or inflated, as required. 
     In playing the game, only two people are required to play, although teams of greater number may be used. After an appropriate means for selecting the person to commence the game, that person selects the service box  22  in which they wish to commence. The ball is placed on the floor  10  within that box  22 . Their opponent must be located in their service area  43  or  44 , depending upon in which service box  22  the server is to be commencing the game. 
     At commencement, the person serving kicks the ball from the box  22  against the wall  12 . It must strike on or below the service wall line  18  to be legal. If it strikes above line  18  it is not a legal serve and a second serving attempt must take place. If that second serving attempt is not legal, the right of service passes to the other player. If the service is to be initially legal, it must contact the floor  10  across dividing line  26  and thus be in the service area  43 ,  44  of the opponent. It cannot initially land in the strike zone  42  nor in the goal zone  40 . At the time of kick-off (serve), the opponent must be in the attack zone  45  behind the service line  20  on the other side of dividing line  26 . 
     Upon a serve being legal, each player can play the ball as would be normal in soccer. The ball will remain in play until either a free kick, penalty, or a goal is awarded. There is preferably no out of play area. With that in mind netting, or a solid roof or ceiling, or the like, may be provided around or over any part of the court where the ball may otherwise have gone out of lay. The ball will therefore be kept in play. During normal play the server can tackle the opponent as is allowed under the rules of soccer. Each player will attempt to score a goal. A goal can be scored from kick-off; or by being kicked from the strike zone. A goal may also be scored by being headed, preferably from an on-side position, within the strike zone or attack zone or from a free kick or penalty kick. The goal zone is an exclusion zone and a player is not allowed into the goal zone during the normal course of play. 
     In a smiliar fashion to soccer, a player is off-side when they play the ball from the strike zone to attempt a headed goal from the attack zone but are goalside of their opponent when they initially play the ball. 
     A goal is scored when the ball is over the goal line. The preferred percentage of the ball over the line for a goal to be scored is 100%. However, a lesser figure such as, for example, 50% may be used. The goal line is the line on the floor  10  immediately under the top bar  46  of goal  32 . 
     As is stated above, a goal may be scored from the strike zone  42 , or through an on-side headed attempt anywhere other than inside the goal zone  40 , from a free kick or penalty kick when either is awarded, or from the serve, directly or indirectly, provided compliance with the above rules is made, or against ones self (own goal) if from anywhere on the court except the strike zone. 
     As in the game of soccer, a deliberate touching of the ball with a hand or arm is an offence. However, in this instance a penalty kick is awarded irrespective of where in the court the offence occurs. In the event of a penalty kick being awarded, the defending player must position themselves no more than ten centimeters from the goal line (with a heel to the line) and must not move their feet until the ball is struck. The ball is placed on the penalty spot  30 . 
     In a like manner to soccer, a free kick may be awarded for appropriately unsatisfactory conduct, or a general foul such as a late tackle, excessively hard tackle, and so forth. In that instance the ball is placed on the free kick spot  28  and the defender must be located as per the above description for a penalty kick. 
     The goal zone  40  is an exclusion zone during normal play. A player who enters the goal zone  40  and blocks or attempts to block a goal attempt by their opponent is penalized by a penalty kick to the opponent. A player who enters a goal zone other than to block or attempt to block a goal attempt by their opponent is penalised by a free kick to their opponent. 
     Upon a goal being scored, the opponent of the goal scorer then has the right to service (kick off). 
     A game may be divided into a number of periods which may be of any suitable duration such as, for example,  10  minutes. A two minute time out is allowed per player per game. Alternatively or additionally, the game and/or a period of the game may conclude when a prescribed goal score, and/or a prescribed goal-score differential, is achieved. If desired, a “shot clock” can be provided to force a player to attempt to score within a defined period (eg  30  seconds) and to prevent excessive time wasting. Standard blood rules would apply. 
     Whilst there has been described in the foregoing description a preferred embodiment of the present invention, it will be understood by those skilled in the industry concerned that many variations or modifications in these specific details may be made without departing from the essential features of the invention. 
     It will also be understood that where the term “comprises” or its grammatical variants, is employed herein, it is equivalent to the term “includes” and is not to be taken as excluding the presence of other elements or features.