Swimball

Swimball is a team sport invented by HalfFastGuy and Art3misery. It was first introduced to The Old World in May of 2023 and is currently in its first championship season.

### Teams

* New Canaan Ender Dragons
* Capital Creepers
* Jungle Zombies
* Akkadian Blaze

### Arenas

* DC&H Arena
* fEYEnders Creepers Arena
* Primal Arena
* Akkadian Arena

### Basic Rules

* Two teams of three players each will pass a jack o' lantern (ball) between themselves in an attempt to throw it into the opposing team's hopper (goal).
* When a player has the ball, they can only move up and down. To move the ball toward the opposing team's goal, players must pass the ball to their teammates without letting the opposing team gain possession of the ball.
* The game lasts 15 minutes with a 5 minute halftime break and stoppages in play for goals scored and/or penalties. The game is over if one team scores 7 points, even if the 15 minute clock has not expired.
* To start the game or to resume play after a goal, the referee will throw a ball at center court. One player from each team must stand on opposing sides of the center circle. All other teammates must be behind their respective offside lines.
* When a player has the ball, they may hit any other players within reach.
* When a player is in their own goal zone, they may hit any other players within reach.
* Uniforms with Depth Strider III boots are highly recommended.

### Advanced Rules

* A minor penalty will result in a stoppage in play and a new face-off in the offending team's offensive zone.
* A major penalty will result in a stoppage in play, a new face-off in the offending team's offensive zone, and the offending player spending 30 seconds of game time in the penalty box. The offending player may exit the penalty box before the 30 second timer expires if the opposing team scores before that time.
* If a player commits more than 5 major penalties in a game they will be disqualified and ejected from the game. The team can choose to replace the player if they wish.

1. If a player moves forward, backward, or sideways more than one block while holding the ball, they will be charged with a *traveling* penalty (minor).
2. When a player has the ball, they may not enter the opposing team's goal zone. If a player receives a pass in the opposing team's goal zone, they must immediately throw the ball outside of the goal zone. If a player attempts to make a shot on goal from within the opposing team's goal zone, they will be charged with a *crowding* penalty (minor).
3. A player can only pass to themselves once in a row. If a player passes to themselves two or more times in a row, they will be charged with a *passing* penalty (minor).
4. If a player does not have the ball or is not inside their own team's goal zone and hits a player on the other team, they will be charged with a *hitting* penalty (major).
5. If a player intentionally causes the ball to leave the arena, they will be charged with a *delay of game* penalty (major).
6. If the referee sees anything they deem detrimental to the sport, they may issue an *unsportsmanlike conduct* penalty (major).

* Each team may call a single 1 minute time-out per game. The team calling time-out must have possession of the ball when the call is announced to the referee. When play resumes, the team who called time-out will have possession of the ball in their own offensive zone. The opposing team must be in the neutral zone before play resumes.
* If the ball accidentally leaves the arena, there will be a new face-off in the neutral zone.
* The referee must wear an iron uniform with black armor trim. All media must wear plain iron uniforms.
* The referee holds sole discretion regarding all face-off locations.
* The referee holds sole discretion regarding all disqualifications and ejections.
* If the referee accidentally gains possession of the ball, play will stop and there will be a new face-off at the nearest face-off dot.
* If a member of the media accidentally gains possession of the ball, play will stop, there will be a new face-off at the nearest face-off dot, and the offending member of the media will be ejected from swimming in the arena for the remainder of the game.
* In the event of hostile mobs in the arena, unexpected damage to the arena mid-game, catastrophic lag, or other acts of Herobrine, play will stop and there will be a new face-off at the nearest face-off dot.

### Season 1 Championship Format

* Each team will play every other team twice for a 12-game regular season.
* Championship points will be awarded based on final scores.
* Regulation time or overtime win = 2 points
* Overtime loss = 1 point
* Regulation time loss = 0 points

* At the end of the 12-game regular season, the two teams with the most points will advance to the Steve Cup Playoffs. Tiebreakers will be determined by the team with the most number of goals scored during the regular season.
* The playoffs will be a best-of-five game series. The team with the most points during the regular season will play games 1, 3, and 5 (if necessary) in their home arena.
* The first team to win three playoff games will be declared the SSL S1 Steve Cup Champion.