Bolshlat

**Bolshlat**, Alseslang for **Ball Battle**, is a team sport played by two teams of twenty-one players on a rectangular field measuring 150 x 50 meters. The field is divided into three Lanes: West, Center, and East (the names of which are traditional due to old fields being constructed facing north-to-south to prevent Mav from shining in players' eyes) and three Zones: the North Core Zone, Free/Battle Zone, and the South Core Zone. Home teams traditionally play on the north side. Each team consists of three Couriers and eighteen Escorts divided into three separate lanes. Escorts are meant to protect the Courier, as well as force other escorts out of play by striking them in the chest with their Bolshlat Staff. All players are hooked into a line running across their Lane horizontally in order to detect hits in a manner similar to fencing.

## Etymology

Bolshlat is literally formed by combining the words bol (ball) and shlat (battle). This name is due to the fact that the game involves combat and tactics, like a battle would.

## Teams and Positions

Both teams divide their Couriers and Escorts between the three lanes. Since players cannot cross over to other lanes except while shuffling the roster during an intermission, it is critical to ensure player skill is balanced between the lanes, as a lane with only weak players risks suffering a Breakthrough.

The Courier is the backbone of the team, and the two Leading Escorts are their first line of defense.

## Rules

At the start of the game, all Couriers start 5 meters away from the Frontline. Their two Leading Escorts are positioned 2 meters away and back. In each Lane, the four other escorts on both teams start 16, 15 side by side, and 14 meters in.

The basis of the game is that in each play, the goal is to have a Courier successfully make it to the end of the opposition's Core Zone. Couriers may pass to their counterparts on different lanes as they see fit. However, if an opposing escort or Courier intercepts the pass, the interceptor has possession. However, only the two Leading Escorts can pass the Free Zone into the opposition's Core Zone. The role of escorts is to strike out other escorts and any opposing Couriers in possession of the ball.

If a Courier is struck out, they lose possession. The game is paused and the opposing Courier on the same lane picks up the ball. The team that lost possession moves back 15 meters before play resumes. If an escort is struck out, they are out of play and must leave the field until the next one.

The Capture Rule is in effect at the university and professional level. If a ball-carrying Courier is tagged out when there are at least two opposing escorts between them and the nearest friendly escort, possession of the ball changes as usual, but the tagged Courier is "captured", meaning they must exit the field until the next play.

There is a rule in play where if all the escorts on a lane are gone, the team that now controls the lane has a Breakthrough. Any Couriers on their team may pass to *any teammate* on the lane as they see it, and any teammate that successfully reaches the end of the opposing Core Zone scores. In the event of a Breakthrough, balls scored are awarded double points.