Slamball Rules

The game of SlamBall is to be played on a court that is 96’ long by 64’ wide. Each end of the court has three identical springbeds built into it. The three springbeds are rectangular in shape with the string bed measuring 7’ by 14’. The fourth springbed (also known as the scoring bed) is slightly larger measuring 10’ by 14’. A plexiglass wall that measures 8’ tall surrounds the court, except where the wall is only 4’ for team boxes, sideline, etc. 8’ of playable game floor space will extend behind the springbeds, effectively making game space behind the baskets. The rims are 10’ high.

Players are to wear protective gear at all times during official competition, as outlined by the competition committee. The gear load out may consist of padded helmets, elbow pads, kneepads, and various custom padded undergarments.

Four players from each team are allowed to be on the court at one time. Each team roster can carry 7 players per team (seven active).

Each half will begin with a throw down, which is an inverse tip-off. The official slams the ball down and the ball bounces high above the players, who try to get position to secure it below. The ball must reach its apex uninterrupted.

Games shall consist of four, 5-minute quarters. Running clock in all situations except Face Offs and time outs. The clock shall revert to stop time on all calls in the last minute of the game.

Each team has one timeout per game only in the fourth quarter. Timeouts last for 45 seconds. If a team calls a timeout with possession of the ball and does not have a timeout remaining, the team loses the possession. (Ball is awarded to the other team.)

SlamBall utilizes a hockey-like system of substitutions that occur during play without a stoppage of the clock. The player exiting the floor must be within 5’ of his own team box before a new player can enter play. Teams may also substitute during dead ball situations.

The Island is the horizontal padded area between the four springbeds where a player can momentarily establish position to receive, redirect and move the ball in an offensive set, or to stop short in the Spring Area to move in a different direction. There is no contact on the island; if a defender makes anything more than incidental contact with an offensive player on the island the result will be a face off. Defenders may not draw a charge or make contact of any kind with the offensive player in the island area.

Two players on the offensive team may not be on the island at the same time. (Penalty results in change of possession.) A defender on the island may only make the most minor incidental contact with an offensive player while going for a loose ball. A defender may not stop on the island for any longer than 3 secs while moving through the spring area or will result in a penalty. (Penalty results in face-off or subsequent bonus penalty point situations.)

An offensive player accessing the island will be subject to a 3 second violation if he remains on the island longer than 3 seconds. Before the time is up, the player can exit the slam zone to the wood or has the option to perform a multiple tramp transfer (2 or more tramps) and re-access the island, thereby restarting the 3 second count. Conversely, a defensive player can only access the island for a maximum of 3 seconds at which point the player must exit to the wood or perform a multiple tramp transfer (2 or more tramps) and re-access the island, thereby restarting the defensive 3 second count. Offensive players may not attack the scoring (lower) springbed from the island (with or without the ball). (Penalty results in change of possession.) Offensive players may access the island directly or by using a ‘bounce down’ in the following manner:

i) with the dribble entering the slam zone ii) on any tramp transfer iii) a pass to themselves off the backboard
ii) on any tramp transfer
iii) a pass to themselves off the backboard
*The key is to recollect the ball after the bounce to avoid the rule violation.

Offensive players may similarly pass to themselves off the backboard to avoid the rule violation. Offensive players in the island may ‘step back’ into any of the perimeter springbeds for scoring opportunities, either via jumpers or to spring back towards and attack the basket. A defender (in the stopper position) may not make a play on a ball by bouncing/diving across the island to intercept a pass or collect a loose ball. He may play that pass and land on the island. Crossing the island to intercept a pass would result in a face-off. A stopper can bounce to another bed to retrieve a loose ball, but diving for one is forbidden and a resultant collision will result in a face-off.

No more than two steps after stoppage of dribble.* (Penalty results in change of possession.)
*Players can “gather” the ball prior to the two steps. An offensive player with the ball cannot be called for traveling when the defender’s contact causes extra steps. After an open floor hit with the defender, the offensive player’s dribble resets. If the player picks up the dribble as he’s getting hit, he can immediately restart his dribble after the contact. Offensive player may palm the ball while in the act of dribbling, as long as it does not materially affect the rhythm of the dribble. An offensive player may not put his hand underneath the ball while dribbling. The bounce or bounces in the springbed do not count as a step. While approaching the springbeds, attacking players must dribble the ball, but are allowed two steps after the dribble is picked up to stride into their jump to the springs.

When making contact with an offensive player, the defender may only make contact from the waist up and below the neck. Contact must be in front of the shoulder. (Illegal Contact foul resulting in face off or subsequent bonus penalty point situations.) Perimeter defenders may not make contact with a player in possession of the ball if he goes into his shooting motion outside the springbeds. Perimeter defenders can block shots by making direct contact with the ball.

(Illegal Contact foul resulting in face off or subsequent bonus penalty point situations.) On a body check, players may not extend their arms above shoulder height.

(Illegal Contact foul resulting in face off or subsequent bonus penalty point situations.) Aggressive hits may only occur on the ball handler or in the vicinity of the ball. Unnecessary aggressive contact away from the ball is prohibited. (Off the ball contact – (Illegal Contact foul resulting in face off or subsequent bonus penalty point situations.) There is no tripping of a player at any time.

(Illegal Contact foul resulting in face off or subsequent bonus penalty point situations.) A player may not grab or hold another player. There is absolutely no tackling/wrapping of opponents.

(Illegal Contact foul resulting in face off or subsequent bonus penalty point situations.) Offensive player without the ball may not force the defender by prolonged contact into any springbed to try and procure a foul on that defensive player. AKA No buffalo rushing a defender into the springs. (Penalty results in change of possession.) Defender may only make contact with the offensive player after the ball has been put on the ground (commenced dribble, for clarity measured at the moment the first dribble makes contact with the floor). Only the most minor incidental contact is allowed before the dribble. Contact directly with the ball, and the ball only, is not a foul.

(Illegal Contact foul resulting in face off or subsequent bonus penalty point situations.) Defender may make contact with the ball handler after a stoppage of dribbling. Excessive hand checking is considered a holding violation. Full extension of the arms in a pushing motion will also be considered a violation. (Illegal Contact foul resulting in face off or subsequent bonus penalty point situations.)

In the event of a tie-up, possession always goes to the team on defense. If a defender traps an offensive player against the glass while in possession of the ball for a count of three, it is considered a held ball. (Possession will be given to the defense.) There can be no extension of the hands in a shoving motion, or drawing inward of players in a pulling motion.

(Illegal Contact foul resulting in face off or subsequent bonus penalty point situations.) Out of bounds: If the ball travels out of bounds or over the wall, possession will be awarded to the opposite team that last touched the ball. After score: Teams inbound the ball from the defensive springbed quad. This includes the island and the springbeds surrounding it. The baseline is considered to be the game floor below the bottom springbeds. When receiving an inbounds pass the player must be unquestionably positioned in the game floor and above the baseline. Alternatively, a newly established offensive player can collect the ball and advance to the game floor with the ball in his possession. After timeouts, clock stoppage or face-offs – the ball is to be inbounded from the defensive island or surrounding springbeds, and the pass must be advanced to a teammate past the hash marks nearest the goal towards which the possession is intended. This gives defenders some dedicated space to disrupt the inbound pass.

The Stopper cannot be struck by an offensive player when in his traditional position on the floor underneath the basket. This space underneath the hoop extending backwards from the bottom springbed is the Stopper’s area or “Stopper Box” – other players may move through this space, but anything beyond incidental contact with the Stopper will result in a penalty (Loss of possession of the ball). The stopper must allow the offensive player a place to land safely coming out of the scoring bed.

Occurs after a personal foul. It is a one–on-one penalty shot in which the offensive player attacking the basket faces the perpetrator of the foul defending the attack. Offensive players must claim a perimeter springbed from which to attack the basket. The three options available to the offensive player are:

Middle springbed
Right springbed
Left springbed

The defensive player must line up on one side and bounce from the side springbed, to the scoring springbed (under the hoop), and spring up to defend the penalty shot. In a middle alignment, the offensive player chooses to attack via the central springbed. The defender has the option to bounce in from the right or left side beds to position for the block. In the event of a side attacking alignment, the defender must approach the scoring (lower) springbed from the side opposite of the springbed claimed by the offensive player. This can be used to strategic effect, if the defender is weak on one side, predominantly right-handed, etc. After the Face off, the offensive player’s team is awarded the ball. So Face offs are particularly damaging violations if the team scores on the Face off and manages to score again on the awarded possession. Freestyle multi-tramp techniques are not allowed in the Face off foul situation In a face off, offensive players may choose to attack the rim for a slam (3 points awarded), or may choose to pull up for a jump shot, finger roll, or other such shot (2 points awarded) to flummox the defender anticipating contact. In the event of overtime the teams will settle the game via face offs. Each team will have the opportunity to have their designated defender (selected by the coach) to face the opposing team’s best attacker. Any points scored will be added to the team’s final points.

A discrepancy in the final score will decide the winner. If the score remains tied after each team’s single Face off, the teams must send out their next best attacker and proceed to another round of Face offs. This continues until there is a discrepancy in the score after a round, which determines the outcome of the game. Teams may not send out their top attacker (first to go) again unless all the other players have had a turn, which would be seven rounds. The designated defender is not required to step in on offense in overtime.

Face off – The defense can foul a player with the ball in the last 20 seconds (shot clock off) – make it, take it…meaning the result of the face off will dictate who gains possession subsequent to the penalty shot. So a team down by two points that doesn’t have the ball with less than 20 seconds to go in the game can foul and attempt to block the face off and gain another possession with the minimal time remaining on the clock. This is designed to keep teams with small leads from holding the ball as time expires.

The Spring Area is the floor space that houses the four springbeds and the island on each end of the court. Also referred to as the Slam Zone. A defender that is engaged with an offensive player, meaning moving in sync with the offensive player and playing active defense – cannot be jumped into to draw a foul with the defender’s foot in the colored perimeter area around the Slam Zone (The Edge). The offensive player would be called for a foul (illegal contact) resulting in a change of possession. This rule exists to dissuade offensive players from cheap attempts to draw a foul from a player standing next to the springbeds. This was an issue, so The Edge colored area was established. A defender that blunts the offensive player’s momentum to where they are both near the springbeds and engaged is considered good defense. The offensive player can jump to either side of the defender in the edge, but cannot jump through him (as explained above). Defender cannot follow offensive player into the Spring Area to interrupt the bounce of the offense. This is a popcorn-effect violation and results in a Face Off or subsequent penalty point situations. When an offensive player takes off from the game floor entering the Slam Zone from a realistic distance to reach the springs, then no contact by a defender may be made. Full stop. (As soon as the offensive players’ back
foot leaves the floor entering the springbed, any contact with the offensive player by the defender will result in a face off or subsequent penalty point situations.) A tie will go to the offensive player. Note: Offensive players jumping into defenders that are not looking are equivalent to a “flop” in other sports and officials will be instructed not to make this call. This is a situation we will monitor for abuse. Even if a defender is holding position directly in front of the springs when an offensive player leaps at him, the player must avoid contact with the attacking player. A defender cannot “draw a charge” in SlamBall from a player on the ground or in the air. Offense cannot enter the Spring Area after the loose ball from the game floor. They can retrieve the ball only if they are already in the Spring Area or pick up the ball while standing on the perimeter.

(Encroachment penalty resulting in change of possession.) Offense can only enter the Slam Zone until a shot hits the rim, after this point no offensive player shall be able to enter the Slam Zone to pursue a loose ball or rebound. If the offensive team shall regain possession, then offensive players may again enter the Slam Zone as per normal. Defenders at the rim challenging on a dunk attempt must make a play on the ball; they cannot attack the body. Illegal contact includes sideswiping at the body and “chopping” (which is a downward striking motion). (Illegal contact foul, possible flagrant – resulting in a face off or subsequent penalty point situations.) Defenders in the bottom springbed must jump straight up and down. Defenders may not drift outside the framework of the bottom springbed to make contact with an offensive player outside the outline of their designated springbed.

(Drafting foul resulting in a face off or subsequent penalty point situations.) Defenders must have placement of both feet in the bottom springbed box (this referring to the markings on the springbed) when playing defense against an attacker from perimeter springbeds. If both feet of the defender are outside this box while an offensive player is cutting into the scoring springbed, the defender will be issued a penalty resulting in a face off. Popcorn: Defender may not disturb the natural flow of an offensive player’s bounce in or out of the springbed.

(Popcorn foul resulting in a face off or subsequent penalty point situations.) There is absolutely no player to player contact while on the springbed surface. Player contact can only occur in the air above the springbeds.

(Illegal Contact foul resulting in face off or subsequent bonus penalty point situations.) Offensive players cannot attack the scoring (bottom) springbed directly with the ball from the game floor. Players may only attack the bottom springbed with the ball when receiving a pass while cutting from a perimeter springbed, or while using a freestyle move to transfer to the bottom springbed.

(Bounce violation resulting in change of possession.) Two players from the same team may not be on the scoring springbed at the same time. Two offensive teammates in direct contact with the bottom springbed at the same time triggers the violation.

(Two in the tramp – penalty resulting in change of possession.) An offensive player without the ball is allowed only one bounce in and out of a springbed. An offensive player with the ball is awarded the first bounce to make a play (shoot, pass, dunk, freestyle) and a second bounce with which to exit the springbed to the island, game floor or other springbed. Players without the ball making a play on the ball or the rim are also awarded the secondary bounce with which to exit – examples include attempting to block a perimeter shot, attempting to attract a lob pass that isn’t made, etc. (Bounce violation penalty resulting in change of possession.) Defensive players in the bottom tramp are not limited to the 2-bounce rule. If desired, they may maintain a continuous bounce. Players may not bounce in two consecutive springbeds with the ball in their possession. (Bounce violation penalty resulting in change of possession.)

Players may not exit the springbeds with the ball in their possession. They may do so only if they pass the ball off the perimeter walls to reset their dribble and recollect the ball as they re-establish their position on the game floor. When a player is exiting a springbed the opposing player MUST allow the player to land. Both feet must touch the ground before any contact can occur. Contact is never allowed when airborne players are exiting the springbed. Defenders at the rim are permitted to goaltend shots taken from the springbed. Shots taken from outside the springs may not be goaltended. If a ball is goaltended from the floor the basket will count for two points (if taken inside the three point line) or three points (if taken outside the three point line) and shots taken in the four point area will count for four points (if taken beyond the four point line. A defender may always block a shot from outside the springs if they reach the ball before it reaches its apex. Once the ball from a three or four point shot hits the rim, it is live and the stopper can take it out of the cylinder from above the cylinder.. Defenders may trap the ball that is falling through the hoop against the side of the rim and spin the ball out. This is a successful defensive play and does not draw a violation. If the defender “reaches” into the rim to pull a shot out
that has already passed through the rim to the midpoint of the ball, this is a violation and the points will be counted. Defenders may not come up through or under the rim to deflect a shot or slam. (Penalty resulting in awarding the points to the offensive team) Attacking players may not pass the ball off and make contact with the Stopper to gain an advantage for an attacking teammate. Anything beyond incidental contact in the bottom bed results in a violation and the ball will be awarded to the other team. (Penalty resulting in face off) An offensive player with the ball may not bounce twice in the same springbed, or consecutive springbeds with the ball in their possession. (Bounce violation leads to change of possession.)