Rules

This is a melee form. Each “round” starts with a ball in the centre of the field. The ball can be picked up and carried, but not thrown or kicked. 

Points are scored by carrying the ball across the goal line. If the ball is carried across one’s own goal line, the opposing team scores a point (a “self-goal”).

The person carrying the ball is not allowed to engage opponents in combat, but may defend themselves (including counter-attacking) if attacked. The ball counts as “Soft Parry” and if the fencer is authorised in soft parry as a side weapon, may use the ball as such. If the person is not authorised in soft parry, the ball must not be used.

Teams should not vary in size by more than one fencer.

The game is played in two halves, each lasting between 3 and 8 minutes (depending on the heat, on an overcast, cool, day 8 minutes should be fine; on a hot, sunny day, 3 minutes is more appropriate).

Field size

The field is divided into two square halves. Each half should have a goal line about 1m from the short end of the field.

The goal line should be wide enough that all fencers on that side can fit between the ends of the goal line, but not so wide that a fencer can pass between two standing fencers (this ends up being somewhere between 0.75m and 1m per player).

The short side should be about two metres longer than the goal line, with the goal line centred between the long sides.

The long side should be twice the length of the short side.

Weapon restrictions

No spears are allowed.

No kill from behind.

No death from behind.

While not a weapon restriction, it may be worth playing with a narrower definition of “in front of”, instead of the normal half circle.