INTERNATIONAL BLIND SPORTS FEDERATION (IBSA)
SHOWDOWN RULES
(The rules have been negotiated and
approved by the IBSA Showdown Sub-Committee, Prague January 17th 2009. The
validity of the rules as of May 1st 2009.)
These rules shall govern
showdown play at all IBSA World Championships, IBSA Regional Championships and
all other IBSA sanctioned events.
1. GENERAL RULES
Showdown
is played by two players. The game is played on a rectangular table with goal
pockets at each end, and a centreboard screen. The game is played with bats and
a ball, in which stainless steel pellets have been inserted to make it audible.
The object of the game is to bat the ball across the table, under the
centreboard screen, into the opponent's goal, while the opponent tries to
prevent this from happening.
1.1. The rules of the game is set out
below.
1.2. The IBSA Showdown Committee, in consultation with the event
organizer shall determine the type of tournament play.
1.3. Should there
be any misunderstanding of the IBSA Showdown Rules, the English version shall
prevail.
These regulations consist of four parts:
A: RULES OF
PLAY
B: EQUIPMENT SPECIFICATIONS
C: DEFINITIONS APPENDIX 1
D: TABLE
BLUEPRINT APPENDIX 2
A: RULES OF PLAY
2. GENERAL RULES
2.1.
Officials for each table during tournament play shall be:
a) Referee
(fully sighted)
b) Time-keeper (elapsed time and time-out)
c) Score-keeper
(score and number of serves)
The score- and time-keeper may be the same
person. The referee can be also score- and time-keeper. But this rule should not
be applied in the play-off matches within EC/WC where there have to be at least
two officials.
2.2. If the referee is injured, he/she stops the match and
he/she must be replaced by another referee.
2.3. The referee should be
able to conduct the match at EC/WC in english. The player who cannot understand
the official language can use an interpreter, but he/she must announce him/her
prior to the match.
2.4. The referee will ensure that the rules of the
game are observed in all cases. The Referee has the option to call “let” and
thereby designate a re-serve if he/she has not been able to properly assess a
situation with certainty. The decision of the referee is final.
2.5. Play
will be started and stopped by the referee sounding a whistle, one blast to
start or stop, a double-whistle for goal and a long whistle when the set/match
is over.
2.6. The winner is the player to reach eleven (11) points having
a two (2) point margin over the opponent, up to a score of sixteen (16) points.
After that the next point wins, even if the player does not win by a margin of
two (2) points.
2.7. During tournament play, the time allotted for each
set will be restricted to fifteen (15) minutes in total time. The time limit
will be waived for the final matches of the tournament. The organizer should
inform the participants about time limit prior to tournament starts.
2.8.
If the match is played to a time limit, the player that is ahead when time
allotted for the set has expired will be declared the winner. If, when time has
expired there is a draw, a coin will be tossed to determine which player will
serve, and the next point wins.
2.9. The players will change sides/ends
after each set in match play. in the last set of the match, the players will
change sides/ends after six (6) points are scored by one (1) player. Or after
half of stop time has expired.
2.10. If only one (1) set is being played,
players will change sides/ends after six (6) points are scored by one (1) player
or after one (1) half of stop time has expired.
2.11. The maximum time
limit for changing sides/ends is one (1) minute (60 seconds) until the moment
when the player reaches the playing position.
2.12. In changing
sides/ends, players will move to their right.
2.13. When changing
sides/ends the communication between the player and the coach is allowed until
the moment when the player reaches his/her playing position.
2.14. Before
the match the player must announce his/her coach to the referee. Player can
announce his/her coach even if the coach is not present. The coach can
enter/leave the room only when the set is over and the referee must open the
door.
2.15. During the change of sides/ends the player can refresh
himself/herself or with the assistance of the coach, but he/she must stay close
to the playing area of the Showdown table (one (1) metre at most).
2.16.
Spectators must be quiet during play. When goal/point is scored, they can clap,
but it is up to the referee to keep the room quiet and prevent spectators from
doing any disturbing noises. The audience must come in/go out when the set is
over. The referee must open the door.
3. TIME OUTS
3.1. Each
player will be entitled to one (1) time-out of one (1) minute (60 seconds)
during a set. Time-out requests must be made to the referee during a break in
play. Time-out can be called either by the player or the coach. Only during a
time-out any discussion can occur between the coach and the player (see also
2.13). During tripple play the same rules are guilty for time-outs. One time-out
for each team during each match.
3.2. The referee can stop the play
whenever he/she deems it necessary (e.g. injury, excessive noise, etc). The
referee resumes the match with a re-serve.
3.3. The match clock will be
stopped during a time-out or referee break in play.
4. SCORING
4.1. Two (2)
points are awarded for a goal. When a goal has been scored, the referee gives a
double-whistle signal.
4.2. Players may score points regardless of which
player is serving.
4.3. One (1) point is awarded to the opponent of the
player who hits the ball into the centreboard screen, and stops its forward
motion.
4.4. One (1) point is awarded to the opponent of the player who
hits the ball over the centreboard screen.
4.5. One (1) point is awarded
to the opponent of the player who touches the ball with any part of his/her
body, other than the bat or batting hand, within the playing area.
4.6.
One (1) point is awarded to the opponent of the player which bat or batting hand
causes the ball to leave the playing area of the table. (4.5)
4.7. One
(1) point is awarded to the opponent of the player who traps and stops the ball,
and does not resume play within two (2) seconds.
5. BEGINNING PLAY
5.1.
Before the match begins, the referee, time-keeper, score-keeper, The players and
the coaches will be introduced by the referee.
5.2. Before the match
begins, the referee will inspect the opaque eye protection, the bats, any hand
protection and the attire worn by the players.
5.3. Prior to the start of
play, the referee will toss a coin. Players will be asked to choose heads or
tails. The player guessing correctly will be given the choice of taking or
giving away the first serve to his/her opponent. The same rule is guilty during
tripple play.
5.4. The referee will roll the ball to the player serving
and ask both players if they are ready to play. When the referee receives
positive acknowledgement from both players answering YES, the referee will
signal the commencement of play by blowing the whistle once.
6. SERVES
6.1. After a
whistle signal from the referee, the player serving the ball must do so within
two (2) seconds. If, after whistle signal from the referee, the player does not
serve the ball within two (2) second time limit, the player will lose that serve
and one (1) point is awarded to the opponent.
6.2. When serving, each
swing at the ball will count as one (1) serve.
6.3. Each player will
serve two (2) times consecutively, then relinquish serve to the
opponent.
6.4. A served ball must bounce off the sidewall only once,
prior to passing under the centreboard screen. When this does not occur, the
referee must stop the play, and the player will be penalised by losing that
serve, and one (1) point will be awarded to the opponent.
7. PLAY
7.1. Play must be
from the end of the table. A player must not play from the side of the
table.
7.2. The ball must pass under the centreboard screen to be
considered in play.
7.3. The bat must be held in one hand at all times,
except when switching hands. An infraction of this rule will result in a one (1)
point penalty.
7.4. One (1) point shall be awarded to the opponent of a
player who holds His/her non-batting hand within the playing area except when
switching hands.
7.5. One (1) points shall be awarded to the opponent of
the player who hits the ball and it touches the top of the sidewall and/or top
of the contact board and/or jumps back into the playing area.
8. DEAD BALL
8.1. The
referee will call a "dead ball" and a re-serve when, in his/her opinion, the
ball is moving so slowly that the match is being unnecessarily delayed, or a
player has lost track of the ball.
9. PENALTIES
9.1. No
contact is allowed within the goal area with the ball. If that happens, one (1)
point will be awarded to the opponent of that player. That means like this: If
the ball touches the bat or batting-hand in the goal area and moves direct into
the goal, there is a goal and two (2) points is awarded to the opponent. If the
ball touches the bat or batting-hand, and after that touches any other part of
the body, there is a illegal touch and one (1) point is awarded to the opponent.
If the ball touches the bat or the batting-hand, and wents anywhere else, in or
out the table, there is an illegal defence and one (1) point is awarded to the
opponent because of the first in this point: No contact is allowed within the
goal area with the ball.
9.2. If, in the opinion of the referee, the
player is hooking the ball with his/her fingers or thumb, the referee will award
one (1) point to the opponent.
9.3. If the player drops the bat, he/she
loses one (1) point immediately.
9.4. If, in the opinion of the referee,
a player or coach is guilty of misconduct, such as:
a) Shaking the table
in a disturbing way,
b) Scraping the bat in a disturbing way,
c) Talking
during play or break in play (2.13 3.1),
d) Any other activities judged by
the referee to be in this category.
The following penalties
apply:
- 1st infraction: warning and a re-serve,
- 2nd and subsequent
infraction: one (1) point to the opponent and lost of serve,
The referee
is allowed to send supporters or coach out of the room in case of unfair
misconduct.
9.5. In case of very serious misconduct (e.g. throwing the
ball or the bat), the referee is entitled to immediately penalise the offending
player (without having to warn him/her first). The offending player loses the
set by a score of 11-0.
9.6. One (1) point is awarded to the opponent of
the player who pushes any part of his/her body into the goal area from
outside.
9.7. If a mobile phone, watch of the player of his/her coach
rings during the match, the referee awards one (1) point to the
opponent.
10.
ATTIRE
10.1. Players must wear a short sleeve shirt, with
sleeves not longer than elbow length.
10.2. It is recommended that
players wear hand protection. Hand protection must not go beyond six (6) cm past
the wrist joint of the player, the thickness of the hand protection may be
maximum 2,5 cm in the front part (all fingers) up to the wrist, not enlarging
the hand by more than two (2) cm (on sides).
10.3. Players must wear
opaque eye protection that completely obscures the player's vision.
10.4.
The referee must be clearly identifiable as the referee.
B:
EQUIPMENTS SPECIFICATIONS
11.
BATS
Bats are to be constructed of a hard smooth
material, with a length of 34 cm. It can be covered with rubber (a layer up to
two (2) mm on one side or both sides).
Maximum
dimensions:
Blade length: 23 cm
Blade width: 9
cm
Blade thickness: 1 cm
Handle length: 11 cm
Handle
diameter: 4 cm
The blade can be rounded and/or squared (see the
technical blueprint of the Showdown bat).
12. BALLS
Balls are to be
made audible by inserting small pieces of metal into them (e.g.: stainless steel
metal bearings, bee bees, etc.). Balls are to be six (6) cm in diameter with a
hard, smooth surface.
13.
TABLE
Interior
length: 364-366
cm
Interior
width: 121-122
cm
Height(Playing deck
from floor): 78 cm
Sidewall: 14
cm
Corners (interior radius): 23 cm
Goal pocket
(semi-circle): 30 cm diameter
Rectangular vertical
hole: 30 x 9-10 cm (in endwall)
Tactile boundary line for goal
area: 40 cm diameter
Contact
board: 5
cm overhang, and no extension
back
outside of the table.
Centreboard
screen: 46
cm from deck top
C: DEFINITIONS
APPENDIX 1
1. Batting hand: The hand (up to and including
6 cm past the wrist joint) that is holding the bat. The batting hand includes
hand protection as described in rule 10.2.
2. Centreboard screen: The
rectangular board dividing the playing area in two. The centreboard screen rests
on the sidewalls above the playing area.
3. Contact board: The narrow
wooden cap that rests on the top of both endwalls.
4. Set: First player
to reach eleven (11) by a two (2) point margin over his/her opponent, up to a
score of sixteen (16). After that, the next point wins even if a player does not
win by a margin of two (2) points.
5. Goal: A goal is scored when the
ball passes fully into the goal pocket or the player who conceded a goal pushes
the ball intentionally out of the goal pocket with any part of his/her body and
the referee is aware of it.
6. Goal area: The space between the goal
pocket and the tactile boundary line.
7. Goal pocket: The opening in the
horizontal playing deck and the vertical endwall.
8. Match: Any
combination of sets: for example, best of three (2-1). In the knock-out stage
within the EC/WC: best of five (3-2).
9. Playing area: The space that is
defined:
a) At the sides, by side walls and end walls,
b) At the
bottom, by the surface of playing deck,
c) The top of the sidewalls and the
endwalls, contact boards, are excluded.
10. Playing deck: The surface of
the horizontal board.
11. Serve turn: A string of two (2)
serves.
12. Stop time: The total accumulated playing
time.
D: TABLE BLUEPRINTS
APPENDIX 2