Basic Rules - Lifetime 90029 Owner's Manual

5
TETHERBALL BASIC & ADVANCED RULES, & TACTICS
How the Game is Played: Play in matches of 3, 5, or 7 games. Each player takes a turn serving for a whole
game. The serving player may serve the ball in either direction. The receiving player must then hit the ball
in the opposite direction. After the initial serve, any player may hit the ball. To win a game, a player must
completely wrap the rope around the pole in that player's direction. To win a match, a player must win by
two or more games.
Non-Intentional Violations: If a violation occurs, the game is stopped and returned to the point at which the
violation occurred. The non-offending player gets to serve. The following list explains the violations:
• Stepping off sides: Each player's field of play consists of only half the playing circle. A player may not
step out of his or her boundaries.
• Touching the rope: Players may not touch or hit the rope at any time.
• Carrying or throwing the ball: Players must only hit the ball when serving and receiving the ball. The ball
must bounce off the players' hands or fists without any lingering contact.
• Double hitting: A player may hit the ball only once per wrap around the pole. If the ball hits the pole
without going completely around the pole, the player may hit the ball again. However, a player may
not hit the ball twice during a single revolution.
Committing three non-intentional violations, in any combination, during a single game, results in the loss
of the game for the offending player.
Intentional Violations: A player must not grab the pole. Grabbing the pole is an automatic loss of the game
for the offending player.
Double Violations: It is highly unlikely, but if both players commit a violation at the same time, the players
must execute a "Pole Drop." A Pole Drop consists of both players holding the ball with one hand three feet
from the pole along the line dividing the two sides. The players then release the ball simultaneously, and
allow the ball to touch the pole before either player can hit the ball.

BASIC RULES

Player 1
Player 2
Aerial View
Player 1
Player 2
Aerial View
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