Advanced Physical Education

Tchoukball Study Guide

Mr. Smoker

What is it?

A fluid, low-contact game, full of high-speed fake outs and rapid possession changes, in which physical ability, alertness, and teamwork are equally rewarded.

*The name is pronounced “chookball”

Game play / Half court game – game with only one trampoline
Bipolar game – game with trampolines at both ends
Starting Play / -A jump ball will start play in the middle
-The restarts after scores or turnovers take place behind the end line and on either side of the frame that was just scored on. You must “check it up” with an opposing player before passing the ball in.
Scoring / -A team scores a point when a player bounces the ball off the trampoline and it hits the ground outside the forbidden zone.
-The shot must hit the white trampoline, not the bungee straps or the blue frame
-If we are inside, a point is not scored if the ball hits the curtain or bleachers
-Teams can score at either trampoline in a bipolar game
Forbidden Zone / -10 ft radius around the trampoline that neither team is allowed to enter with or without the ball
Rule of Threes / -The ball is moved by passing only
-If one team is in possession of the ball and it hits the ground while passing, the other team gains possession at the spot it hit
-Each player may take a max of 3 steps after catching the ball
-The player with the ball has only 3 seconds before they must pass to a teammate or shoot
-In a bipolar game, either team may shoot at either frame but the two teams combined may not shoot at the same frame more than 3 times in a row.
Defense / -You play defense in an opposite manner then you do in most sports
-Instead of putting yourself between the offense and the goal, let the offense shoot and play defense behind them
-Try to place yourself according to where you expect the ball to land after hitting the trampoline
-If the defender can get a hand on the ball but not catch it, he or she will at least try to knock the ball upwards for a teammate to catch.
-As long as the ball is moving, the defender has to be moving too.
-Try to disrupt them on the way to the goal
Turnovers / The ball is turned over if:
-A player shoots and misses the trampoline
-A player shoots and the rebound hits out of bounds (or off a wall inside)
-A player shoots and it lands inside the forbidden zone, before or after it hits the trampoline
-A pass is dropped
Fouls / -The defending team cannot hamper the attacking team at all
-NO BODY CONTACT
-Touching the ball with your body below the knees is not allowed.
-Stepping into the forbidden zone at any point other than after a jump shot
-Catching or touching the ball of the trampoline when shot by your own team
-After any foul occurs, the opposing team gets the ball at the spot of the foul. A pass is made to put the ball into play before a shot may be taken.

Strategy: Placing the shot
The frame’s upward angle presents a challenge for shooters. Overhand shots from beyond the arc tend to come out at chest-to-waist level and are relatively easy to catch:

A hard underhand shot with lots of topspin will come out at a high angle, possibly over the heads of defenders who have crowded the line. The defense had better have another group of players (known as the second zone) standing back from the line to catch shots like these:

Shots from an extreme side angle are tricky to make but are also hard to catch:

Technique: The flying shot
On offense, you’re allowed to leap over the forbidden zone as long as you release the ball before you touch down. This makes the flying shot possible—one of the most satisfying moves in the game. Jumping gets you closer to the frame, and also higher above it, especially on an approach from the side. From this angle you can make shots that come out low with a lot of speed and are hard for a defender to catch.

The experienced shooter eventually learns to place the ball at will over a large area of the court without even looking at the net. Instead, he or she will be scanning the positioned defenders, looking for an unguarded spot on the floor.

Of course, if you have a teammate in position, you can always convert that flying shot into a flying pass, forcing the defense to scramble to counter the new scoring threat.

Playing Tchoukball: Positions

*Offensive team is circled (offensive)

The players on the team are usually classified into:

·  The four wings (W), which because of their positions by the sides of each frame are the team’s main shot-makers.

·  The two center-frames (CF), who anchor the defense on their respective sides and are also expected to be shooters of last resort.

·  The center-center (CC) is responsible for directing large-scale tactics.

In the nine-person game, the two demi’s (D) have to be fast and tireless, shoring up the defense on both sides of the court. They also play an important role in transition.

10/17/12