ECLIPSE BALL

Eclipse Ball is the hottest new racquet and ball sport created in the heart of America. Eclipse Ball began in 1988. The idea for a black and white ball came from a grandfather, who was a baseball player in the early 1900’s. In those days, the pitcher might try an old trick and smear black on part of the ball. This gave the pitched ball a corkscrewing appearance as it went spinning through the air, and quite often, confused the batter just enough to make him miss. This corkscrewing effect also adds to the element of uncertainty in the Eclipse Ball game. Both aggressive and non-aggressive players work well together in this game. A light touch is as important to the strategy of winning as a fiercely hit return.

Eclipse Ball was designed to have the camaraderie of volleyball, the spontaneity of badminton, and the excitement of tennis, with rules designed with fun

and action in mind. The fundamental ideas behind Eclipse Ball are a desire for a game with vigorous volleys that aren't terminated easily and a second chance that can extend

these delirious volleys even more.

OBJECT OF THE GAME:

  • The object of the game is to score 21 points.
  • Points are won by the SERVING TEAM EXCEPT IN A “PLAY – IT” SITUATION.
  • Games must be won by at least 3 points.
  • Winner is determined by the best 2 out of 3 games.

TO BEGIN THE GAME:

  • Typically there are 4-6 players per team but as few as one on each team can play, or

more than 6 if needed.

* The court size for teams is the same as a standard volleyball setup (green lines on

main court or the gray lines if playing width of our courts,) with standard badminton

size for singles. Net height is 8 feet.

THE SERVE:

  • Eclipse Ball is started by a team member who THROWS the ball over the net thus beginning the volley for the serve, the ball must go over the net 3 times. THE WINNER OF THE VOLLEY WINS THE SERVE.
  • All serves must be underhand with once bounce from ¾ court or further back. (Orange line is playing on main court or black sideline is playing width of our courts)
  • The server has only one chance to get the ball over the net.
  • A ball that lands on the line is always good.
  • Balls that hit the net and go over while serving or volleying are always good.
  • Rotate players as in volleyball, ______.
  • When beginning the 2nd or 3rd game, the team that lost the previous game serves first.

RETURN OF SERVE:

  • The Eclipse Ball is usually hit with the racquet, however it is not against the rules for players to use their hands or heads to keep the ball in play. It is against the rules to catch the ball and throw it.
  • Players cannot score on a double hit, (hitting the ball up to themselves and slamming it over) however other players may set you up for a slam. Team work and passing the ball between players is encouraged.
  • During play the ball is allowed to bounce ONCE IN BOUNDS ANY NUMBER OF TIMES BETWEEN HITS (WITH A MAXIMUM OF 2 CONSECUTIVE HITS PER PLAYER,) AND TWICE IN BOUNDS, ONCE ON EACH SIDE, PER VOLLEY. The second double bounce results in a loss of serve or score.
  • A player must not enter the opposite team’s court in any way to recover the ball; this includes their racquet. You may come up to and equal with the net, but not over or under it.

“PLAY – IT” SITUATION:

  • A “Play-it” situation is possible when on the teams is at fault and the opposite team whishes to keep the ball in play. This is done to gamble for extra points or merely for the fun of extending the volley.
  • Each time that one team is at fault (they might hit the ball out of bounds), members from the opposite team have the option of returning the ball but they must shout, “Play – it!”first before returning it. If a team fails to shout, “Play-it” on an opposite team’s fault, and keeps the ball in play, the game is continued as usual, with only the serving team being able to score.
  • This will alert all players that the ball is still in play and is worth 2 points. Bothteams have the opportunity to rack up 2,4, 6 or even more pointsin one extended volley. This way either team can score on “Play-its.”
  • “Play-its” are NOT allowed on serves.