THANK YOU to our Youth Hoover-Ball sponsors!
How to Play Youth Hoover-Ball
This game is modified for younger players with the intent to build basic Hoover-Ball skills, strategy, and future players for the Hoover-Ball National Championships. The rules are a little more relaxed, as it’s more fun to keep the ball in play than to be penalized for too many steps or not throwing the ball deep enough. A free Hoover-Ball training camp is offered for players entering 4th through 7th grade to learn these skills and prepare them for the youth tourney.
Let’s be safe, have fun, and keep the ball in play!
BASIC RULES for DIV I & II (4th – 7th grades)
• All DIV. I and II matches will be played with a 2-pound Hoover-Ball.
• Teams consist of 4 to 5 players and may be co-ed, all girls or all boys.
• This is a double elimination tournament. Best 2 out of 3 wins the match.
• Teams with 1 loss move to the 2nd chance bracket.
• The match will be capped at 15 minutes. If a winner has not been determined, the team with the most wins or points at the end of regulation will win the match.
• Good sportsmanship is required. Points in question should be played over.
GAME PLAY
• 4 players take the court on each side. The 5th player will rotate in with each point scored by either team.
• Players are allowed one pass before returning the ball, if needed.
• Players may take one step when throwing or passing the ball.
• A ball caught out of bounds must be carried to the nearest inbounds line and played from there.
• A ball that hits the net at any time on the way over is a live ball.
SERVING
• The same team serves one entire game. The other team serves the following game.
• The serve is rotated to a different player with each point.
• Serving will be done from the center line. If the serve doesn’t make it over the net, the server may try again without penalty and move closer to the net. If the 2nd attempt fails, the point is then lost and the serve is rotated to the next player.
POINTS & SCORING
• Scoring is like tennis: Love – 15 – 30 – 40 (deuce, ad-in, ad-out) – game.
• Points are scored when a team:
– Fails to catch the return
– Fails to serve or return the ball across the net
– Returns the ball out of bounds
BASIC RULES for DIV III Male and Female (8th & 9th grades)
Male and Female Divisions will be combined if one division does not meet the three team minimum.
• All DIV. III matches will be played with a 4-pound Hoover-Ball.
• NO SPIKING!
• Teams consist of 3 to 5 players, all girls or all boys.
• This is a double elimination tournament. Best out of wins the match.
• Teams with 1 loss move to the 2nd chance bracket.
• The match will be capped at 20 minutes. If a winner has not been determined, the team with the most wins or points at the end of regulation will win the match.
• Good sportsmanship is required. Points in question should be played over.
GAME PLAY
• 3 players take the court on each side. Additional players may rotate in as needed.
• Players are allowed one pass before returning the ball, if needed.
• The ball may be returned to any area of the opponent’s court. No Spiking!
• Players may take one step when throwing or passing the ball.
• A ball caught out of bounds must be carried to the nearest inbounds line and played from there.
• A ball that hits the net at any time on the way over is a live ball.
SERVING
• The same team serves one entire game. The other team serves the following game.
• The serve is rotated to a different player with each point.
• Serving will be done from the center line. If the serve doesn’t make it over the net, the point is then lost and the serve is rotated to the next player.
POINTS & SCORING
• Scoring is like tennis: Love – 15 – 30 – 40 (deuce, ad-in, ad-out) – game.
• Points are scored when a team:
– Fails to catch the return
– Fails to serve or return the ball across the net
– Returns the ball out of bounds