Tetherball is a ball game that is similar to volleyball.
It is popular in some regions of the United States of America, especially in Ohio, Massachusetts and California. Still, there are many people who never heard of it, and don't know how to play tetherball.
The fan's of this game say that it disserves more popularity, because of the advantages of tetherball: it needs very little place, it can be set up almost anywhere, it is fun for beginners and advanced players too, it provides a comparatively high level of total body conditioning, it provides continuing action, it needs only two players, so it is easy to organize a game, but it can be practiced only by one person too. It is very easy to learn how to play tetherball. Let's see some rules to follow while playing this game.
In the most common form of tetherball the ball is tied to a ten-foot vertical pole by a slender rope. Two players, each situated in one half of the area surrounding the pole try to hit the ball repeatedly in one direction, so that the rope wraps completely around the pole. There is a different version of the game too. It is called paddle tetherball, and in this version a ball similar with a tennis ball is struck with a paddle.
There are no standard rules of the game; each community seems to have a different opinion of how to play tetherball. Still there can be set some rules that can make the game fun, and that can lead to best competition between opponents.
The player who wraps the rope around the pole in his own direction wins the game. The game starts when one of the players serves the ball. Here are two options: the server can hit the ball repeatedly or the server can hit the ball only after the opponent hits the ball or the rope is wrapped around the pole at least four times.
When playing the first version of the game, if the server is an experienced player he will win very fast, but if the other version is played serving becomes a disadvantage. Because of the advantages or disadvantages of serving the ball first, victory isn't certain after only one game, it is necessary for the players to play at least two games so each of them can serve the ball at least once.
The objective of each player is to hit the ball beyond his opponent reach. There are penalties too. In some versions of the game if one player breaks the rules he will automatically lose the game. A fairer system makes the distinction between intentional and unintentional faults.
Unintentional violation of the rules can be stepping off sides, touching the rope, carrying and throwing, double hitting.
The last two violations of the rules need some explanations.
Carrying and throwing means that when you hit the ball back, against the direction from which it comes the ball should bounce immediately with no lingering contact. Double hitting means that a player can hit the ball only once per wrap around the pole.
When an unintentional violation of the rules occurs the ball is stopped, the number of wraps, their height, and the position of the ball is recreated and the other player has the right to hit the ball.
After three unintentional violations the opponent wins the game.
The single intentional violation is grabbing the pole. Other violations fall under the category of unsportsmanlike conduct. It is OK to punch the ball or to jump directly in front of your opponent, and any other tactics within the range of good sportsmanship.
These are the rules of tetherball. At the beginner level tactics rarely amount to more than hitting the ball back and forth, but fairly sophisticated tactics can be used to win the game.
Now knowing how to play tetherball we can only hope that anyone who tries out the game will have fun playing it.
