Get Active: Footwhizz

Tuesday 9th August 2016

Footwhizz is a new game created by 1st Bloxham Company and combines a variety of games including, basketball, netball, football, handball and Gaelic football into one.

Equipment:

• Large field or indoor area with high ceiling, 5 a side football pitch size is about right with corners marked.
• A ball (a volleyball, dodge ball or sponge ball works quite well, a normal football is probably too heavy especially for younger members).
• Two small goals or baskets. We use low, oversized basketball nets that sit on the ground but basketball nets on their lowest setting or small pop up unihoc goals would work. Bear in mind it is quite a low scoring game so the bigger the goal or basket the better.
• Two teams (Five a side works well, more and the pitch gets crowded).
• Three leaders, one to referee the match and one to stand behind each goal to monitor the goal area ‘Ds’ at each end of the pitch.

Rules:

The game commences with a ‘bully-off/jump-ball’ in the middle of the pitch, similar to a basketball start, two players in the middle, leader throws the ball up between them to then knock the ball back to a team mate.

When a player has possession of the ball they must stand still although they can swivel on one foot like in netball.

The ball can then only be passed to another player on their team by the player in possession kicking it out of their hands to a team mate. Opposing players may attempt to get in the way of the pass but the game is non-contact and a player with the ball must be given 1 metres space to be able to kick a pass cleanly. Any unfair encroachment into that space should result in a free kick to the team in possession with all defending players retreating 5 metres.

If the ball leaves the side of the pitch, or the ends as per a throw in, or a corner in football, then it is a kick in from out of the hands to the opposing team from the side where the ball left the pitch or the corner post/flag.

 If a player does not take a pass cleanly then whoever manages to pick up the ball off the floor cleanly retains possession and as soon as a ball is cleanly picked up the opposing team should retreat a metre.

On approaching the goals at either end no player from either team is allowed within an imaginary ‘D’ around the goal which should be refereed by officers at each end of the pitch. If an attacking player enters the ‘D’ it means play passes to the other team. If a defending player enters the ‘D’ it is a penalty to the other side which entails a three metre free throw from the edge of the ‘D’ to attempt to score a goal.

A goal in Footwhizz can be scored by throwing or kicking the ball into the goal from outside of the 3 metre ‘D’. The opposing team may attempt to stop the goal but must not enter the ‘D’ to do so. If the ball is thrown into the goal, the team receives 1 point, if the ball is kicked into the goal then 3 points are awarded. Obviously if basketball goals or similar are used then a kicked goal is very difficult to score.

The game should be played over 2 ten minute halves with teams switching ends at half time