R U L E S   O F   T H E   G A M E   THE FIELD -               The field is rectangular: 328 feet (100 meters) long by 246 feet (75 meters) wide. *   (Practical Adaptation: the same measurements as a football or soccer field.)   -              In the middle of each end of the field there is “ring-goal” with a diameter of 4 feet (1.20 meters) located at a height of 8 feet 8 inches (2.60 meters) from the ground. *   (Practical Adaptation: the ring-goal can be adjusted to the goal post of football or soccer.)   -              At a distance of 22 yards (20 meters) from the end line (or a distance equivalent to 1/5 the length of the field) there is a line from side to side which indicates the offside area.  Offside occurs only in the area between this line and the end line.   -              On each end line, at the mid-point distance between the ring-goal and the corner of the field, there is a flag indicating the corner throw-in on both sides.   -              From one corner throw-in to the other corner throw-in, on the same end line, there is a semicircular line around the ring-goal.  This is the “2-point line”; all goals scored from beyond this line count as 2 points.   THE BALL -              The ball has a diameter of 12 inches (30 centimeters) to 14 inches (35 centimeters). The color is white with 3 rings on its circumference which cross each other perpendicularly.  It is made of leather or other approved material.                *   (Practical Adaptation: In terms of size and construction, the ball is similar to that of a soccer ball which is perfectly acceptable for use.)   THE TEAMS -              Each team is made up of 12 players on the field and 7 players on the bench as substitutes.  Each team is mixed, made up of men and women.  Each team must have a minimum of 4 women and 4 men playing on the field during the whole game.   SUBSTITUTION -               Substitution is unlimited.  Players may enter the game at any time and as often as required as long as the referees are informed.  Substitutions must be made when play has stopped.      THE REFEREES -              There are two referees on the field: one a woman and the other a man.  Each is assigned a half of the field, but has authority throughout the whole field.    DURATION -              The game is divided in 4 periods of 20 minutes.  There is a 5-minute rest time between periods.  Between the second and third period there is a 10-minute rest time.   For each period teams switch sides of the field.   -               The clock is stopped when the flow of the game is stopped or interrupted.    OBJECTIVE -              The objective of each team is to put the ball in the ring-goal of the opposing team.  A goal is scored when the whole ball has crossed the goal line of the ring-goal.  The ring-goal may be defended by any means except leaning or getting up on the ring-goal, or getting up on or being lifted by another player.   MANNER OF PLAY -              Each player may play the ball with any part of the body as long as the ball is not held or gripped.   The ball must be in constant motion.  If a player holds the ball, a “holding foul” is called and the ball passed to the opposing team’s possession.  The ball may only be “held” in the movement of throwing the ball, but if it is not released it is a holding foul.   -              When the ball is carried from hand to hand, the hands must be at a distance greater than the width of the shoulders.  If a player carries the ball with his/her hands at a distance less than their shoulder width, it is considered “holding of the ball” and thus a foul.   START OF GAME -              A coin toss decides the right for kick-off for the first period and choice of field.  In the following periods the teams alternate in kick-off and side of field.    -              Kick-off for each period is from the offside line. Each team lines up in its own offside line.  Each period begins when the kick-off team kicks the ball to the opposing team on the other side of the field.  The ball must reach the opposing team lined up at their offside line before teams can enter each other’s field.  If the ball does not reach, kick-off will be repeated.  The referee signals the start of each period.   WINNING -               The team that scores the most goals in the time of play wins the game.  There are no ties.                  In case of a tie there will be a “tie-breaking round”.   THE TIE-BREAKER -               The tie breaking round consists 3 attack opportunities for each team.  Each attack lasts 5 minutes.                  In the tie breaking round only one half of the field is used, and there is no offside.                  The attacking team begins from mid-field.   -               The attacking team, made up of 6 players, tries to score a goal.   -               The defending team, made up of 5 players, tries to stop the attack.   -              The attack ends (A) when the ball enters the ring-goal,  (B) when the attacking team throws the ball out the end line,  (C) when the ball crosses the midfield line,  (D) when the 5 minutes are up.   -              Each team takes turns in attacking.  When each team completes its 3 attacks, the team with the most goals wins the game.  The goals beyond the 2-point line count as 2 points.   -              If after 3 turns the tie is maintained, the tie-breaking round continues with 1 turn per team until one team goes a goal ahead, and thus wins the game.   BALL OUT OF PLAY -              The ball is out of play when it touches the ground outside the playing field, or touches a player who is stepping outside the playing field.   -              If the ball is in the air outside the playing field and has not yet touched the ground, the ball can be put in play again as long as the player is not stepping outside the playing field when making contact with the ball.   SIDE LINE THROW-IN -              When a team throws the ball out the side line, the opposing team has possession of the ball and brings the ball into play by a throw-in from the spot where the ball went out.  The side line throw-in is with the hands without any restriction except that the player throwing in must have both feet on the ground.  If a foot is lifted or there is a jump, that team will lose possession of the ball and the opposing team will have the throw-in from that spot.   END LINE THROW-IN -              When the ball goes out the end line having been touched last by the attacking team, the defending team will throw in from the end line.  The throw-in can be from any part of the end line in the same manner as the side line throw-in.   GOAL THROW-IN -              After a goal has been scored, the defending team throws the ball into play from the end line in the same manner as the side line throw-in.  Play immediately continues without any interruption.   CORNER THROW-IN -              When the ball goes out the end line having been touched last by the defending team, the attacking team will execute a corner throw-in.  The corner throw-in is with the hands, in the same manner as the side line throw-in, from the indicated spot on the end line at the mid-point between the ring-goal and the corner of the field.   -               The players of the defending team must maintain a distance 3 yards (3 meters) from the corner throw-in spot.   OFFSIDE -              Offside occurs when an attacking player receives the ball in the offside area and there is no defending player between him/her and the end line.   -               Offside only occurs in the offside area, between the offside line and the end line.    FOULS -              A foul is any obstruction or impediment of free movement of a player.  Any physical contact not directed towards playing the ball is a foul.  When the referee calls a foul, ball possession goes to the team fouled.   FOUL THROW -              A player from the team fouled throws the ball into play with his/her hands form the spot where the foul occurred.   The defending team must maintain a distance of 3 yards (3 meters).   -              In the foul throw the ball cannot be thrown forward directly.  The ball must first be passed back to another player, and then it can be sent offensively to any part of the field.  The player must signal the foul throw by raising the ball above his/her head before throwing the ball into play.  The referee’s signal is not needed to proceed with the foul throw.   YELLOW CARD -              In case of violent aggressions which goes against the spirit of the sport, the player will receive a yellow card as a warning.   RED CARD -               If this aggression persists, the player will receive a red card and be throw out of the game.   -               The accumulation of 2 yellow cards is equivalent to a red card and ejection from the game.   -              Another player of the same team takes the place of the ejected player.  The player is punished not the entire team which will maintain its 12 players on the field.       *            *            *            *            *            *            * GOOD WILL GREETING In the spirit of the sport and as an act of good will among the participating teams, it is suggested to have a presentation for the spectators before and after the game.   This presentation consists of the two teams lining up at the center of the field and greeting the spectators. Following, each player shakes hands with each player of the other team in line fashion.     TOTAL BALL - Sport Created in El Bierzo, Spain, in 1994  "A UNIVERSAL SPORT IN WHICH MEN AND WOMEN PARTICIPATE TOGETHER EQUALLY CELEBRATING GOOD WILL." Inventor of Total Ball... José Marcelino García Blanco