The Rules of Roofball
Posted: 04-06-2006 (modified: 06-11-2009)

Object

To score more points than your opponent(s) in 10 throws.


Game structure

In tournament play, each of three players alternate throws until all three have thrown 10 times, and the highest scorer after 10 throws is declared the winner of the game.


Required objects

A roofball (a regulation-size football is most often used, but a rugby ball is also acceptable)
A roof
A scoring pole attached to the roof at a point higher than the minimum line
An obstacle (see below)
A throwing square


Scoring

Points are scored (or lost) when the player throws the roofball onto the roof based on a number of different possible outcomes which are explained in this section.

If in the course of a throw none of the situations described below occur, or if the roofball fails to travel beyond the minumum line (see below), the thrower will be awarded zero points for that throw.

There are five ways to score or lose points in a throw:

Ping – 5 points: A ping is scored when the roofball is released from within the throwing area and strikes the scoring pole.

Around – 10 points: An around is scored when the roofball is released from within the throwing area, strikes the roof above or rolls above the scoring pole and passes the scoring pole on the opposite side on its way down.

Catch – 1 point: A catch is scored when the roofball is released from within the throwing area, advances beyond the roof’s minimum line, and is caught by the thrower before the ball strikes the ground, obstacle, or comes to rest anywhere other than on the roof. Catches can be scored independently, or can act as a bonus point if the ball is caught after a ping or an around. For instance, if the thrower catches the ball after throwing a ping, the thrower receives 6 instead of 5 points.

Over – -5 points: The roofball is ruled out of play when the ball is released from within the throwing area and either bounces or flies over the roof. Five points are subtracted from the thrower’s score.

Hitting the Obstacle – -1 point: A point is subtracted from a throw when the roofball is released from inside the throwing area and hits the obstacle without first striking the ground. Hitting the obstacle can be scored independently, or can act as a deduction if the ball is caught after a ping or an around. For instance, if the ball hits the obstacle after the thrower has thrown a ping, the thrower receives 4 instead of 5 points.

(Special Situation: Fault – If a player throws the ball from outside the throwing square, a fault is called. If the ball does not go over the roof, the roofball is dead, no score is awarded and the thrower must throw again. If the ball goes over the roof, the thrower receives a –5. If the thrower is called for a fault twice on the same throw, he or she receives a zero on that throw. A fault is called when a player’s feet are, in whole or in part, outside the throwing square when he or she releases the roofball.)


In play/Dead ball

The thrower can continue to score points as long at the throw is still in play. Scoring for a throw is complete once the ball is dead.

The throw is considered dead once the roofball in caught by the thrower, hits the ground, hits the obstacle, comes to rest on top of or within an object not attached to the roof, or rolls/bounces over the top of the roof.
The throw is considered in play in all other situations, including when the ball is in the air, on the roof or has deflected off of the thrower or an object other than the obstacle and has not yet hit the ground or come to rest on top of or within an object.

(Special Situation: Stuck Ball – If the ball comes to rest on the roof, the play is dead, and scoring is complete for that throw. Points are awarded for a ping or around as appropriate, but no points can be scored with a catch or lost on account of an obstacle hit. Should the ball come to rest while touching the scoring pole, a ping with no catch shall be awarded.)


Rules governing contact

Only the thrower is allowed to touch the roofball while it is in play. If a player other than the thrower intentionally touches the roofball while it is in play, he or she is ejected from the game and is considered to have finished with a score of –50.
Only the thrower is allowed to stand or move within the throwing area or the area generally accepted as the catching area while the roofball is in play. If a player intentionally touches or bodily impedes the thrower or stands or moves within the throwing area or catching area while the ball is in play, he or she is ejected from the game and is considered to have finished with a score of –50.
The thrower is allowed to lean, sit, lie on or stand on the obstacle in an effort to catch the roofball.


The Throwing Square

The throwing square is the area within which the thrower’s feet must be placed when he or she releases the roofball. The square must be at least five feet wide and eight feet long, and its borders can be no closer than five feet from the nearest edge of the roof.


The Scoring Pole

The scoring pole must be attached to the roof above the minimum line. The scoring pole can be made of any material but must stand at least two (2) feet high with the roof as its base and be no more than two (2) feet in width or diameter.

The Minimum Line

The minimum line is a line on the roof above which the roofball must travel in order to be considered "in play," and allow the thrower to score points. A throw which does not pass the minimum line is considered dead, and the thrower receives zero points for that throw.

The line should be placed high enough on the roof to persuade players to make a reasonable effort to throw near the target pole, but not so high as to make reasonable throws that land short of the target punished unduly.

The Obstacle

The obstacle used in Roofball is unique to each Roofball court, and is designated as the obstacle by the court’s owner. The obstacle must meet the following requirements:

The obstacle must not be on or attached to the roof.
The obstacle must be on the ground.
The obstacle must not be more that four (4) feet in height
The obstacle must not be located, in whole or in part, within the throwing square.
The obstacle must be placed in an area where the roofball could be reasonably expected to strike on a consistent basis if not stopped by the thrower.
The obstacle must be of a size and shape such that a thrower has a reasonable chance of catching or deflecting a roofball headed for the obstacle in most cases.