Throwball is a team sport that looks a little like volleyball but removes the spikes and blocks, since every ball is caught and thrown rather than hit. It is especially popular in India, where it is widely played in schools and colleges and has a strong following among women’s teams. The sport is governed domestically by the Throwball Federation of India (TFI), which is affiliated with the World Throwball Federation and the Asian Throwball Association, and is recognised by India’s Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports.
Objective
Two teams stand on opposite sides of a net and try to throw the ball so it lands inside the opponent’s court, or so the opponent cannot catch and return it cleanly within the rules, winning the point either way.
Rules and regulations
- A team fields nine players on court, with three substitutes named for the match.
- Players catch the ball with both hands and must release it as a throw rather than carrying it, catching for an extended period or catching with one hand, all of which count as fouls.
- Positions rotate around the court in a set order, similar to volleyball, each time a team wins back the serve.
- The ball must cross the net without touching it on serve, and it cannot be caught and held while a player is out of position or off the court.
- A minimum of seven players is needed for a match to go ahead even if a team is short of its full nine.
Equipment and playing area
- Court size depends on the age group, with senior matches played on a court around 18.3 metres by 12.2 metres, surrounded by a three-metre free zone, and smaller dimensions used for junior and sub-junior categories.
- The net is set higher for senior matches than for junior ones, and the ball is similar in size to a volleyball but slightly softer, since it is designed to be caught rather than struck.
Scoring
- Throwball uses rally-point scoring, with each set played to 15 points.
- If the score reaches 14-14, play continues until one side builds a two-point lead, though a hard cap usually applies so that the first team to 17 wins outright if the gap never opens up.
- A match is generally decided over the best of three or five sets depending on the tournament.
