Goalie Wars Rules (from 6/2003 Official Tornado Rule Book)

[Mark]

GOALIE WAR

Goalie War is a singles specialty event where the three and five-man rods are lifted up, and the defenders play against each other.

1. The Serve

The ball must touch two men and then be stopped for a full second before a shot may be attempted. Violation is loss of possession.

1.1 Time limits start one second after the ball has touched the second man.

2. Possession

In order to shoot the ball and score a point, a player must have possession of the ball. If the ball is in a player’s defensive area, that player has possession of the ball. However, if the ball is in the center of the table, the player who last had the ball in his defensive area loses possession of the ball to the other player.

2.1 A player’s defensive area is defined to extend from the back wall to the end of where the two-man rod reaches. The center of the table is the remaining area of play.

2.2 A ball that strikes any rod, player figure, or bumper in the center of the table is still considered a live ball. These rods play no part in determining possession of the ball.

2.3 If a ball leaves the playing area and strikes a foreign object, the ball is reserved by the player who originally served the ball.

2.4 If player A shoots a ball that never reaches player B’s defensive area, player A must first stop or control the ball, and then give the ball back to player B to re-serve. In particular, a shot that bounces back and goes in the shooter’s goal counts, since that player must first stop and control the ball.

3. Time Limits

There is a ten second possession limit in the defensive area. In addition, once the ball is stopped or pinned for more than three seconds, the ball must be moved to another man before a shot is attempted.

4. Time Outs

You are allowed two time outs per game.

In rule 2.3 for goalie wars it uses the old ball off the table rule. The new ITSF rules don't talk about goalie wars -- do we use the old rules for goalie wars, or have they been using the new ball off the table rules with goalie wars at the IFP tournaments? I've never played goalie wars at one of Mary's tournaments, if anyone knows for sure please let me know. I want to be sure to use the proper format for goalie wars at the SFFS tournament next weekend.

Also, note the revised time limits with the 10 seconds (instead of the normal 15) and that you can't directly shoot a ball that has been stopped or pinned for more than 3 seconds.

Thanks,
Mark

[Foozkillah]

Mark,

The new doubles rules would radically change from the old goalie-war rules for ball off the table. Although I wouldn't mind the new rules for serving from a dead ball. Hit at least two men and do not let the ball leave your area for a second.

Haven't Mary Moore or Charlie Mackintosh come up against the same quandary? What do they say?

[Micah]

Good question Mark, We have been using the old rules minus rule 2.3. If the ball leaves your playing area (Player A) and hits one of the other rods or flies off of the table. Then the ball shall be awarded to the other player. (Player B) Just like the new rules. Perhaps you could put a call in to Tom Yore and see what he has to say about it?

[foosguru]

I agree with Micah......once you lose the ball it's gone! These new rules where you lose the ball (in normal play and I guess Goalie Wars too now) and get it back are so sad....who came up with them? Obviously someone who can't play )

[trader1199]

Actually I believe its the opposite for goalie wars. If the ball goes off your man and off the table... It goes to the opponent.

John

[Mark]

Below is the reply from Tom Yore on this issue.

You should be playing by the latest version of the USTSA rules for Goalie Wars. Not sure what year was the final version though. The last version I have is from 06/03. I guess the USTSA rules commission should move to update the rules on Goalie Wars and have them listed on the VIFA website.

Looks like we are using the exact rules as written in the latest USTSA rules.

Mark

[redheadrealtor]

Ok... Mark, you sparked an "argument" between John and I as we were practicing Goalie wars, regarding this quote:

2.3 If a ball leaves the playing area and strikes a foreign object, the ball is reserved by the player who originally served the ball.

He says... he doesn't care what the rules say, he is going to what everyone knows to be true, and how they play Goalie Wars at the IFP events...

Following your post regarding Tom's response, I decided to search a little on the internet. I pulled this set of rules from the VIFA website... the pdf file of the rules is dated 2007, and supports the same rules you posted, and has a little more clarification... have a look.

A. GOALIE WAR
Goalie War is a singles specialty event where the three and five-man rods are lifted up, and the defenders play against each other.

1. The Serve
The ball must touch two men and then be stopped for a full second before a shot may be attempted. Violation is loss of possession.

1.1 Time limits start one second after the ball has touched the second man.

2. Possession
In order to shoot the ball and score a point, a player must have possession of the ball. If the ball is in a player’s defensive area, that player has possession of the ball. However, if the ball is in the center of the table, the player who last had the ball in his defensive area loses possession of the ball to the other player.

2.1 A player’s defensive area is defined to extend from the back wall to the end of where the two-man rod reaches. The center of the table is the remaining area of play.

2.2 A ball that strikes any rod, player figure, or bumper in the center of the table is still considered a live ball. These rods play no part in determining possession of the ball.

2.3 If a ball leaves the playing area and strikes a foreign object, the ball is reserved by the player who originally served the ball. If the ball goes dead on the table, the ball is re-served by the player who had possession of the ball.

2.4 If player A shoots a ball that never reaches player B’s defensive area, player A must first stop or control the ball, and then give the ball back to player B to re-serve. In particular, a shot that bounces back and goes in the shooter’s goal counts, since that player must first stop and control the ball.

3. Time Limits
There is a ten second possession limit in the defensive area. In addition, once the ball is stopped or pinned for more than three seconds, the ball must be moved to another man before a shot is attempted.

4. Time Outs
You are allowed two time outs per game.

I take it we should have one set of these rules handy on Friday... Tournament Director's choice. So that we can answer the many questions that "may" arise.

~Jen

[GaryG]

Jen,

I hope you can catch the passes I send up to you. Just be ready by the near wall. I will set up the push series from the back and do a slight brush up pass to your first guy on the 3 man .

Double G.

[Mark]

I pulled this set of rules from the VIFA website... the pdf file of the rules is dated 2007

Jennifer, could you post a link here to those rules as the latest ones I have are dated 6/2003.

Thanks,
Mark

[redheadrealtor]

As per your request...

VIFA rules

[Mark]

Thanks Jennifer, but those seem to be the VIFA league rules. The most recent USTSA rules that I found are at the link below. They are somewhat hard to find now as everything is converting over to the ITSF rules.

USTSA Rules version 6/2003

Mark

[foosguru]

Good job on the site Mark & Co.!!!!!

I just lost my reply post tho, guess I took too long. I went to the USTSA site for the Goalie Wars rules. The jest of my post were all the rules I found that we don't play by. Mainly possesion. I'm not retyping it, just look it over.

As for the Goalie Wars rule in question, I don't see the problem. If the ball leaves your area, it's not comin back. If you shoot like Quincy and it leaves the table and hits the bartender, than you can get it back, cause that would be a foreign object. It doesn't specify if the ball or the bartender have to land on the table BTW

Are we playing by those rules for all events or just goalie wars? Because there are alot of discrepancies!

[Mark]

Paul,

We would only be using the USTSA 6/2003 rule book for Goalie Wars. Basically the ITSF rules have replaced these USTSA rules (and there are definitely a lot of differences as you said), however since the ITSF rules do not mention Goalie Wars we will need to use the most recent version of Goalie Wars rules from the USTSA rule book (6/2003) -- which was what the President of the ITSF Rules Commission, Tom Yore, said to do =).

Mark

[foosguru]

TY Mark.....I just had to ask. So the goalie in doubles still loses the ball off the rod and gets it back......I don't get that part.....oh well. Am I thinking too much?

[Mark]

The basic summary is that all doubles rules are exactly as we have been playing them for the last year (the ITSF rules -- see link in upper right corner of this page for the current rule book download). The only question that I was trying to clear up here were rules specific to Goalie Wars for our tournament this weekend and the final decision as described above was to use the most recent USTSA rules for Goalie Wars (see the quote in my first post here for the actual rules).

Don't worry, nothing is changing at our tournament, all will be as it has been lately in the standard events. The only difference will be that we play Goalie Wars as the rule I quoted in my first post above (which is slightly different than how the ITSF rules might describe how we play Goalie Wars -- however, the ITSF doesn't specify Goalie Wars rules and we need for the USTSA to update their rules if things are to change with Goalie Wars).

Mark

[foosguru]

Thanks Mark!

[foosguru]

Well, after reading Tom Yore's assesment and new rules.....I have to say..DUH! How anyone can read those rules with a brain and not come away scratching their heads is beyond me! I give up! He never was a goalie either BTW! I still need a site for local points please.