Official Bearball Minor League Rules
International Version: 2005
Bearballฎ
A Civilized Hunt
Remembering more primitive times when
The hunter became the hunted!
Copyright 2005
Robert E. Bear
A.
Table of Contents
Users
Guide
...
.3
Introduction:
Basics of How to Play
..
4
Rule 1 Bearball Terms
.5
Rule 2 Hunt Preliminaries
..
17
Rule 3 The Hunt
.
.18
Rule 4 Penalties
..20
Rule 5 Equipment
...21
Rule 6 Uniforms
..22
Rule 7 Tournaments
..24
Rule 8 Junior League
...
.25
Rule 9 Senior League
..
.26
Rule 10
Silver-tip League
..
.27
Rule 11
Appeals
..
.28
Index
Appendixes
B. Maps
D. Signals
Users Guide
This guide is divided into major groupings of rules and information for easy reference. Words or phrases used throughout this manual printed in italics are defined in the Bearball Terms section and are listed in alphabetical order.
When seeking answers to specific inquiries, check the Table of Contents to see which rule or appendixes may contain the information. You may also reference a topic by checking for a key word in the Index.
The Appendix includes suggestions for setting up teams and competitions, as well as, maps showing the playing field, starting Posts for defensive players, and referee placement. Also included in the Appendix is a list of suggested names for Clans.
Minor League refers to teams whose members do not receive any sort of monetary compensation for playing. These International Rules are written in metric measurements and use a spherical, specific size, air filled ball that is put into play without the use of a Bearclaw Bat. The domestic version uses Bearclaw Bats and standard measurements.
Persons interested in becoming Council members, Rangers, establishing a Clan, or organizing leagues or Bearball tournaments should contact Ursidae Enterprises, Inc. regarding additional regulations, fee requirements, other materials, and suggestions.
Introduction
Bearball is more than just a game. It reflects prehistoric times, when people in small closely knit groups depended on each other to survive in hostile natural environments; a time when hunter-gathers passed on their tribal histories and traditions through stories, songs, and dances around campfires.
Bearball is a celebration. A Potlach, comes before each Hunt where each Clan is allowed up to ten (10) minutes before competitions to perform their Clans songs, skits, and dances to entertain spectators. Potlaches honoring successful Hunts may be continued after competitions are over, with time limits established by local league officials (Bearball Parliament). Parliaments are also encouraged to establish Potlach competitions. Additionally, family members of Bearball players are permitted to participate in Potlach performances.
Bearball is a study of ancient life. In order to create songs, skits, dances, and symbolic totems, interested individuals may research the following cultural topics in relation to aboriginal and tribal societies: pre- and post-hunting rituals, art, music, ceremonies, costumes, feasts, religion, dances, holidays, gods, body painting, masks, and instruments.
The Basics of How to Play
Bearball is sort of a blend of kick ball, dodge ball, and baseball played on a meadow with areas designated as Trees, a Lake, hill, and den. Its a game of skill, strategy, and chance. The object of the Bearball game, called a Hunt, is for Bears to get from the Trees to the Den before being caught: Bagged. Each team, called a Clan, takes turns at being Bears and Hunters. These turns are called Day Stalk (the first half of an inning done by the visiting team as Bears: offense) and Night Stalk (the second half of an inning performed by the home teams turn at being Bears). When four (4) Bears have been Bagged, the Hunters have taken their Limit and the Clans switch places. Eight (8) completed sets of rotations of Stalks (a Day and Night Stalk) constitute a Hunt. The team with the greatest number of Bears reaching their den safely wins the Hunt. There are no tie games in Bearball, each Hunt produces either a Feast (win) or Famine (loss). Ties and other disputes are settled by flipping the Flatbear.
To start the game, one Bear is sent to each
Tree on the square Bearball field. These Bears are called Ursa Minors (Um). One Bear, the UM
(Ursa Major), goes to the Den and kicks,
throws, bounces, or rolls the 6" or 7 ball into play after the
Warden shouts Hunt when the two teams are in place. There are seven (7) Hunters positioned around
the field. The ball must stay within the limits of the Clear-cut and Meadow
(see field maps). If the ball goes into the
When the UM puts the ball
into play, the Hunters get the ball and can throw, kick, bounce, or roll the
ball toward a Bear as it attempts to get to the Den. If the ball touches any
part of the Bear below the neck, the Bear is Bagged and must return to the
Cave. Four Bears must be Bagged per Stalk.
After four (4) Bears have been Bagged, the teams switch places and the Bears
become the Hunters.
Note: There are seventeen (17) conditions in which a Bagged Bear can be declared (see rule 1:02 Bearball Terms).
The UM can attempt to maul Hunters
(see Rule 1.46).
The UM cannot get the ball for Mauling until after at least one Hunter has touched
the ball after the UM puts the ball into play out of the Den. When the UM throws, kicks, bounces, or rolls a ball toward a Hunter and the
ball touches any part of the Hunter below the neck without the Hunter catching
the ball, the Hunter is declared Mauled and a point is awarded to the Bears. If
a Hunter is Mauled, they must leave the playing field for the rest of that
Stalk. No more that two Hunters can be mauled per Stalk.
UMs can be Bagged in the
same manner as the Ums.
UMs cannot score points
other than by mauling. They can go to a Tree or Lake; however, no more than one
Bear at a time can occupy the Lake or Tree. If a Um touches a Lake or Tree that
has a UM, the Um is declared Bagged.
Play does not stop until one of the following five (5) conditions occurs:
1) Time-out is called by a member of the Ranger staff.
2) All Bears on the field have been Bagged.
3) All Ums have safely reached the Den.
4) The Den is Burned.
5) A Dead Stone occurs; i.e., Forested Stone.
If an Ursa Minor is at a
Clans must rotate players through their Campaign Roster. Once an Ursa Minor has been Bagged or reached the Den safely, they cannot return to a Tree until after they have played as an Ursa Major. An Ursa Major cannot return to kick the Stone until they have served as an Ursa Minor. If both Ursa Minors return to the Den without a Bagged-Bear, then the Warden will call Open Season and Bears will go to their appropriate places to start Hunting again. If only one of the Ums returns safely when there is a Dead Stone, then another Um must go to a Tree before play can start again with another UM putting the ball into play. If an UM is still at a safety zone, Tree or Lake, when a Dead Stone happens, then it must return to the cave before another UM puts the ball into play.
An
Ursa Minor may replace another at a Tree when Warden calls Open Season. There
may not be more than two (2) Ursa Minors on the field at one time during Live Rock.
When the Stone has been kicked from the Den, Hunters
attempt to Bag a Bear by hitting the Um
with the Stone before the Bear can reach the Den. Two (2) Ums can be Bagged on
one throw if the ball does not touch the ground between contacting Bears.
The
Hunt ends when one of the following happens.
A. Eight (8) Stalks are completed.
B.
Game is delayed more than
forty-five (45) due to inclement weather.
C. One team is thirty (30) points
ahead after five (5) Stalks.
D.
Due to circumstances where
one team has less than six (6) active players after competition has begun.
E. A team has been given three (3)
unsportsman-like conduct penalties.
F. A team declares forfeiture.
The Warden then signals to blow the horn because the Hunt has ended.
To more fully understand the sport, read each of the following rules carefully!
Copyright(c) 2005 Robert E. Bear. All rights reserved.
rbear100@yahoo.com