Chapter One: Woodball Course

I. General Principles

1. The Woodball course should be sited on a tract of grassy field or clay ground, and its fairways should be planned for games and competition.

2. One the woodball course, the natural objects such as tress, grove, low wall, and mounds van be use as obstacles or boundary line.

3. The outer reaches of the fairway boundary can be set up as a spectators’ area with reference to the natural features.

4. In the course should be set up a floor plan of layout showing the pattern of the fairways and the panorama of the woodball course.

II. Planning the Woodball Course

1. On a woodball course should be planned twelve fairways

2. A twelve-fairway woodball course requires a total distance of at least 500 meters and more.

3. ON principle, the surface of the fairway should be even and smooth.

4. The fairway is panned to be rectilinear or curviform in accordance with the natural features of the land.

5. On the fairways may be set up simple obstacles and the temporary boundary line.

6. According to the size of the woodball course, fairways of different distances are planned. Fairway distances vary from 20 to 100 meters.

7. In the event of the effect of the regional climate or the natural features of the course, the local organizer may take circumstances into consideration and make the appropriate local rules but not against the primary spirit of the Rules.

III. Specifications of the Woodball Course

1. The fairways should be maintained regularly, and grass on the fairways should be mowed closely in advance of play.

2. The width of each fairway can be planned in accordance with its natural features but the narrowest should not be less than 2 meters in width, and the widest should not be more than 20 meters.

3. The distance of a fairway shorter than 35 meters is called short distance, and between 36 to 65 meters called medium distance, and between 66 to 100 meters called long distance.

4. Of the twelve fairways, at least four are curving fairways; of them two are left-curving fairways and two are right-curving fairways.

5. Of the twelve fairways, at least two are long distance fairways and two are short distance fairways.

6. The length of the fairways is measured fro the central point of the starting line along the fairway center to the central point of the gate. This length is regarded as the actual distance of each fairway.

7. At the beginning of each fairway should be set up a horizontal line as the initiating line, which is called starting line. The line is 2 meters in length, at each end of the line draw backwards a line of 3 meters in length so as to enclose a rectangular area, which is called starting area.

8. At the end of each fairway should be set up a circular gate area 5 meters in diameter with the gate as its center. It may be limited to 5 meters in case the geographical features at both sides of the gate do not permit. Between the tear of the fate area and the fairway boundary keeps a buffer zone one meter and more in width.

9. The gate is set up at the center of the gate area and may face any direction of the fairway.

10. The starting area and the gate area had better be even and smooth without any obstacles.

IV. Use of the Fairway

1. For each fairway before the game is completed, the next team is not permitted to enter the fairway and play.

2. On each fairway, only 4-5 players are allowed to play at the same time.

3. When the game is in process, no person other than the field players and the referee should be allowed to enter the fairway.

4. When a field player is hitting, other players should move back 3 meters to a safe position.

5. Where the grass cover on the fairway was scooped out by hitting, it should be flattened immediately by mending (or by trampling).

6. Before hitting, the player is not permitted to adjust the fairway in front of his ball.

7. The obstacles set up on the fairway should not be removed as one desires.

8. In the event of wind-blowing or rainy weather, the player may request to clear away branches, leaves, and waste, etc, hard materials fallen on the fairway.

Chapter Two: Woodball Equipment

I. General Principles

1. Woodball equipment includes three pieces: the ball, the mallet, and the gate.

2. The equipment used in play should be in conformity with the stipulated specifications by the inspection of International Woodball Federation.

II. Specifications of Equipment

1. Ball

(1) The ball should be a round-shaped sphere made of natural wood, 9.5cm ±0.2cm in diameter and 350g ± 60g in weight.

(2) On the sphere numbers and the woodball emblem can be marked.

(3) The shape and the specifications of the ball are shown in figure below.

2. Mallet

(1) The mallet is made of wood in T-type form. Its gross weight is about 800 grams.

(2) The mallet is 90cm ±10cm in length (consisting of a handle and a bottle-shaped head).

(3) The bottle-shaped mallet head is 21.5cm ±0.5cm in length. Its bottom is wrapped in a rounded rubber cap. The camp is 6.6cm ±0.2cm in diameter, its base is 1.3cm ±0.1cm thick, 3.8cm ±0.1cm in height, and it peripheral wall is 0.5cm thick.

(4) The form and the specifications of the mallet shown as below.

a. Mallet

b. The bottle-shaped head

c. The rubber cap

3. Gate

(1) The gate is in the form of and made of wood with accessories such as a metal rod, spherical nuts, and two rubber tubes.

(2) The gate is formed with two wooden bottles as its stumps, which are fixed on the ground apart 15cm ±0.5cm in width, measured from the inner lateral of one stump to that of the other.

(3) The form of the gate as shown in figure below:

(4) The specifications of a set of gate

a. Wooden bottle

b. B. Wooden cup

c. Metal rod

Chapter Three: Woodball Team

I. Organization of Woodball Team

1. Team members and staff: The team consists of team leader, coach, operator, captain, and team members.

2. Each team can enter and register the names of four to eight members for the game (including captain), but four to six of them can play in the game. The best four are taken to be added up as the result of the team.

II. Players

1. The player who did not enter and register his name for the game is not permitted to play in the game.

2. The players in team competition had better wear the sport clothes of the same fashion, whereas the player in individual competition is required to be in casual sport wear. In playing, field player is not permitted to wear high-heel shoes of clothes unsuitable for sport.

3. Player should bring with him his legal identification papers for checking on his qualification.

Chapter Four: Functions and Responsibilities of Referee

I. Chief Referee

1. Understand the practice and conduct of game.

2. Assign referees to the game and notify the particulars for attention,

3. Supervise referee in the execution of the game.

4. Assist the referee to settle the problem arising in the execution of the game.

5. Check the final scores.

6. Request to convene the Adjudication Committee in case a suit or protest is submitted and report the incident to the Committee.

7. Announce the rules of play and the particulars for attention to the players in advance of playing if necessary.

II. Referee

1. Check with the name list of the players and their equipment.

2. Call start of play on each fairway and manage drawing lot for the players’ order of playing.

3. Declare the conclusion of play on each fairway and the number of strokes of every player.

4. Lead the players to complete the game in accordance with the series number of the fairway.

5. Deal with incidents against precedent or infractions of rule during play and announce time-out and the restart of play.

6. Record the player’s number of strokes and infractions.

7. Check with the result of play and request the player to sign his name for confirmation.

8. The referee onward movement and path should not affect the player’s hitting.

9. The referee should stand at a position where he can see clearly the hitting action of the player and the direction the ball goes.

Chapter Five: The Game

I. General Principles

1. Woodball game is conducted in accordance with the Rules and Regulations of the organizer and the Woodball Rules.

2. Every player should complete the games through the first to the twelfth fairway (or as stipulated), and the final outcome is determined by the total stroke count in play.

3. In case the player does not complete the game on any one fairway or discontinues playing, his result will not be counted.

II. The system of competition

1. Type of competition: divided into

(1) Individual competition: The individual as a competition unit.

(2) Team competition: The team as a competitor unit.

2. Method of competition: Divided into

(1) Stroke competition: The competitor who completed twelve fairways in the fewest strokes is the winner.

(2) Fairway competition: The competitors who had won a greater number of the twelve fairways in the fewest strokes is the winner.

III. Procedure of Competition

1. The Start of Play

(1) As the referee announces the start of play, the player should start to play in accordance with the order of playing set by arrangement or by lot.

(2) In case the player in the game is give minutes late or refuses to play after the referee announced the start of play, his qualification for the game shall be cancelled.

(3) As the player enters into the starting area, all the other players should retreat to the rear of the starting area for safety sake.

(4) In first shot, the ball should be positioned within the starting area and is not toward the direction of the gate.

2. Process of Play

(1) In play, the ball in play was hit through the metal rod of the gate and was behind the wooden cup but away from each other. It is taken as completion of one fairway competition.

(2) During play, the ball which falls on the ground outside the boundary is out of bound.

(3) When out of bounds, the ball should be taken back and placed at the position where the point the ball rolled out of the boundary is taken as the center with a radius of two mallet heads.

(4) If the ball in play galls or rolls into obstacles such as holes, trees, grove, pools, etc, and is not fit for hitting, it can be picked out and placed at the position where is the point of the obstacle for entering into the boundary, and this point is taken as the center. The ball is treated as out of bounds, or the ball can be place at any new position that is set up backwards with out limit on the fairway, but one stroke is added to the player.

(5) During play, whenever a player begins to swing his mallet, all the other players should retreat to both sides of the fairway or to the rear of the hitter at a safety distance of more than 3 meters.

(6) Wherever in front or in the rear of the gate, a ball on the fairway can be hit directly to run through the gate.

(7) During play, in the event of any of natural contingencies, whether the game is to continue or not will be announced by the organizer.

(8) After the game on one fairway is completed, the game on next fairway then can begin. Games on all the fairways are to be conducted in the same manner.

(9) On the next fairway the order of first shot is based on the sequent numbers set by arrangement, and each play in turn in due course.

(10) During play, when the player requests to replace his equipment, replacement is permitted after completion f one fairway competition (excluding the case that the equipment is damaged). Before use, the equipment should be inspected by the referee.

(11) When hitting, the player hits the ball and simultaneously broke his equipment. In this case, it is counted on stroke, and the player cannot claim to hot again.

(12) The ball in play was bumped by a ball fro a different fairway, and it stopped at a new position, which is taken as its position. In the event of the ball being bumped out of the boundary, it is treated as out of bounds, but it does not call for a penalty of one stroke.

(13) The player should not touch with any part of his body or his equipment the call in play, no matter it is his or other’s.

(14) Whenever the player attacks the gate or makes a shot, he should hold the grip shaft of his mallet but should not hold close to the mallet head.

(15) Whenever hitting, the player should not hit or attach the gate with his mallet put between his two legs.

(16) In case there is a line marked at a distance of 5 meters away from the gate on a fairway, the player attacks directly the gate and succeeds I hitting the ball passing thought the gate. Subtract on stroke form his stroke counts on the fairway.

(17) In case on the medium and the long distance fairway is marked a line indicating 30 meters, the player who hits his first shot and his ball does not go beyond the line is to add one stroke; meanwhile, if his ball goes out of the boundary within 30 meters, it is dealt with as out of bounds. If the ball goes beyond the line and then goes out of the boundary, it is dealt with as out of bounds.

3. Outcome of Play

(1) Each player should have his records of stroke count on each fairway and of the total stroke count on all the twelve fairways, otherwise his result shall not be calculated.

(2) Decision of Outcome:

A. Stroke Competition:

a. The outcome of a twelve-fairway competition every player his completed is decided on the stroke count. The fewest strokes is the winner. In the event of the same number of total stroke count, the competitor who had won a great number of the fairways in the fewest strokes is the winner. Accordingly, outcome is conducted is the same manner or extra game in a given fairway assigned by the organizer goes on until the result comes out.

b. Decision of the outcome of team is made on the sun of the total stroke counts of the best four players in the team. The team with a smaller sun is the winner. In the event of the same sum, the team of which individual stroke count is the fewest is the winner. Accordingly, team outcome is conducted in the same manner.

B. Fairway Competition:

For every game, the competitor who had won a greater number of fairways is the winner. In the event of the same number of fairways won, extra games in a given fairway assigned by the organizer goes on until the result comes out.

Chapter Six: Infractions of Rules in First Show and Penalties

1. After the player is in his position, the referee makes his hand sign of hitting. The player should complete his action of first shot in ten seconds. The violator is admonished. When he breaks the rule again, his is added a penalty stroke.

2. When hitting his first shot, the player should place his ball on the starting line or on the ground within the starting area, and he hits from a stationary posture. The violator is added one penalty stroke. He hits his first shot again, but it is taken as his second stroke.

3. The player hits his first shot, his ball does not go out of the starting area. The hitting is counted as one stroke. He hits the first shot again, but it is taken as his second stroke.

Chapter Seven: Infractions of Rules in Hitting and Penalties

1. Every time the player makes a hitting, he must stand on his feet, hold his mallet with his both hands, and put it behind the ball. He starts of from a motion-less posture. He should not make his shot while walking. The violator is added one penalty storke, and he makes his next hitting from the new position of the ball.

2. When hitting, the player may make some miss-hits or pre-play, warm-up, practice hittings (not to touch the ball). All the hittings are not counted. But he should not practice repeatedly so as to delay the game. The violator is admonished. When breaking the rule again, he added one penalty stroke.

3. When it is a player’s turn to hit, the player should complete his action of hitting in ten seconds without delay. The Violator is admonished. When breaking the rule again, he is added one penalty stroke.

4. When a player is hitting, no body is permitted to talk in or across the fairway ahead. Any player who violates is added one penalty stroke.

5. When a player is hitting, all other players should not make any shout or speak bad language so as to affect the player’s hitting. The violator is added one penalty stroke.

6. When hitting, the player swings his mallet which merely touches or moves the ball, the swing is counted as one hitting, that is , one stroke.

7. When hitting, the player must hit the ball with the mallet head, either the wooden bottle’s head or bottom, but to hit the ball with its lateral periphery or with the shaft of the mallet is not permitted. The violator is added one penalty stroke, and makes his next hitting from the new position of the ball.

8. To push the ball with the mallet is not permitted. The violator is added one penalty stroke and makes his next hitting from the new position of the ball.

9. It is not permitted to his repeatedly the rolling ball. The violator is added one penalty stroke and makes his next hitting from the new position of the ball.

Chapter Eight: Infractions of Rules in Play and penalties

1. The players whose ball in play on the fairway is farther away from the gate is given priority to hit, or the order of hitting is directed by the referee. Any player cannot hit his ball at will. The violator is added one penalty stroke and makes his next hitting from the new position of the ball.

2. A player hits his ball in play on the fairway, and it falls on the ground out of the boundary. It is treated as out of bounds.. Every time a ball out of bound is to add to the player one penalty stroke.

3. During playing, if the ball is required to be picked up, with the consent of the referee the player can do so and put a mark on the position where the ball lay.

4. The ball in play which bumped on obstacles taken as the boundary line and bounced on the fairway is not regarded as out of bounds. But a ball in play which bumped the obstacle outside of the boundary line is regarded as out of bounds and is treated as out of bounds.

5. When the player playing on the different curving fairways, the ball should be proceeded on the fairway. Hitting the ball flying over the area out of the boundary for cutting off a corner is not permitted. The player breaking the rule, his ball is treated as out of bounds.

6. When the balls in play on the fairway bumped each other by hitting:

(1) The ball that was bumped does not go out of the boundary; its new position is on principle recognized; its new position is on principle recognized. In the event of the ball passing through the gate, it is regarded as the completion of one fairway competition. But in the event of the ball going out of the boundary, it is treated as out of bounds but no penalty.

(2) If the hitter’s ball goes out of the boundary after bumping, it is treated as out of bounds, and one penalty stroke is added to the hitter.

(3) If the hitter’s ball remains on the fairway after bumping, the position where it stops is taken as its new position.

7. In the process of play, if the player is against sportsmanship, he is admonished and requested to improve; at the same time, his added one penalty stroke. The repeat of infraction will result in cancellation of the violator’s qualification for the game.

8. When the field player touches with any part of his body or with the equipment he is holding his own ball or other’s ball in play, he is added one penalty stroke and the position when the all stops is taken as its new position.

9. The field player swings his mallet and hits without observing rules or hits his ball with his mallet between his two legs, he is added one penalty stoke, and he should hit his next shot fro the new position of the all. (if the ball passes through the gate, it is not recognized)

Chapter Nine: Infractions of Rules in Gate Area and Penalties

1. The referee can decide the order of hitting according to the condition of the balls within the gate area. On principle, the ball nearer to the gate is give priority. The player who breaks the rule is added one penalty stroke, and he should hit the ball from its new position. If the ball passes through the gate, it is not recognized.

2. The player cannot damage the gate intentionally. The violator as admonished and is added one penalty stroke. The repeat of infraction will result in cancellation of the violator’s qualification for the game.

III. The hand Signs of The Referee

1. Start to play: Extend the arm forward and incline downward about 45 degrees, the palm open and the fingers drawn close to each other, pointing to the starting line and at the same time call aloud, “start play”

2. Hand sign of hitting: Extend the arm upward to the shoulder’s height, palm facing down and the index finger pointing to the direction of the hitter to the gate and moves horizontally several times.

3. Out of bounds: Fist with the thumb upward, bend the arm slightly and swing backward from the front over the shoulder to a stop behind the head. Swing several times to show the ball being outside the boundary.

4. Infractions: Raise the arm upward and straight closely to the ear and face to the hitter as shown in figure.

5. Time out: Make a T type with both palms in front of the breast to show “time out” as shown in figure.

6. Through the gate: Extend the arm straight with the thumb upward and point to the hitter to show the ball he hit passing through the gate successfully and to express congratulation and admiration to the hitter.

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