What Is SlamBall? The Sport That Is Finally Making A Comeback!

You've heard of football, soccer, basketball, baseball, tennis, golf, and boxing -- but have you ever heard of SlamBall? If not, get ready because this sport is making a comeback and will be the next big thing!

SlamBall is a form of basketball and is played with four trampolines in front of each net and boards around the court edge. Although it is considered a form of basketball, it is also a contact sport like football as blocks, collisions and rough physical play is all part of the game.

The sport was originally founded in 2000, but took a seven-year hiatus. Now, it is making a comeback as the 2023 season will kick off tonight, July 21, exclusively on ESPN.

Before watching the 2023 season on ESPN, familiarize yourself with the official SlamBall rules.

First, game length. Each game is 20 minutes long, featuring four 5-minute quarters. Running clock in all situations except Face Offs and timeouts (one per team only in fourth quarter). Face Offs will be used in overtime to settle games on a “gained advantage” basis.

There is a shot clock that begins at 20 seconds and resets to 12 seconds if the ball strikes the rim and the offense keeps possession.

SlamBall is played on a 64-foot by 96-foot spring-loaded court. Each end of the court has four springbeds built into it, propelling players up to 18 feet in the air. An 8-foot plexi-glass wall surrounds the court and allows for play behind the baskets. Like in basketball, the rims are 10 feet high.

In regard to teams, there are four players per team on the court with hockey-like substitutions. In SlamBall, there are three positions: Handler (acts as point guard), Gunner (primary scorer) and Stopper (primarily defends).

The scoring is as follows:

• 4 points: Made shots beyond the arc.
• 3 points: Slam dunks, made shots inside the arc but outside the Slam Zone, and DOUBLE

• BONUS penalties. Note: Slams must cleanly travel through the hoop with downward force

• and the player’s hand must hit rim.
• 2 points: Made non-dunks inside Slam Zone and BONUS penalties

Open Court Contact: Defenders may contact ball handler between waist and neck and in front of shoulder. No contact is allowed when a player is in a shooting motion or before he dribbles. Tripping, grabbing, or tackling is not allowed.

SlamBall also consists of Face Offs. One-on-one penalty shots to settle fouls (no free throws in SlamBall). When a physical

foul occurs, the player who got fouled goes one on one at the rim against the player who committed the foul. Three points are awarded for a dunk and two for other baskets. Offense retains possession of the ball after Face Off. One Face Off per team per quarter.

Teams can earn bonuses, which are awarded once a team commits a second foul in a quarter -- resulting in 2 points for the opposing team. Once a defensive team commits a fourth penalty in a quarter, they enter the DOUBLE BONUS, where each violation gives 3 points to the opposing team. Possession of the ball is retained in both cases.

Like basketball, there is no traveling allowed, which SlamBall defines as "no more than two steps after stoppage of dribble. Dribble resets after open floor hits by defender."

SlamBall also has an island, which is considered the middle-padded area of the Slam Zone positioned directly in between the four springbeds. Players can access the Island to attract a pass from a teammate, freestyle into the island with a self-pass, and use that internal positioning to redirect passes to outmaneuver the defense. Players can spend no more than three seconds on the Island.

There is a Springbed Area, which are also known as Slam Zone regulations, which are as follows:

• Offense: Can only enter Slam Zone until shot hits rim. May only attack bottom springbed

• with ball when receiving pass from perimeter springbed or while using freestyle transfer

• move. Two offensive players cannot be on bottom springbed at same time. Offensive

• players may not exit springbeds with the ball in possession.
• Defense: No player contact is allowed in springbed area, except in the air. On a dunk

• attempt, must make play on ball without attacking body. Must jump straight up and down

• on bottom springbed.
• Popcorn violation: Defender may not disturb natural flow of offensive player’s in and out

• of Slam Zone.
• Goaltending: Defender may legally goaltend on shots taken from springbed.

In the Endgame, the defense can foul a player with the ball in the last 20 seconds of regulation and take possession of the ball by winning a subsequent Face Off called the “Make it Take it” faceoff.