Rules of Phute
As compiled by Jalen of Selenia Jun 29’3013|1945
The Field
The Game of Phute is played on a Field composed of a total of 43 equilateral, contiguous hexagons known as Zones. Each Zone has a side to side length of 10 yards.
Zones are arranged into five horizontal parallel Rows: Middle, Upper, Lower, Top, and Bottom.
The Middle Row is formed with 11 Zones in a linear fashion. The Upper and Lower Rows are each formed with 10 Zones connected to and located just above and below the Middle Row. The Top and Bottom Rows are formed above and below the Upper and Lower Rows respectively by two sets of 3 Zones. Those sets are separated by a space equal in area to a Zone, and that space is located in alignment with the center of the Middle Row.
Three of the Zones on the field are Special Zones: the Center Zone and two Score Zones.The Center Zone is located at the halfway point of the Middle Row while each Score Zone is located either one Zone from the left or right of the ends of the Middle Row.
The Teams and Players
Two Teams compete in a Game of Phute. One Team is considered the Defending team and the other is the Challenging Team.
Each Team may have a maximum of 15 Players allowed to participate in that Game. Players are chosen in advance and Teams may not add additional Players once a Game has started.
There are 5 Positions in phute. Players must be assigned a Position before the beginning of each Game, and Players may not alter their Position once a Game has started. The Positions are: Quarterback, Halfback, Fullback, Center, and Guard.
Each Team may have up to 2 Guards, 1 Center, 1 Fullback, 2 Halfbacks, and 4 Quarterbacks on the Field at any one time.
Players may be Substituted at any time during the Game, although the original Player must be out of Play before the Substituted Player enters the Field.
The Ball
The phute ball should be chosen and agreed upon by both Teams before play. Up to two replacement balls of similar dimensions and material may be used if necessary.
Movement
Teams may have no more than 5 Players in any 1 Zone at the same time. Any of the 3 Back Positions may move freely to and from any Zone that does not already have the maximum number of Team Players within that boundary. Centers may only remain within the Center Zone and Guards may only remain within their Team’s Score Zone. Centers and Guards may legally leave their respective Zones only during Substitutions.
Quarterbacks may move the phute ball by carrying or throwing it. Halfbacks may move the ball by kicking it, and Fullbacks may carry, throw, and kick the phute ball. Centers and Guards may also carry, throw, and kick but only within their respective Zones. Any Player may use their head or chest to move the phute ball.
A Player is considered to have Possession when they are in control of the phute ball. A Player may not Possess the ball longer than 10 consecutive seconds. A Team may not Possess the ball in any Zone longer than 60 consecutive seconds.
Scoring
The objective of phute is to score Points. This happens when a Team uses the phute ball to strike one of the three parts of their opponent’s Goal: Base, Post, or Globe.
Each Team’s Goal is set in the middle of their Score Zone. The Base is a cylinder shaped object with a diameter of 3 feet and a height of 18 inches. The Post rises from the middle of the Base to a height of 8 feet and has a diameter of 8 inches. The Globe sets a top the Post and has a diameter of 18 inches.
There are multiple ways to Score and countless combinations cooperating Players might Score Points. A Player may touch the Goal with the ball, throw it at the Goal, or kick the phute ball at the Goal.
The Base is worth 1 Point whether the ball is touched, thrown, or kicked.
The Post is worth 2 Points when touched, 3 when thrown, and 4 when kicked.
The Globe is worth 3 Points when touched, 4 thrown, and 5 kicked.
When thrown or kicked, 1 additional Point is awarded for each Zone away from the Score Zone.
If multiple parts are struck at the same time, Points are awarded for the lowest amount between the different parts.
Officials
Teams may agree to play with Honors, meaning there are no Officials and rules are honored by each participating Player.
Three Officials may be present during a Game of Phute. They are the: Referee, Umpire, and Judge.
All 3 Officials work together to ensure all Players are following the rules of the game, although each one has specific tasks as well. The Referee tracks the time of the game and keeps score. The Umpire tracks Fouls and determines Possession, and the Judge tracks Substitutions and breaks any ties between the Referee and Umpire concerning rule interpretation.
Game Play
The Game of Phute is divided into 3 Periods of 20 minutes each. An Intermission of 10 minutes occurs between the Periods. A Timeout may be called by the Referee because of injuries, severe weather, or any other emergency situation.
The beginning of each Game begins with a coin toss. The Defending team calls heads or tails, and the winning Team of the toss gets to choose which of the 2 Score Zones to set their defense. Players of both Teams then take their places on the field.
Each Period begins when the phute ball is handed to one of the Guards of the Challenging Team by the Umpire, and then the Referee signals the beginning of the Period.
If the phute ball leaves the Field at any time, whether kicked, thrown, deflected, or carried, Possession of the ball goes to the other Team. The Umpire will place the ball at a point near to where the ball went out of play. A Player from the other Team will then put the ball back into play by either throwing or kicking, depending on their Position.
Whenever a Team scores one or more Points the Referee will record the Score and the Umpire will give the ball to one of the Guards in that Score Zone.
The Referee will signal when each Period has expired.
Fouls
The Officials will deem when a Foul has occurred. That would be if a Player:
enters a Zone that already has the maximum number of Players
enters a Zone they are not permitted
uses a body part not allowed by their Position
forcefully contacts another Player
holds any Player
impedes a Player without Possession
intentionally touches the Goal without use of the phute ball
retains Possession for longer than 10 seconds
Whenever a Foul occurs, it is first recorded by the Umpire. Any Player with four Fouls is ineligible to play. Each Intermission removes one Foul from each Player’s count.
A Team Foul occurs when the Team with Possession is unable to advance the ball into another Zone within 60 seconds or when a Team has more than 10 Players on the Field.
After a Foul is recorded, the Fouled Team takes Possession by sending one Player to receive the ball from the Umpire at the location of the Foul. Play resumes when signaled by the Referee.
Final Score
Following the end of the 3rd Period the Game is over. It is possible for Games to end with a tie Score. Additional 10 Minute Overtime Periods may be added to declare a final winner if decided upon in advance by both Teams. Additional 5 Minute Intermissions occur between those Overtime Periods.
League Play
Some Teams will track their Scores amongst themselves over a set of Games. In these instances, Scores are tallied at the end of the set to declare a final winner. Playoff Games may be required to break any end of set ties.
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Phute Field