INTERNATIONAL BLIND SPORTS FEDERATION SHOWDOWN RULES 2018 2021 Versin: Rev. 1, 09.02.2018
The rules have been negtiated and apprved by the IBSA Shwdwn Sub-Cmmittee, Handen Octber 2017. The rules are valid starting frm January 1st 2018. These rules shall gvern the Shwdwn play at all IBSA Wrld Champinships, IBSA Cntinental Champinships and all ther IBSA sanctined events. 1. PREAMBLE Shwdwn is played by tw players. The game is played n a rectangular table with gal pckets at each end, and a centerbard screen. The game is played with bats and an audible ball. The bjective f the game is t bat the ball acrss the table, under the centerbard screen, int the ppnent's gal, while the ppnent tries t prevent this frm happening. 1.1 The rules f the game are set ut belw. 1.2 The IBSA Shwdwn Sub-Cmmittee, in cnsultatin with the event rganizer shall determine the playing system f the turnament. The cmpetitin must fllw the guidelines apprved by the IBSA Shwdwn Sub-Cmmittee t be cnsidered an fficially recgnized turnament by the IBSA Shwdwn Sub-Cmmittee, ffering pints fr the internatinal ranking system. 1.3 Cuntries wh are rganizing natinal champinships apprved by their federatins must fllw internatinal IBSA Shwdwn rules. If nt, participating players will nt get pints fr the fficial ranking system. 1.4 Shuld there be any misunderstanding f the IBSA Shwdwn Rules the English versin shall prevail. These regulatins cnsist f fur parts: A: DEFINITIONS B: RULES OF PLAY C: EQUIPMENT SPECIFICATIONS D: TEAM PLAY RULES A: DEFINITIONS Batting hand: The hand (up t and including 6 cm past the wrist jint) that is hlding the bat. The batting hand includes hand prtectin as described in rule 10.2. Centerbard screen: The rectangular bard dividing the playing area in tw sides. The centerbard screen rests n the sidewalls abve the playing area. Cntact bard: The narrw wden cap that rests n the tp f bth end-walls. Giving up a match: When a player is giving up a match he is vluntarily resigning, fr example because f an injury. Rev. 1, 09.02.2018 2
The player wh gives up a match will keep all ball and set pints he/she has already wn. He/she lses by the lwest pssible result. Example: Player A has wn the first set 11:5 and is leading in the secnd set 7:2, then he/she gives up the match because f injury. Player B wins this match 11:5, 7:11,0:11. Gal: A gal is scred when the ball passes fully int the gal pcket r the player wh cnceded a gal pushes the ball intentinally ut f the gal pcket with any part f his/her bdy and the referee is aware f it. Gal area: The space between the gal pcket and (including) the tactile bundary line. Gal pcket: The pening in the hrizntal playing deck and the vertical end-wall. Language: The player and his/her cach are allwed t speak in any language, with these exceptins: If the cach wants t cheer r supprt his player when the ball is nt in play nly the fficial language f turnament is permitted (Rule 9.1 r 9.2 applies in case f infractin). Lsing by default: A player is lsing a match by default when he/she is infringing n sme rule. The player wh lses a match by default will lse all sets withut any ball pint. Ball and set pints already wn by that player will be annulled. Example: 11:0, 11:0, 11:0. Match: Any cmbinatin f sets, e.g. best f three (2-1) r in the knck-ut stage within the EC/WC: best f five (3-2). Nn-batting hand: The hand that currently is nt hlding the bat. Can als be called free hand. Playing area: Is defined as fllws: At the sides, by side walls and end walls withut vertical limits. At the bttm, by the surface f the playing deck. The tp f the sidewalls. The tp f the cntact bard is excluded. The dwnside f the cntact bard and the frnt f the cntact bard are part f the playing area. Penalty: Heavy sanctin fr serius infractin f the rules r miscnduct by the player r cach during the match (including all breaks). A penalty can be issued either with r withut giving a warning first. The issuing f a penalty will nt change the rder f service. If the match was stpped by the referee t issue a penalty it will cntinue with a re-serve. If the penalty was given when the ball was nt in play the match will cntinue with the next regular service. Rev. 1, 09.02.2018 3
Playing mistake: Failure caused by technical r unintentinal mistakes during play, usually causing the lss f ne (1) pint. Playing deck: The surface f the hrizntal bard. Serve turn: A series f tw (2) serves. Set: A set is a part f a match where a player shall win when he/she reaches a minimum f eleven (11) pints with a margin f tw (2) pints ver his/her ppnent. Team matches are played t a minimum f 31 pints with a margin f (2) pints ver the ppsing team. Stp time: The ttal accumulated playing time. Warm-up Applies t single and team cmpetitin. The time that tw r mre players can freely practice with each ther and get used t the table. The amunt f time fr warm-up is usually 60 secnds but can be changed by the referee if he/she deems apprpriate. Als, warm up can be mitted cmpletely. During warm-up the players must wear all required Shwdwn equipment. During warm-up talking between player and his/her cach is nt permitted (Rule 9.1 r 9.2 applies in case f infractin). Warm-up is started and stpped by the referee by either blwing the whistle r giving verbal a cmmand. Warning: Issued warnings are valid fr the whle match. A warning issued in team play is valid fr the whle team and the whle match. The referee can issue a warning when the ball is in play r in breaks. If the match was stpped by the referee t issue a warning it will cntinue with a re-serve. If the warning was given when the ball was nt in play the match will cntinue with the next regular service. B: RULES OF PLAY 2. GENERAL RULES 2.1 Officials fr each table during turnament play shall be: Referee (fully sighted) Secnd referee (als fully sighted, elapsed time, time ut, scre and number f serves) The referee can als assume all tasks f the secnd referee. This rule must nt be applied t play-ff matches within Cntinental / Wrld Champinships where there have t be tw fficials. Rev. 1, 09.02.2018 4
2.2 If the referee is injured, he/she stps the match and he/she must be replaced by anther referee. 2.3 The referee must cnduct the match at Cntinental / Wrld Champinships in English. Players wh cannt understand the fficial language can use an interpreter, but he/she must annunce him/her prir t the match. 2.4 The referee will ensure that the rules f the game are bserved in all cases. The referee has the ptin t use assistance f the secnd referee (if he/she is present) befre making a decisin r t call let and thereby designate a re-serve if he/she has nt been able t prperly assess a situatin with certainty. The decisin f the referee is final. 2.5 After checking ut the equipment, play will be started and stpped by the referee sunding a whistle, ne blast t start r stp, a duble-whistle fr gal and a lng whistle when the set/match is ver. 2.6 The winner is the player t reach a minimum f eleven (11) pints having a margin f tw pints (2) ver the ppnent. 2.7 N time limit is allwed fr Natinal / Cntinental / Wrld Champinships. Organizers f any ther turnament may intrduce time limit play. The rganizer shuld infrm the participants abut time limit prir t the turnament. 2.8 If the match is played with a time limit, the player wh is ahead when time alltted fr the set has expired will be declared the winner. If, when time has expired there is a draw, a cin will be tssed t determine which player will serve, and the next pint wins. 2.9 The players will change sides after each set. In the last set f the match the players will change sides after six (6) pints are scred by ne (1) player r after half f stp time has expired. 2.10 If nly ne (1) set is being played rule 2.9 applies. 2.11 The time limit fr changing sides is ne (1) minute (60 secnds). The referee gives an audible warning 15 secnds befre the time-ut r changing sides is finished. The referee calls ut: 15 secnds. 2.12 When changing sides players will mve t their right. 2.13 While changing sides timeut rules apply (see 3.1). 2.14 Befre the match the player must annunce the name f his/her cach t the referee. The player can annunce his/her cach even if the cach is nt present. The cach can enter/leave the rm nly when the set is ver and the referee must pen the dr between sets. The player can change the annunced cach until the referee has started the match. 2.15 During the change f sides the player can refresh himself/herself r with the assistance f the cach. The player must stay in the playing rm. 2.16 Spectatrs must be quiet during play. After the referee whistles, spectatrs and caches can cheer. The referee ensures silence befre play is resumed and while the ball is in play. The audience must cme in and g ut when the set is ver. The referee must pen the dr between sets. 2.17 The cach must remain n the side f table f his player. Rev. 1, 09.02.2018 5
3. TIME OUTS 3.1 Each player will be entitled t ne (1) time-ut f ne (1) minute (60 secnds) during a set. Time-ut requests must be made t the referee during a break in play. Time-ut can be called either by the player r the cach. Only during a time-ut and side changes any discussin can ccur between the cach and the player (see als 2.12, 2.13). 3.2 The referee can stp the match whenever he/she deems it necessary (e.g. injury, excessive nise, fr tilet visits f referee r player, etc.). The referee resumes the match with a re-serve if the match was stpped when the ball was in play. If the referee gives a player permissin t visit the tilet the time limit t return t the table is five (5) minutes. If the player fails t return within this time limit he/she lses the match by default. 3.3 The referee can call a medical time-ut if the player is injured. The player must be ready t play by 5 minutes therwise he/she lses the match by default. 3.4 The match clck will be stpped during a timeut r break in play. 4. SCORING 4.1 Tw (2) pints are awarded fr a gal. When a gal has been scred the referee gives a duble-whistle signal. 4.2 Players may scre pints regardless f which player is serving. 4.3 One (1) pint is awarded t the ppnent f the player wh hits the ball int the centerbard screen and stps its frward mtin. The ball is cnsidered in "frward mtin" if the ball hits the bttm f the centerbard screen and directly passes nt the ther side f the table. 4.4 One (1) pint is awarded t the ppnent f the player wh hits the ball ver the centerbard screen. 4.5. One (1) pint is awarded t the ppnent f the player wh tuches the ball with any part f his/her bdy, ther than the bat r batting hand, within the playing area. 4.6 One (1) pint is awarded t the ppnent f the player whse bat r batting hand causes the ball t leave the playing area f the table. 4.7 One (1) pint is awarded t the ppnent f the player wh traps r stps the ball fr mre than tw (2) secnds, s that the ball is inaudible fr the ppnent. The measuring f the "tw secnds" is nt being dne by stp watch, but is in the judgement f the referee. 4.8 One (1) pint shall be awarded t the ppnent f the player wh hits the ball and it tuches the tp f the cntact bard.. 4.9 N cntact is allwed within the gal area with the ball. If that happens, ne (1) pint will be awarded t the ppnent f that player. That means like this: If the ball tuches the bat r batting-hand in the gal area and mves directly int the gal, there is a gal and tw (2) pints are awarded t the ppnent. If the ball tuches the bat r batting-hand, and after that tuches any ther part f the bdy, there is an illegal tuch and ne (1) pint is awarded t the ppnent. If the ball tuches the bat r the batting-hand, and ges anywhere else, in r ut f the table, there is an illegal defense and ne (1) pint is awarded t the ppnent because f the first sentence in this rule: N cntact is allwed within the gal area with the ball. Rev. 1, 09.02.2018 6
5. BEGINNING PLAY 5.1 Befre the match begins, the referee, the secnd referee, the players and the caches will be intrduced by the referee. 5.2 Befre the match begins, the referee will inspect the paque eye prtectin, the bats, any hand prtectin and the attire wrn by the players. 5.3 Prir t the start f play, the referee will tss a cin. The player first n the list will be asked t chse head r tail. The player winning the cin tss will be given the chice f taking r giving away the first serve t his/her ppnent. 5.4 The eye prtectin must be wrn during the whle match. Warm-up, time-uts and side/ends changes are part f the match. The players are nt allwed t tuch his/her eye prtectin. He/she must ask the referee fr permissin t d s, even in breaks. If permissin is given, he/she must turn away frm the table. Befre play resumes the referee checks the eye prtectin s it is crrectly put n the face and prperly darkened with n gaps t be seen thrugh. If the player breaks this rule, ne (1) pint will be awarded t the ppnent. If a player tuches his/her mask withut the referee s permit befre the set has begun the set will start with the scre f 1:0 fr the player wh received the pint. The set will start with the regular serving rder. If a player the tuches his/her mask during play the referee will stp the match and will award ne (1) pint t his/her ppnent. The match cntinues with a re-serve. 5.5 The referee will rll the ball t the player serving and ask bth players, first the returner and then the server, if they are ready t play. When the referee receives psitive acknwledgement frm bth players answering YES, the referee annunces the scre and then the number f the serve. Then the referee will signal the cmmencement f play by blwing the whistle nce. This shuld be used by starting the match, set, after time-uts and unusually lng breaks. (Fr example: A is the server. B is the ppnent. "Is B ready? - Yes! - Is A ready? - Yes! - Let's start, the scre is zer zer. A's first serve. - Whistle." 6. SERVES 6.1 After a whistle signal frm the referee, the player serving the ball must d s within tw (2) secnds. If he/she des nt, ne (1) pint is awarded t the ppnent. The same will happen if the player starts t serve befre the referee has whistled. 6.2 The ball must be placed n the surface befre serving. If this desn t ccur the player lses ne (1) pint immediately. 6.3 Rlling the ball intentinally befre hitting it is nt allwed and will reslve in an illegal serve. The ppnent will be awarded ne (1) pint. After placing it n the playing surface and releasing the ball, the ball is allwed t rll befre the player hits it with the bat, under the cnditin that the player is nt mving it n purpse. (Fr example, single-handed player will have prblems keeping the ball still r the table is nt cmpletely even). The player can place the ball t a different lcatin n the playing surface even after the referee has started the game by blwing the whistle (Rule 6.1 still applies). 6.4 When serving, each tuch f the ball with bat cunts as ne (1) serve. 6.5 If the player misses the ball during service, ne f these tw interpretatins will be used: if there was n audible sund (fr the referee) the player can swing at the ball multiple times (until he/she reaches the 2 secnd limit fr serves). Rev. 1, 09.02.2018 7
if there was an audible sund (fr the referee) the swing cunts as ne service. 6.6 Each player will serve tw (2) times cnsecutively. 6.7 A served ball must bunce ff the sidewall exactly nce prir t passing under the centerbard screen. If this des nt ccur, the referee must stp the play and ne (1) pint will be awarded t the ppnent. If the served ball "slides" alng ne side f the table wall it is cnsidered as multiple bunces and ne (1) pint is awarded t the ppnent. When, during the serve, the ball hits the bttm f the centerbard screen and directly passes nt the ther side f the table, n playing mistake will be called. 6.8 After the referee annunced the service, the player must be ready t serve withut delaying the game. The player shws that she/he is ready t serve by placing the ball n the table. 7. PLAY 7.1 One (1) pint shall be awarded t the ppnent f a player wh hlds his/her nn-batting hand within the playing area except when switching hands. Referee shall tlerate a nnbatting hand ver the playing area as lng as it is part f a natural mvement when swinging the bat fr shting the ball. The nn-batting hand can verreach the cntact bard. The player is nt allwed t put his/her fingers/hand dwn under the line f the cntact bard r grip the cntact bard with his/her fingers. It is tlerated t lean the upper bdy int the playing area. In each case rule 4.5 still applies. 7.2 The bat must be held in ne hand at all times, except when switching hands. An infractin f this rule will result in the lss f ne (1) pint. 7.3 If the player drps the bat, he/she lses ne (1) pint immediately. 7.4 When a bat is brken and play cannt be cntinued the referee shall rder a re-serve immediately. Any pint(s) scred after a bat is brken are nt cunted even if the referee has nt blwn the whistle yet. The bat is cnsidered brken when it is badly damaged r if ne r mre majr parts f the bat brke ff and are nt attached t each ther anymre. 8. DEAD BALL 8.1 The referee will call a "dead ball" and a re-serve when, in his/her pinin, the ball is mving s slwly that it nt will reach the pint, where the player can take care f the ball and g n with the game, r a player has lst track f the ball. 8.2 If the ball is inaudible fr mre than tw (2) secnds the referee calls a dead ball. The ball is inaudible when the referee is nt able t hear it mve n the table 9. PENALTIES 9.1 Penalties with warnings. Each f the listed incidents under 9.1 will be sanctined with 1 st infractin: Warning 2 nd and subsequent infractins: a tw (2) pint penalty will be issued by the referee. Rev. 1, 09.02.2018 8
9.1.1 Nt playing frm behind the table. Play must be frm the end f the table. A player must nt play frm the side f the table. It's nt allwed t hld n t any part f the table with the nn-batting hand, except at the end f the table. "The end" is defined by the curve f the table, including the whle curve. 9.1.2 Hking the ball with a finger. It is nt allwed t mve the ball by hking r hlding it with any finger. 9.1.3 Shving, excessive r cnstant mving the table in a disturbing way. 9.1.4 Scraping the bat in a disturbing way. 9.1.5 Talking during play r break in play (except 2.12, 2.13, 3.1, 3.2, 3.3). 9.1.6 Pushing any part f the bdy int the gal area frm the utside. 9.1.7 Any ther activities judged by the referee t be disturbing fr the ppnent r are purpsely delaying the game. 9.2 Penalties withut warnings. Each f the listed incidents under 9.2 will be immediately cause a tw (2) pint penalty. 9.2.1 The mbile phne r any ther electrnic device f a player r his/her cach is making any kind f nise during the match. 9.2.2 Any attempt f the cach t give secret signs t his/her player between services. This will at nce be cnsidered serius miscnduct. The referee will directly send the cach ut f the playing rm. 9.3 Other sanctins 9.3.1 Very serius miscnduct by the player. In case f, e.g. swearing at the referee, thrwing the ball r the bat, r similar actins, the referee is entitled t immediately penalize the ffending player. The ffending player lses the match by default. 9.3.2 The referee can send supprters r caches ut f the rm in case f unfair miscnduct. 9.3.3 The player must be at the playing rm at the specified time. If the referee waits fr five (5) minutes and the player des nt appear, he/she lses the match by default. If a player repeatedly appears late he/she can be excluded frm the turnament 10. ATTIRE 10.1. Players must wear a shrt-sleeved shirt with sleeves nt lnger than elbw length. 10.2. The players must wear hand prtectin. The hand prtectin must nt cver mre than six (6) cm f the arm measured frm the wrist. The thickness f the hand prtectin may be maximum 2,5 cm in the frnt part (all fingers) up t the wrist Rev. 1, 09.02.2018 9
The hand prtectin must nt enlarge the hand by mre than tw (2) cm (n each side). When measuring the hand, the thumb is excluded. 10.3. Players may wear prtectin abve six (6) cm upn the arm, but it must be a different clr frm the glve (e.g. sweat bands, bandages etc.). This part f the prtectin is nt cnsidered t be part f the batting hand. The allwed ways t mark the end f the six (6) cm are: wearing a glve which extends six (6) cm abve the wrist jint. wearing a sweat band with the SAME clr as the glve reaching up t six (6) cm abve the wrist jint if the hand prtectin is shrter than that. wearing a sweat band with a DIFFERENT clr than the glve STARTING six (6) cm abve the wrist jint (this way the arm can stay naked up t six (6) cm frm the wrist) any cmbinatin f pints abve 10.4. Players must wear paque eye prtectin that cmpletely bscures the player's visin. Darkened alpine skiing glasses r adequate alternatives like galball masks are the nly types which are allwed. The rim f the glasses must be padded with fam r silicne material t cmpletely shut ut all light. This means that abslutely n light is allwed t be seen when the referee checks the mask - this literally means "cmplete darkness". It is the player s respnsibility t have adequately prepared eye prtectin t be allwed t take part in a cmpetitin. 10.5. The referee must be clearly identifiable as the referee. C: EQUIPMENT SPECIFICATIONS 11. BATS Bats are t be cnstructed f a hard, smth material, with a length f thirty (30) cm. It can be cvered with sft material (a layer up t tw (2) mm n ne side r bth sides). The verlap f the handle and blade can have any length. Maximum dimensins: Ttal length 30 cm Blade length: 20 cm Blade width: 7,5 cm Blade thickness: 1 cm (including the sft cver) Handle diameter: 4 cm The crner f the blade can be runded and/r squared. If the blade and the handle are virtually made f ne piece, the blade begins where the diameter/width f the handle becmes wider than fur (4) cm. The thickness f the sft cver can be up t tw (2) mm n each side, but the verall width f the blade must nt be wider than ten (10) mm. Fr example, it is pssible t Rev. 1, 09.02.2018 10
have a bat with these measurements: 2 mm sft cver + 6 mm blade + 2 mm sft cver. The width and length f the verhang f the handle and the blade can be up t frty (40) mm (this is cnsistent with the width f the handle). Blueprints available n IBSA website - http://www.ibsasprt.rg/sprts/shwdwn/rules 12. BALLS Balls are t be made audible. Balls are t be six (6) cm in diameter with a hard, smth surface. The balls must be apprved by the IBSA Shwdwn Sub-Cmmittee t be used during IBSA turnaments. IBSA turnaments are all fficial champinships and turnaments where yu can receive pints fr IBSA ranking list. 13. TABLE Dimensins: Interir length: 366 cm (5 mm tlerance) Interir width: 122 cm (5 mm tlerance) Height (Playing deck frm flr): 78 cm Sidewall: 14 cm Crners (interir radius): 23 cm Gal pcket (semi-circle): 30 cm diameter Rectangular vertical hle: 30 cm x 10 cm (in the end-wall) Tactile bundary line fr gal area: 40 cm diameter Cntact bard: 5 cm verhang t the inside f the table, an verhang back utside the table is allwed. Centerbard screen: 42 cm frm tp f the sidewalls, 10 cm pening frm playing deck. Blueprints available n IBSA website - http://www.ibsasprt.rg/sprts/shwdwn/rules D: TEAM PLAY RULES 14. GENERAL RULES FOR TEAM PLAY 14.1 Team cmpetitin is played accrding t the IBSA Shwdwn rules fr single play as laid ut abve if nt therwise nted. 15. TEAMS 15.1 A team must be mixed, i.e. the line-up cnsists f tw (2) men players and ne (1) wmen players and/r vice-versa. 15.2 It is pssible t change ne (1) player up t the cmplete team fr a new match during the cmpetitin (team cnsists f five (5) players). Players must nt be signed under the squad list f a different natinal team, e.g. a player frm natinal team A cannt play fr natinal team B during the turnament. 16. ADDITIONAL RULES 16.1 Winner f the match is a team which reaches a minimum f thirty-ne (31) pints with the margin f tw (2) pints, e.g.: 31:29. Rev. 1, 09.02.2018 11
16.2 Each player has three (3) serves after which he/she ges away and leaves the serves t his team-mate wh must first catch three (3) serves by the ppnent player. 16.3 Befre the play starts, caches must annunce the line-up t the referee and assign the numbers by which the players g t serve and return. The line-up shuld be annunced secretly befre the cin tss. 16.4 Players must stay in the rm fr they must be ready t change his/her team-mate. 16.5 Prir t the start f play, the referee will tss a cin. The team (a player r cach) first n the list will be asked t chse head r tail. The team winning the cin tss will be given the chice, after knwing the ppnent team's playing rder, f taking r giving away the first serve t the ppsing team. 16.6 In team matches side changes shall be dne when ne (1) team has reached the scre f sixteen (16). The referee must pen the dr. 16.7 Each team can take ne (1) time-ut during each match. 17. SYSTEM OF PLAY 1. Player 1 frm team A (A1) serves 3 times against player 1 frm team B (B1). 2. After 3 serves player A1 leaves, and player B1 serves 3 times against player A2. 3. After 3 serves player B1 leaves, and player A2 serves 3 times against player B2. 4. After 3 serves player A2 leaves, and player B2 serves 3 times against player A3. 5. After 3 serves player B2 leaves, and player A3 serves 3 times against player B3. 6. After 3 serves player A3 leaves, and player B3 serves 3 times against player A1. 7. After 3 serves player B3 leaves, and player A1 serves 3 times against player B1. This rder is repeated up t the end f the match. Rev. 1, 09.02.2018 12
Versin Histry: Rev. 1, 09.02.2018 Minr grammatical, spelling and wrding crrectins with n impact n the meaning f the rules. Crrectin f numbering. Rev. 1, 09.02.2018 13