Loofball: Difference between revisions

Loofball began in [[Nigeria]] in 2017.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Charles |first=Nidi |date=March 2019 |title=A new sport is born |url=https://www.loofball.com.ng/2019/03/a-new-sport-is-born.html |url-status=live |access-date=30 July 30, 2022 |website=WelcomeOfficial toWebsite of Loofball - Official Website}}</ref><ref name=":8">{{Cite news |last=Adams |first=Ibrahim |date=16 August 16, 2022 |title=Loofball emerging sport shaping young lives in Nigeria |work=The Nation Newspaper |url=https://thenationonlineng.net/loofball-emerging-sport-shaping-young-lives-in-nigeria/ |access-date=19 August 19, 2022}}</ref> It was created in response to the growing societal ills and violence in the [[21st century]] to engage youth in sport and sports development, thereby promoting peace and reducing crime.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bakir |first=Almira |date=March 26, 2019 |title=Loofball: the next generation of sport |url=https://prezi.com/p/vuoo-8vp0ike/loofballthe-next-generation-of-sport/ |url-status=live |access-date=August 2, 2022 |website=Prezi}}</ref><ref name=":6" /> Initially, the sport was played between two toand four players by throwing of a size 1 handball over a rope. However, the sport saw remarkable changes based on research and experiments in early 2018. A furry round ball replaced the size 1 handball while number of players per team increased to five and net replaced rope. Later that year, the first rules of the game were prepared and compiled by Winner V. Matahula. As a result of these improvements, the sport evolved rapidly and became popular in some northern parts of the country, including the [[Federal Capital Territory, Nigeria|Federal Capital Territory]].<ref name=":6">{{Cite web |last=Hinatufe |first=Henry |date=14 July 14, 2022 |title=Loofball: the contemporary African sport with global vision |url=https://afritalenation.com/blog/2022/loofball-the-contemporary-african-sport-with-global-vision/ |url-status=live |access-date=14 July 14, 2022 |website=Afritalenation}}</ref><ref name=":3">{{Cite book |url=https://res.cloudinary.com/dzuwde1qq/image/upload/v1648538276/Basic_Loofball_Coaching_Manual.pdf |title=Basic Loofball Coaching Manual |publisher=LSDI |year=2020 |pages=5-105–10}}</ref> This led the promoters of the sport to incorporate as a non-profit organization with the objective to develop and administer the sport officially, which further increased the sport's acceptability.<ref>{{Cite news |date=November 2019 |title=Loofball gets UBEB approval |work=LSDI |url=https://www.lsd-initiative.org/2019/12/loofball-gets-ubeb-approval.html}}</ref> Registered as Loofball Sport Development Initiative, the organization has since been partnering with government agencies, private and other non-profit organizations to run school and non-school programs and events.<ref name=":14">{{Cite web |last=Mathew|first=Bruce|date=4 July 2023 |title=FCT Loofball Competition: We hope to create more awareness-Organisers|url= https://freedomonline.com.ng/fct-loofball-competition-we-hope-to-create-more-awareness-organisers/ |access-date=10 July 2023 |website=Freedom Online}}</ref> In 2020, the organization received the African Excellence Award by [https://www.mea-markets.com/ MEA Markets], a [[United Kingdom|UK]]-based business magazine, in recognition of her role in contributing to youth development in Nigeria.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Loofball Sport Development Initiative |url=https://www.mea-markets.com/winners/loofball-sport-development-initiative-2/ |url-status=live |access-date=30 July 30, 2022 |website=MEA Markets}}</ref>

Loofball is played on a [[Pitch (sports field)|court]] measuring 17 m by 8 m with a circular region of 2 m diameter, called "olive", at its center. The olive is also centered in the "fore zone", a 5.2 m by 8 m quadripartite region, which borders the "home zone" on either side. The home zone measures 5.9 m by 8 m.<ref name=":9">{{Cite book |url=https://ia904708.us.archive.org/31/items/official-rules-of-loofball/Official%20Rules%20of%20Loofball.pdf |title=The Official Rules of Loofball |publisher=LSDI |year=2023 |pages=3}}</ref>

A player holds the ball for no more than 3 seconds, makes no more than two steps with the ball and can hold the ball only once in a turn. Ball contact is made only by [[hand]] and [[forearm]], and only one player can hold the ball at a time. No more than two passes are also allowed in a turn.<ref name=":2" /><ref name=":3" />

Before a play begins, teams arrange themselves in two rows within the home zone, with three players in the front row and two in the back row. The left player in the back row ''serves'' from the serving area by ''jump-shooting'' (throwing the ball with speed by jumping) to the opponents’ home zone. A player in the home zone attacks by ''jump-shooting'' to the opponents’ home zone whereas a player in the fore zone ''lobs'' (throwing the ball gently without jumping) either diagonally to the opponents’ portion of the fore zone or to the opponents’ home zone.<ref name=":3" /><ref name=":5">{{Cite book |url=https://res.cloudinary.com/dzuwde1qq/image/upload/v1644790307/Fundamental_Loofball_Guide_for_Schools.pdf |title=Fundamental Loofball Guide for Schools |publisher=LSDI |pages=17-1917–19}}</ref>

A team scores a point when the opponents fail to return the ball or commit a fault. A match consists of two or three sets i.e. winning two sets wins the match. The first and second sets are won by scoring 25 points while 20 points must be scored to win the third set. A two-point lead is required to win a set. Scoring a point gives a team the right to serve.<ref name=":8" /><ref name=":3" /><ref name=":7">{{Cite web |last=Matahula |first=Winner |date=September 17, 2018 |title=Loofball Scoresheet - Scoring GuidelinesGuideline |url=https://ia902808.us.archive.org/details32/items/LoofballScoresheetScoringGuidelines/Loofball%20Scoring%20Guideline.pdf |url-statuswebsite=liveInternet |access-date=August 2, 2022Archive |websitepages=Internet Archive1–2}}</ref>

An inflatable furry ball, also referred to as a loofball, is used in the sport. The ball's outer surface is made of furry fabric or animal [[fur]]. A size 2 loofball has a diameter of 19 -– 20 &nbsp;cm and weighs 190 -– 240 g when inflated. Similarly, a size 1 loofball when inflated has a diameter of 16 -17 –17&nbsp;cm and weighs 150 -– 190 g. A loofball surface fur has a pile length of no more than 2.5 &nbsp;cm.<ref name=":2" /><ref name=":9" />

Depending on the degree and order of offense, [[misconduct]] in loofball attracts either a verbal warning, a [[Penalty card|yellow]] or [[Penalty card|red card]]. A verbal warning carries no penalty. A yellow card carries a point penalty while a red card carries both a point penalty and disqualification. A player usually gets sanctioned in the following order: first misconduct = verbal warning, second misconduct = yellow card + point to the opposition, third misconduct = red card + point to the opposition + disqualification.<ref name=":3" /><ref name=":5" />

* [https://www.lsd-initiative.org/ Loofball Sport Development Initiative -– LSDI]