Student Council Installs Tetherball Poles

Two years ago, when Nick was in sixth grade and one of our school’s sports commissioners, he made a campaign promise to purchase and install tetherballs for the school. That year his sister, Danielle, and he had class birthday parties where they asked their classmates to donate $10 toward the purchase of the tetherballs instead of bringing gifts. Thanks to their classmates, they were able to raise enough money not only to purchase two tetherballs, but also to pay for the concrete and some of the installation labor. Thanks to Mr. Hodder and Mr. Gomez, the holes for the poles were jack-hammered out; the sleeves were installed in concrete; and the caps were made and installed. Nick and Danielle assisted with the installation and clean-up. As you can see, if you have a new idea, you can make it happen too!

How to Play Tetherball

• Two people play against each other.
   
• The object is to hit the tetherball and wind the rope around the pole until the rope is wrapped around the pole in one direction. The opponent hits the tetherball in the opposite direction.
  
  
• To start the play, one person serves by tossing the ball into the air and striking it with their hand or fist in the direction they choose. The opponent strikes the ball in the opposite direction after the ball makes a complete turn around the pole. When the ball enters the opponent’s playing area, they can hit back.
  
  
• Fouls result in the automatic loss of a game. Fouls include intentionally holding, catching, throwing or hanging on to the ball; hitting the ball with a body part other than your hands; touching the rope or pole during play; and crossing over the painted lines into the painted zones, called neutral zone.
  
  
• Unintentional violations include the following:
• Stepping offside
  
  
• Touching the rope
  
  
• Carrying or throwing
  When hitting a ball back against the direction from which it comes, the ball should bounce off the hands immediately, with no lingering contact. When hitting a ball that has passed the opponent and continuing it on its way, the ball still cannot be carried or thrown, but a less distinctive impact is to be expected. Serves must be hit, not thrown.
  
  
• Double hitting may or may not be intentional, but we give the benefit of the doubt. A player can hit the ball only once per wrap around the pole, except if the ball hits the pole between hits. He could conceivably "dribble" the ball against the Pole, but this would be of little advantage, because he would not gain any wraps, and his opponent would likely get an opportunity to steal the ball.

When one player commits any one of these violations, the ball is stopped and returned to the place it was wrapped when the violation occurred. Both the number of wraps and their height should be re-created. The other player gets to serve, and then either player can hit the ball from that point on. If a player commits three unintentional violations, in any combination, the opponent wins the game.

• Someone wins the game when their opponent fouls or when the rope winds completely around the pole in the direction they are hitting.
  
  
• A line of waiting players forms around the painted tetherball safety circle (10 feet away from the pole). When the game is over, the players must leave the tetherball circle and give the next two people in line a turn.

SJC Rules
Once the lines are painted and daily installation monitors are assigned, the tetherballs will be ready for action.

• Because of the big differences in size and strength of students, play will be limited to age bands: 3rd and 4th grade; 5th and 6th grade; and 7th and 8th grade. The times will rotate and will be posted by the Sports Commissioners. 
  
  
• If no one from the posted age group is playing ball, the poles are open to other students as long as they are within the same age bands.
  
• The tetherball posts will be installed and taken down daily by two or more older children according to a schedule posted by the Sports Commissioners.

Tetherball Location
The two new tetherball poles are located in front of the Parish Hall and flag pole.

Boundaries and Size
No outer boundary circle is needed for the court, because there's no advantage to getting very far from the pole, but it's best to have at least 8', preferably 10', of clear, level ground all around the pole. The only boundary needed is a line dividing the court into two equal halves.

Tetherball Schedule

ENJOY!