If you still haven’t familiarized yourself with SlamBall, now is the time to do so. It’s never too late.
Nearly two decades ago, Mason Gordon invented what would eventually become SlamBall. Inspired by video games, Gordon laid out the blueprint for a full-contact game that fused elements of basketball and football. With the construction of his prototype court in 1999, Gordon set out to recruit street basketball players to test out his new idea. He was able to sign five players who went through proper, SlamBall training as the production for the first matchup in Los Angeles went underway.
James Willis, Sean Jackson, David Redmond, Michael Goldman, and Jeff Sheridan, became the first SlamBall athletes and helped expand SlamBall’s reach amongst street basketball players. In just a year’s time, 400 players enlisted, hoping to land a spot on the roster. A few years later, SlamBall made its debut on The National Network (which became Spike TV, and now the Paramount Network).
The action-packed sport gained notoriety in the two seasons it aired on Spike TV (2002-2003), and later aired on CSTV (now CBS Sports Network) in 2007. It made a return in August of 2008, with games broadcasted on Versus (now NBC Sports Network & CBS). On an international level, SlamBall held its first international tournament in China in 2012.
Now, after a long hiatus, SlamBall is officially back. As we gear up for the new season ahead, here are the rules of the game.
1. SlamBall consists of four five-minute quarters.
2. There is a 20-second shot clock that resets to 12 seconds every time an offensive rebound is made.
3. A regulation game consists of 20 minutes of total gameplay.
4. SlamBall is played with just four players per team. Two teams in total. And each team can only carry a maximum of seven players.
5. Slam dunks are worth three points.
6. Jump shots and layups off the trampoline are worth two points.
7. Long-range shots behind the arc are worth fourth points.
8. Contact from the waist up and below the neck is permitted but must be made from the front. Body checks and goaltending is permitted.
9. Personal fouls are called when: a player grabs/holds another player, a player tackles/wraps another player, full extension of arms in a pushing motion is done.
10. There are no free throws. But there are Faceoffs, which come after a personal foul.
11. When a game is sent into overtime, the game is decided by Faceoffs.
