The South Africa game of Action (Indoor) Ringball is played by two opposing teams consisting of nine players on either side, on a court divided into three sections. Three players of each team play in each section (3 goal shooters, 3 centre players and 3 defenders). These players may at no time during play, touch ground in an adjacent section or step on the lines separating the sections.
The ball is passed from player to player through the air and is caught with the hands, so that the ball does not touch any other part of the body. In passing the ball, a player may not move forwards or backwards, feint a pass or be in possession of the ball for longer than 2 (two) seconds in an attempt to pass the ball.
Players may try to gain possession of the ball without hitting or snatching the ball from the opponent’s hands. Players are not allowed to hold, push away or obstruct their opponents in such a manner as to prevent them from passing the ball. Two (2) players of the same team may not touch or hold the ball simultaneously. It is an infringement if the ball crosses the section without being touched by a player in that section.
To score points, the ball must fall through the net from the top. A goal shooter may attempt to score a goal from any spot in the goal section outside the circle. A successful attempt counts two points. Both hands from below upwards must be used when shooting for a goal and must be attempted within a 5-second time limit from the time the ball is received. Any of the 2 opposing goal shooters can attempt for a goal from any spot outside the goal circle, when a penalty has been awarded.
All unforced infringements are penalized by awarding a free pass to the opposing team. The referee awards a penalty to the opposing team when a player makes use of unacceptable play. A penalty counts 1 (one) point and must be attempted within 3-seconds. The player that attempts the penalty goal can choose to make use of the penalty line in the goal section. If the attempt is successful, the team scores 2 points.
When players of both teams commit a transgression simultaneously, it is called a double fault. The referee then toss the ball up between the two opposing players, who may hit or catch the ball on the descend.
The match consists of two halves of 25 minutes each with an interval of 3 minutes. Play off at the start and after half time is as follows. The team winning the toss shall start the game from the white dot in the centre section nearest to their defenders. The opposing centre player stands inside the middle circle until the whistle goes. The other 2 middle players can take up any position anywhere in the middle section. All the other players can take up any positions in their sections for the play off at the start and after half-time.