LEARN TO PLAY 9 SQUARE

An Exciting Variation on the Old Favourite - 4 Square

Not only does this fast and furious variation promote fitness, it develops lightning fast reactions and large ball handling skills.

The Court Dimensions

The perfect dimensions for 9 square is a court 6 metres by 6 meters containing nine - 2 metre x 2 metre squares.Smaller courts can be used but if you have the room, the large court is the most exciting.

Number the squares as in the diagram below

The Game

The aim of the game is for an individual player to work their way up to attain the 'dizzy height' of being 'king' in square nine.The game is basically the same as 4 Square but with some important differences. To make it successful, insist that these new rules are followed.

The Rules

King Square 9 serves the ball. Serving must be hit underarm with two hands and the servers feet must be outside the base lines of THE KING square 9.

Bounce ball once inside the 9 square and then hit with both hands to serve.

A serve to be legal must land in either squares 7, 6, 1, 2 or 3. The server is out if it lands in 4, 5 or 8 - adjacent squares.

If the ball hits any player on the full on the serve they are out. It is easiest to hit players in adjacent squares so they have to get good at dodging. Any player inside the court who gets hit with the ball on the full or stops it without letting it bounce first - at any time - is out.

All return hits back must be made with two hands contacting the ball.

Players can not hit the ball directly back to the player who gave it to them. (no backs)

A player is out if the ball bounces above the shoulder height of the recipient. ??On the line is out. Outside any outside line is out.

Holding the ball is out - it must be hit with two hands.

Obstructing another player as they attempt to get the ball is out. The next player waiting to come in is the sole judge.

After every 'out' players should quickly move up to their new squares. The game is continuous - the server has 3 seconds to bounce and serve the ball after receiving it after an out.

Any player - including the next player waiting in line - is out if they are not in their new square when the ball arrives. eg The server may notice the next player coming into one is dreaming so he/she serves the ball to the vacant square. The unfortunate player simply moves to the back of the line to wait for a new turn.

Concluding Tips

The aim is to make the games fast and furious. Applying the 3 second serving rule (otherwise out) will achieve this.

Long plays will be difficult at first until skill levels improve and reaction times quicken up. Be patient - it will happen.

Players may like to form teams to gang up on each other - very nasty!

Have all players waiting a turn stand back at least 1 metre from the court. The players will need this room.

A very brave teacher will say "The bell to go back into school will ring when I get to 9's".

It's a fun, nasty, vicious game that kids just love!

Extra for Experts

A backboard or wall about two metres outside the court on one side makes for even more excitement - players can aim to hit the backboard on the full from any square and as long as it bounces back into the court - this is in. If it hits a player on the way - the player is out. This adds an exciting random factor to the game!