Benchball


Benchball is a team sport played in schools, used for developing ball skills and as a preparation for learning netball and basketball.
There are two teams, each with a bench, and one dodgeball or large soft ball. A flat rectangular surface is needed, marked with side lines such as those of a badminton court. The size of the teams is variable, but must be the same for each side. Each of them has a goalkeeper who stands on the team’s bench, while the other players take up positions around their half of the court. The ball is thrown into the centre of the court, and a player catches it to gain possession. The aim of the game is to pass the ball around a team five times, then pass it back to the goalkeeper, thus scoring a goal. If the ball is dropped or the other team gains possession, a new count begins. If the ball leaves the court, the team which was not the last to touch it has a throw-in from the side-line.
After a goal, the team which did not score it throws the ball in from behind the bench where the goal was scored.