Downball, also recognised as Handball (New South Wales & Queensland) or Four-Square (Western Australia), is a ball game popular in Australian schools.[1] It is also commonly played by the broader Australian population.
The game is officially played on a flat indoor court, with connected lined square zones of 1.8m x 1.8m, with matches involving anywhere between four and eight players. Downball is played with a rubber high bounce ball.
In an unofficial setting, the game can be conveniently adapted to any environments where square/rectangular-lined flat grounds can be found, including parking lots, driveways and footpaths. In these situations, players sometimes use a tennis ball (if that's all they can get their hands on).
Rules
Downball Australia play under the following rules.[2]
Beginning a rally
The King Square always serves to begin a rally, except after the ball has bounced on the line
When serving, the King (or Queen) must bounce the ball in their own square first
The player must have both feet in their square when serving
There are no faults
Playing a legal shot
A Spalding High Bounce Downball
A player successfully continues a Downball rally when they return the ball by hitting it into their own square on the first bounce, with the second bounce landing in another players square
Players can hit the ball before it bounces in their own square
Players must use a flat hand when hitting the ball
It is recommended that a player uses their hand - however, any part of the body can be used to play the ball, as long as the return shot bounces in the players own square first
Illegal shots and actions
Full/Straight
when a player hits the ball into another player's square, without bouncing it in their own square first
Double bounce/Dubs
when the ball bounces twice in a players square before OR after playing a shot
Out of bounds
when a player hits the ball outside of the playing lines
Double touch
when a player hits the ball with any part of their body more than once
when a player hits the ball and it rolls along the ground
Deterrence
when a player leaves their square to intentionally deter another player
Interference/Inter
when a player hits the ball after it has bounced in someone else’s square or if something/one enters the squares and affects the games outcome
Played Full/Straight
intentionally hitting the ball in attempt to continue the game after a Full/Straight whether they realised it was a Full/Straight or not.
Liner/Lines
Occurs when the ball touches any part of the playing line that connects the playing squares
When this happens, most times they redo the serve but other rules can be implemented.
Moving squares
When a player is called out by a referee, they move to the bottom square, but if there are people in the line, they go to the back of the line (unless they're in King, they go to the bottom square regardless if there is people in the line or not.)
When there is a substitute, the player called out moves to the substitute position, and the substitute moves into Dunce (the bottom square)
Square formation
When 4-squares are in play - King, Queen, Jack, Dunce
When 6-squares are in play - King, Queen, Jack, 10, 9, Dunce
When 8-squares are in play - King, Queen, Jack, 10, 9, 8, 7, Dunce
(There can be two squares, which has just King and Dunce but not in professional.)
Downball Australia
The official logo of Downball Australia, the peak sporting body for Downball in Australia
In February 2020, the first officially recognised Downball organisation, Downball Australia, was created. Founder Noah Philp was a long-term player who had always wondered why the game wasn't a nationally recognised sport.[3][4][5][6]
During the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 and 2021, Downball Australia ran school workshops to help promote their upcoming tournament[7] The eventual postponed inaugural tournament took place in 2022 and was a major success, with attendees from all across Victoria.[8][9]
After receiving interest from schools, the association continued to expand the workshop program in 2022 and 2023. In 2023, Downball Australia partnered with VicHealth and School Sport Victoria to help provide workshops to schools in disadvantaged areas.[10][11] Downball Australia also hosted a "Schools Downball Tournament", with 22 teams in attendance.[12]
In 2024, the association will be partnering with further organizations to help expand the workshop and community club models as an official sporting body.
Programs
The winners of the 2023 Downball Australia Schools Tournament - Sacred Heart Primary School (Croydon)
Downball Australia run school workshops all across Australia. These sessions can cater for both primary and secondary students, and focus on the teaching of rules, skill level improvement and healthy lifestyles.
Annually, Downball Australia hosts the national schools tournament in Melbourne.
In 2024, Downball Australia is launching council-based weekly tournaments for primary school students.
