Downball,Downball requires a wall or a squares court depending on which version of Downball is being played. also recognised as handball or four-square, is a ball game popular in Australian schools. It is also commonly played by the broader Australian population. The game can be played with a rubber high bounce ball or a

tennis ball A tennis ball is a small, hollow ball used in games of tennis and real tennis. Tennis balls are fluorescent yellow in Professional sports, professional competitions, but in Amateur sports, recreational play other colors are also used. Tennis bal ...

. Players take turns using their hands to hit the ball against a wall until a player misses a shot and is eliminated. The last player left is declared the winner, and the next round begins. There are several versions of the game, one involving the playing area being divided into four squares (marked by simply placing a stick in the centre so that players can divide the space mentally). When a player is eliminated, an onlooker previously in the line (also referred to as the ries (firstry, secondry and so on) takes their place. In an unofficial setting, the game can be adapted to any environments where square/rectangular-lined flat grounds can be found, including

parking lot A parking lot or car park (British English), also known as a car lot, is a cleared area intended for parking vehicles. The term usually refers to an area dedicated only for parking, with a durable or semi-durable surface. In most jurisdi ...

driveway A driveway (also called ''drive'' in UK English) is a private road for local access to one or a small group of structures owned and maintained by an individual or group. Driveways rarely have traffic lights, but some may if they handle heavy ...

s and

footpath A footpath (also pedestrian way, walking trail, nature trail) is a type of thoroughfare that is intended for use only by pedestrians and not other forms of traffic such as Motor vehicle, motorized vehicles, bicycles and horseback, horses. They ...

s, commonly playing with a tennis ball.

Downball Australia

Downball Australia was founded in February 2020 by a 16-year-old student named Noah, originally as a

year 9 Year 9 is an educational year group in schools in many countries including England and Wales, Australia and New Zealand. It is the tenth or eleventh year of compulsory education. Children in this year are generally between 13, 14 and 15, with it ...

school project. ABC have described it as Australia's first officially recognised Downball organisation. Downball Australia rules say to play the game on a flat indoor or outdoor court, with connected lined square zones of , with matches involving between four and seven players.

Notes

References

{{reflist Wall-and-ball games Sports originating in Australia Ball games