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Gateball rules(4) Out-ball

You have learned the basic gateball plays such as passing through the gates, touch and sparking. As I said earlier, you can play the gateball now if you have equipment. But, there are two things you need to know before playing gateball with your friend. The two things are out-balls and fouls. I will explain out-ball in this article.

Out-ball and its penalty.

Out-ball is a ball in the outer field as its name suggests. Many plays are restricted when stroking an out-ball. In-balls can be replaced in the outer field as a result of foul. It is a kind of penalty.

Here I show some disadvantage of out-balls. Out-balls cannnot make a successful pass through the gate. Out-balls cannot touch the other balls, if they accidentally touch the other balls, they will be replaced in the outer field again.

Once the ball becomes an out-ball, the stroker will consume the next turn just for coming back to the inner field. It is a kind of sin bin. The stroker can play in the inner field at least after two turns.

What out-balls cannot do: Out-balls cannot touch the other balls. If they do, it is regarded as fouls and they will be replaced in the outer field. Out-balls cannot make a successful pass. Even if they do, it is not a foul but no point is gained. All that out-balls can do is just entering the court and waiting for the next turn.

When does an in-ball become an out-ball?

You may have understood that out-balls are kind of penalties. By the way, when does an in-ball become an out-ball? Roughly speaking, there are two cases when in-balls become out-balls. One is when the in-ball crosses the inside line by stroking or sparking. The other is when the stroker commits a certain kind of foul.

Reasons for becoming out-balls: Crossing the inside line by stroking or sparking. Committing fouls.

It is relatively easy to understand the former cause. Any balls which have completely cross the inside line will be regarded as out-balls for any reasons. Completely crossing the inside line means the ball's outer edge is off the line and the center of the ball is in the outer field. The position of the out-ball should be placed 10 cm away from the inside line where the ball crossed it completely.

Position of out-balls: the out-ball should be placed 10 cm away from the inside line where the ball crossed it completely. Out-balls are placed 10 cm away from the closest line when commiting a certain kind of foul. The distance should be measured between the line and the outer edge of the ball.

When commiting a certain kind of foul (not all fouls), the stroker's ball will be replaced in the outer field. In such cases, the ball will be placed 10 cm away from the closest inside line.

Position of the out-ball after fouls: The out-ball should be placed 10 cm away from the closest inside line. Check which inside line is closer to the place where the foul happened.

Prevent your team's ball from becoming out-balls. Get out opponent's balls from the court.

Now you have learned when to become out-balls and their penalties. Out-balls almost have nothing they can do. Becoming out-ball is the most serious penalty in gateball among common fouls. According to these facts, the best strategy is to prevent your team's ball from becoming out-balls and get out as many opponent's ball as possible.

Practically, carefully stroke or spark your team's ball so that it will not cross the inside line. Avoid fouling. Whenever touching the opponent's ball, get it out! In actual games, both teams struggle to remove the opponent's ball from the court. Never mind! All out-balls can join the game again after two turns.