Diabolo Tennis

Diabolo Tennis

A.K.A. The Beautiful Game

Diabolo Tennis was created a few years ago in 2005 by Ryde Extreme Performers with the intention of developing basic catching and throwing skills - It has since then developed into something a lot more special. The Beautiful Game has only a few rules and these are those.

The Game can be played as a solo format or in teams with a maximum number of three members (or however many suits the size of the pitch).
The Game is played on a pitch with the layout as shown at the bottom, the length of the pitch is twice the width and the width is denoted by the size of the net (which is a standard size badminton net), the pitch is marked out by cones or even rope .
Serving the Diabolo (which is always a Mr Babache Medium Harlequin) is done from behind the end line and should land in the opposing pitch area or zone - The server has two opportunities to get the Diabolo in the other zone, if it is out of the zone then it is out, touching the line denotes that the Diabolo is in.
Any trick can be used to mislead or enthrall the opposition, there is however a time limit of twenty seconds before the Diabolo must be either passed to another team mate or thrown over the net (passing between team mates can be done only twice, the third throw must go over the net), movement is also allowed on the pitch i.e. you can walk with the Diabolo.
The Diabolo's journey over the net should always be deemed as catchable, therefore it must always be in the horizontal axis if the Diabolo travels at any time in the vertical axis (such as a tumble) then it is deemed as uncatchable. The Diabolo must also be rotating at a 'respectable speed' so that it is catchable by the opposing player.

Scoring is done in the following format - the serving side is the only one that can score, at the beginning of a match a coin is tossed to see who serves then they have the scoring 'right', they lose the 'right' if they throw the Diabolo out or throw an uncatchable diabolo, the 'right' to score then moves to the opposition, one point is scored for each time the opposition that does not have the scoring 'right' causes the Diabolo to go out or become uncatchable. If the Diabolo stops for any reason then that is also a reason for the right to be lost or or a point to be won. e.g. Player 1 has the 'right' but throws the diabolo out, the 'right' then moves to player 2 - Player 2 serves the Diabolo over the net and Player 1 misses the catch, the Diabolo lands in Player 1's zone so Player 2 gets a point - Player 2 serves the next throw as s/he still has the 'right', Player 1 makes a fine catch and returns just as well, Player 2 catches but for some reason the Diabolo stops when it is on Player 2's string therefore the 'right' to score moves to Player 1 -

There is one circumstance when points can be deducted from a player, this is caused by unsportsmanlike conduct such as swearing or considerable taunting, 2 points are deducted for this each instance -

The first to 11 points is the winner of the game.

DiaboloTennisCourt