CONTENTS
1 - Court Setup
The standard tetherball pole (not included) is 10ft tall, but you can use a shorter 8ft or 6ft pole for kids.
The standard court size is a 20ft diameter circle with the pole in the middle. Tip: You can tie a rope to the base of the pole and measure out 10ft, then use chalk to mark a full circle using the rope as your guide.
Divide the circular court into 2 zones by marking a central line (simple method). Alternatively, you can include neutral zones for a more standard court (diagram link).
2 - Inflate Ball
Use a standard ball pump with an inflating needle.
Wet the needle before inserting into the tetherball, and inflate according to the PSI printed on the ball. Over-inflation can put more strain on the ball and tends to sting the hands (ouch!).
3 - Attach & Game On!
Clip the swivel snap hook to the top of your pole - safest to use a stool or ladder unless you are vertically gifted.
Gather a brother, sister, friend, or neighbor - and game on!
The hook comes pre-tied onto the rope for attaching to a 10' pole. Adjust the position of the hook on the rope as needed for your specific pole. The tetherball should hang 2 ft from the ground.
1 - PLAYING
Two players stand in their own zone and decide who will serve (rock, paper, scissors).
The server chooses which way they would like to serve and hits the ball with their hand. The server cannot hit the ball again until the opposing player hits the ball or the ball wraps around the pole 4 times.
2 - SCORING & WINNING
A player scores a point when the ball fully wraps around the pole in their direction. The players can decide how many points are needed to win the game.
3 - PENALTIES
If a player commits one of the following penalties, pause the game & allow the non-offending player to re-serve the ball back into play:
NO stepping into opponent's zone or neutral zone
NO catching, holding, or throwing the ball (hits only)
NO hitting the ball more than once per wrap around the pole (unless the ball hits the pole or opponent)
NO hitting the ball with anything besides hands or forearms (unless a game variation allows)
NO touching the rope
NO touching the pole
Choose one option from each section below to mix and match your own custom tetherball game variation (ie. Singles Ninja Workout):
1 - Player Count
☐ Singles (1 v 1)
☐ Doubles (2 v 2 - partners need to alternate hits)
2 - Hit Type
☐ Standard
☐ Ninja Hit ... players can do one swift movement to hit the ball, then must freeze until the next opportunity to hit the ball comes
☐ Hammer Hit ... players can only hit the ball with their two fists together - no single hand or open hand hits
☐ Handicap Hit ... one player must only use their non-dominant hand while the other player can use any hand ... leveling the playing field
☐ Spin Hit ... each player must complete a 360 spin after each attempt to hit the ball
3 - Penalty Type
☐ Standard ... non-offending player re-serves ball into play
☐ Workout ... offending player does one pushup or air squat before being able to hit the ball again - no game pause
☐ Refresh ... offending player has to take a sip of water before being able to hit the ball again - no game pause
☐ Sing Song ... offending player has to completely sing the happy birthday song to the other player before being able to hit the ball again - no game pause
Here are our top three tips to extend the life of your tetherball:
Tip #1: Moisten your air needle before inflating to help preserve the valve which helps the ball retain air better.
Tip #2: Utilize the hook to remove the ball and rope from the pole, then store at room temperature away from direct sunlight.
Tip #3: Avoid over-inflating the ball and err on the lower advised limit of 6 psi.