Motoball

What is Motoball?

Motoball is a sport that combines soccer and motocross, which creates an extremely exciting and unique product. Motoball consists of two teams of five players, with four players on bikes and the goalie on his feet. Players on bikes can't use their hands or arms in-game, if they do, it's ruled as a foul, and the opposing team is awarded a free kick in return for the misplay. Players can also score using their legs, shooting from behind the designated goalie box. There is no intentional contact allowed between bikes or players, so the game is much safer than people realize. The largest following of motoball is in Europe, specifically in France, England, Germany, and Russia. The bikes players ride during motoball matches can go as fast as 65 km/per hour and are custom-tailored for each athlete's weight and height in Spain.

Rules

The rules say riders must wear knee-length boots, leather trousers and gloves and an FMN-approved helmet. Defenders can only attack a ball-carrying rider from the side of the bike where they are “carrying” the ball. There are 10 players in a team plus two mechanics and a manager, but only five players (four riders and a goalie) can be on the field at any one time and only 10 motorcycles can be used during a match. Bikes must weigh 70-120kg, have two two chain guards, speedway or trials tyres and have rubber protection on the ends of the footpegs and handlebars. Matches have 20-minute quarters. Fields are 75-110m long by 45-85m wide and there is a 5.75m semi-circular no-go area for bikes around the goal mouth which is 7.32m wide by 2.44m high. The rubber ball is covered in leather, is almost twice the size of a basketball and weighs about 1kg.

Motoball history

Motoball has began in the mid-1930s and was included in the inaugural Goodwill Games in 1986. The FIM European Pro Motoball Championship is held every year with teams from France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Switzerland, Belarus, Austria, Denmark, Netherlands and Ukraine. There are also club championships in most countries. Motoball is played on dirt and tarmac, which we imagine could be a pretty brutal affair. 스포츠토토