Okay, so today I wanted to mess around with something totally new – “concept sports.” I’d heard about these online, where people basically invent their own sports, complete with rules, equipment, and sometimes even a made-up history. Sounds fun, right? I decided to give it a shot.
Brainstorming Time
First things first, I needed an idea. I started by thinking about what I like in sports. I enjoy a good bit of strategy, some fast-paced action, and a little bit of controlled chaos. I jotted down a few existing sports I like (basketball, volleyball, ultimate frisbee) and tried to see if I could combine any elements.
- Basketball: Team-based, scoring goals.
- Volleyball: Keeping the ball in the air, designated zones.
- Ultimate Frisbee: Self-officiated, “spirit of the game” emphasis.
Then I thought about what could make it different. Maybe something with multiple balls? Or different scoring zones? Perhaps varying levels of contact?
Crafting the Game: Orb-Runners
After a bunch of scribbling and crossing things out, I came up with a basic concept I called “Orb-Runners.” Here’s the gist:
- Two teams of five players.
- A large circular field, divided into three concentric zones.
- Three “Orbs” (basically just different colored balls) in play simultaneously.
- Each Orb has a different point value when scored in the center zone (the “Core”).
- Players can only hold an Orb for a few seconds before having to pass or shoot.
- Limited contact is allowed, but there’s a strong emphasis on fair play (like Ultimate Frisbee).
Fleshing Out the Rules
I decided to add to my list.
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The Zones:
- Outer Zone: Free movement, passing, and setting up plays.
- Middle Zone: Only two players from each team allowed at a time.
- Core (Center Zone): Only one player from each team allowed at a time. You score by getting an Orb into the Core.
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The Orbs:
- Red Orb: 3 points
- Blue Orb: 2 points
- Green Orb: 1 point
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Gameplay:
- Start with a “jump ball” for all three Orbs in the center.
- Players can move the Orbs by passing or running with them.
- You can only hold an Orb for 5 seconds.
- If an Orb goes out of bounds, the other team gets possession.
- Game lasts for two 15-minute halves.
I even sketched out a little diagram of the field to help visualize it. It’s still pretty rough, but it’s a start!
Next Steps (and maybe playing it?)
Honestly, this was way more fun than I expected. I’ve got a basic framework for a sport, and now I’m itching to refine it. I need to think more about:
- Specific penalties for rule violations.
- How to handle substitutions.
- Maybe some special abilities for players or Orbs?
The real test, of course, would be to actually play it. I’m going to try to rope some friends into giving Orb-Runners a try sometime. Who knows, maybe it’ll be a total disaster, or maybe… just maybe… it’ll be the next big thing. Okay, probably not, but it’ll be a good laugh either way!
