Cycleball is an indoor cycling sport, with a pitch set out as in the diagram below. A game of Cycleball is played between two opposing teams who are aiming to score the most goals. The match is played in two halves lasting 7 minutes each, with a 2 minute break between them. The sides played and who takes the kick-off switches for each half.

There are usually two per team, playing with a rush-goalkeeper. One player will tend to be an outfielder and the other a goalkeeper, though either can be goalkeeper, as long as not more than one player is in their D (a wheel has crossed into the 2 metre radius penalty area), at any time.

Bicycles are specific to Cycleball and are optimised for riding while standing on the pedals: the handlebars are raised for easy reach and the saddle is set back horizontally to be out of the way. The bicycles are fixed-wheel at a high ratio, which means that brakes are not needed - this is done intuitively with the legs when riding the bicycle. There are also further details to a Cycleball bicycle such as the tyres which are suited to indoor sport halls. Cycling helmets are not worn, because the bicycles do not travel at speed.

Variations on the game include 5-a-side and 7-a-side, with slightly modified rules. This includes the match lasting 15 minutes each half and a playing one a larger pitch, the size of a handball pitch.

The players move and strike the ball with their bicycle (wheels) only, not with their hands or feet off the pedals. At least one hand has to be on the handlebar and one foot on a pedal, without contact with the ground or other object such as the goal or side walls. Jumping from the bicycle to catch an unreachable ball is not allowed. However, if the hands and feet are on the bicycle, then the ball can bounce off the person’s hand, foot or body for a deflection.

A player can defend the ball by positioning themselves between the ball and the opponent. A defending player cannot go for possession of the ball unless it is exposed to them, i.e. only if it is on the opponent’s open side. If covered and protected by the opponent, the player cannot tackle or knock the player with the ball, as this would be a foul.

A player without the ball cannot defend by blocking the route of another player heading towards the ball, or with the ball, as this would be a foul. However, if the defending player is stationary (track standing), they can be an obstacle the other player would have to cycle around.

A goalkeeper can handle or catch the ball in front of their goal, as long as they remain on their bicycle and both wheels are in the D. Both feet need to be on the pedals. The ball can be knocked away, or the goalkeeper can catch the ball. If caught, they cannot hold the ball for more than 3 seconds and not throw the ball out further than the 4 metre penalty area (a dotted D, which passes through the penalty spot).

If the ball is in the defender’s D, one offensive player can then also enter the D, whereby if a wheel crosses the D line, they are considered to be in. If the ball is subsequently knocked out, this is offside and the offensive play must retreat out of the D without hindering the goalkeeper.

During play, if a player touches the floor, they are off-bike and have to go back to cross their own goal line with one wheel, between a corner and the D, before they can return and resume playing; meanwhile the match play continues. For a goalkeeper, if they put a foot on the ground, both their wheels must have left the D and a wheel behind the goal line, before they can return to play. For 5-a-side and 6-a-side matches, players do not have to cross their own goal lines, instead they have to distance themselves by 4m, before rejoining play.

The game is played with minimum contact; other players cannot be barged, pushed or knocked, which are deemed a foul. It is a foul if a player is off-bike and obstructs the game (blocking another player or ball) while returning to cross their goal line. It is understood that if a player is off-bike, but then knocks or holds the ball or opponent within one step, a foul and free-kick is given; if it is more steps and a goal is prevented, e.g. the ball deflected from the goal, a foul with a penalty-kick is given.

The referee will interrupt play if there is a goal, foul or an out-ball, as well as for exceptional reasons (injuries, discipline etc.). Play resumes (or begins) with a kick-off, out-ball, goal-kick, free-kick, penalty-kick or corner-kick.

A kick-off is used at the start of each half, or after a goal has been conceded. The ball is placed on the centre dot. The 2m radius circle around the centre dot indicates the distance the defending team need to maintain, until the playing team has touched the ball. The defending players do not strictly need to stay within their half, but they must keep 2m away (stay out of the central circle) from the ball, as well as out of the opposite D.

An out-ball is awarded if the ball goes out, over the side walls of the pitch. The ball is placed 1 metre in from where the ball crossed the side wall. Play is awarded to the team that did not put the ball out; the defending team must keep a 2 metre distance until the ball is touched, or else a free-kick is given.

A goal-kick, as with football, is given if the ball is hit by, or comes off the offensive team and crosses the defending goal line. A goal-kick is played by the defending team in the same way as an out-ball, except that the ball is placed on the nearest corner dot. A referee whistles when the ball goes out, but does not do so again to resume play.

A neutral-ball is given, for example if the ball gets stuck in a player’s bicycle, so that play resumes without an advantage. It is usually played in the form of a kick-off or out-ball.

For the following, a 4 metre distance and one-touch rules apply. For the one-touch rule, the person playing a corner-/free-/penalty-kick can only touch the ball once; the ball has to then be left for any another player, either on the same or opposing team. this continues to be so, even if the ball bounces back from the goal post or boards. If there is a foul against the one-touch rule, it results in a penalty.

A corner-kick, as with football, is given if the ball is hit by, or comes off the defensive team and crosses their own goal line. The ball is placed on the corner dot. The dot is located 4 metres from the pitch centre-line and 2 metres in from the goal line. The one-touch rule applies when taking a corner-kick.

The positions for players when a corner-kick is taken are as follows: one offensive player takes the corner-kick, the other offensive player is outside of the D, on the near side of the pitch centre-line: there is a direct line of sight to receive the ball when it is played. The defending goalkeeper has both wheels within their D. The other defending player is outside of their D and on the far side of the pitch centre-line, i.e. more than 4m from the spot.

A free-kick is given to all fouls outside of the defending D. The ball is placed where the foul occurred and at least 1 metre in from the side wall. A foul in the the attacking D, e.g. when an attacker enters the D without the ball being in there, will result in a free-kick with the ball placed at the head of the D, where the centre line meets the D. Here, the defending team must keep a 4 metre distance until the ball is touched. The one-touch rule applies when taking a free-kick.

If a free-kick is given against a team and it is within their penalty area, i.e. closer than 4 metres to their goal, then the ball is placed on the penalty spot as if it is a penalty- kick.

A penalty-kick is given for fouls in the defending D. These are if both defenders are in the D at the same time, or a foot is down while touching the ball. The ball is placed on the penalty spot, which is 4 metres in front of the goal. The other defensive and offensive players have to keep 4 metres away for the shot and behind the penalty spot. The one-touch rule applies when taking a penalty-kick. The defending goalkeeper needs to stay on the goal line. The penalty-kick is taken when the whistle is blown.

If one of these restarts are made just as a final whistle sounds, one last strike of the ball is allowed.

A whistle is blown when play is stopped, but only in certain circumstances: for a (re-)start. A rule of thumb is that if a (re-)start whistle is blown, both the 4m distance rule and one-touch rule apply. As mentioned, the whistle is blown to restart with a corner-/ free-/penalty-kick or neutral-ball; the (re-)start whistle is not blown to resart for a goal-kick or after an out-ball.

Time wasting will be indicated by the referee with a raised hand, indicating that the move has to attempt an attack within 20 seconds. If the move is not completed, a free- kick from the centre stop is given.

If there are complaints, improper or unsporting behaviour, the referee can show a verbal warning or a yellow card. Further penalties can be a red card or disqualification, including from subsequent games. No-shows for a match is considered a 5:0 loss.

The etiquette of Cycleball matches includes shaking hands with the opponent team before and after a match. Further, the players are to stay on the pitch at half-time, while team crew and others keep off the pitch. The coaching team are sat behind and left of their own goal

 

This diagram shows the layout of a Cycleball pitch. It is approximately the length of a badminton court and about one and a half times the width:

Thomas Rasche
December 2024

The official Cycleball rules can be found at: www.uci.org and here.