A clear reading of the game on a live board.

1. Overview · objective · setup

BALL is a tactical, deterministic game with no luck. Victory comes from spatial reading, action sequences and state management, not dice rolls or random draws.

• Each coach controls a team of 7 players.
• The board uses columns A–M and rows 1–17.
• Only striped/diagonal squares are playable.
• A touchdown occurs when a player ends an action in the opponent’s end zone while possessing the ball.
• In the standard setup, the ATK team starts with the ball on ATK#5.
• The starting coach plays as DEF and takes the first turn.

2. Turn structure · states and restrictions

A turn has an action phase and an unlocking phase.

• During the action phase, you have 2 PA. You may spend 0, 1 or 2 across one or more actions.
• PE mode: before moving to unlocking, you may convert all or part of your unused PA. Each converted PA generates 1 PE.
• Before passing the turn, you must attempt to resolve knockdowns and stacks whenever a legal resolution exists.
• A knocked-down, blocked, protected, blocking or protecting player cannot act.
• A stacked square is closed: it cannot be crossed or used as a final destination.
• An action cannot be performed unless it can be completed legally.
• Only the ball carrier may perform a hand-off, short pass or long pass.

3. Action table

4. Movement by player type

• X: moves 1 or 2 squares diagonally forward according to the team’s orientation.
• O: moves 2 squares horizontally or vertically, or 1 square diagonally in any direction.
• # (square): moves 1 or 2 squares diagonally in any direction, or 2 squares horizontally or vertically.
• Two separate 1-square moves are not equivalent to one 2-square action.

5. Dodge and Forced Fumble

A dodge requires one 2-square movement action ending on a square occupied by one opponent only.

• The opponent is knocked down.
• The acting player must immediately take an additional 1-square diagonal step to an empty square.
• The dodge is not legal if no such empty diagonal square exists.
• If the opponent had the ball, the acting player takes possession immediately.

6. Tactical Dodge and Fumble

A tactical dodge also requires a single 2-square action, but the acting player passes over an opponent and finishes on an empty square.

• The movement passes over a square occupied by one opponent only.
• The coach moves that opponent 1 square diagonally to an empty square of their choice.
• Then, unless already knocked down, the opponent is rotated 90°.
• If the opponent had the ball, move the ball 1 diagonal square opposite to the push, when possible.

7. Block / Protect

This occurs when a player ends a movement of no more than 1 square on a square occupied by another player.

• If the lower player is an opponent, the upper player is blocking.
• If the lower player is a teammate, the upper player is protecting.
• The lower player cannot act until released or unprotected.
• The upper player is engaged and cannot act either.
• The stacked square becomes closed.
• Blocking does not cause a knockdown by itself.
• If the upper player ends on the ball carrier, that player takes possession immediately.

8. Hand-off · Short pass · Long pass

• Hand-off: 0 PA. Declare one transfer that may follow a continuous chain of eligible teammates. Every link joins adjacent squares, including diagonals. A knocked-down or stacked player breaks the chain.
• Short Pass: 1 PA. Choose an active receiver within distance 4, then choose a playable empty square adjacent to that receiver. That square validates the landing; when resolved, possession is displayed on the receiver.
• Long Pass: 2 PA. Choose a playable empty landing point at least 2 squares from every teammate. Draw a straight line from the passer: the first opponent square crossed intercepts and the pass ends there.

9. Taking possession

• Taking possession costs no PA.
• Whenever a player ends an action on a square occupied wholly or partly by the ball, that player takes possession.
• A 2-square movement that only jumps over the ball’s intermediate square does not take possession.
• After acquiring possession through an action, a player may not perform further actions until the next turn, except through a card-mode exception.

10. Unlocking phase

• Stand up a knocked-down player: move that player 1 square diagonally to an empty square. If none exists, the player cannot stand up that turn.
• Release / unprotect: the coach controlling the upper player moves both involved players 1 square diagonally to empty squares.
• If either movement cannot be completed, there is no legal release.
• The lower player retains the state/orientation held before the stack.
• If either player had the ball, the releasing coach chooses who keeps possession.
• You cannot release a stack in the turn in which it was created; it must happen during the next turn of the coach whose player is on top.

11. Card mode

Card mode does not replace normal actions; it expands them.

• Each coach starts with 0 PE.
• PE is earned according to the action performed, following the official game table.
• You may also convert unused PA: each converted PA generates 1 PE.
• Conversion is optional and may be total or partial. It must be declared during the action phase.
• PA that you neither spend nor convert are lost when the turn ends.
• You may earn and spend PE during the same turn.
• The restriction after taking possession remains, unless a card permits the player to act through a special action.
• Special actions may only be performed during your own turn and within the action phase.

12. Simulator conventions

• Usual flow: select player, then action, then destination.
• A rotated piece indicates a knockdown.
• Stacked pieces represent blocking or protection.
• Ball on a piece: possession. Ball on a square: loose ball.
• ESC cancels an action in progress without changing the game state.
• The turn indicator distinguishes DEF and ATK.