Official Rules
Rules overview
- For beginners, click here to check the brief basic rules.
- Download templates of “official recording paper” and “list of athlete names”.
- Rulebook and DVD
Overview of Sports Yukigassen ®︎
- ・Throw snowballs at opponents in a set.
- ・Get the flag from the opponent’s half.
- ・Three-set match, 3 mins per set.
- ・The first team to win 2 sets wins the match.
Team Organization
- ・The standard number of players on a team is 10; 7 regular players, 2 alternate players, and 1 head coach. The authorized minimum number of players is 7.
- ・Form a team with 4 forwards and 3 backs.
- ・The head coach can also be a player.
Players
- ・Forwards must stay within the bounds of the centerline and backline.
- ・Up to 3 players can enter the opposition’s side of the court at a time. If more than 3 players on a team enter the opposite side at the same time, their team loses immediately.
- ・Each team is allowed to replace players in between sets.
- ・Any player that has been replaced is allowed to play again in the next set.
Court
- ・Size of the court is 36m in length, 10m in width. Set up 5 shelters and 2 chateaus (originally a French word for a large building strengthened against attack) and a flag on each side of the court.
- ・The long sides are called sidelines, short sides are called end lines, the line in the middle is called centerline, and the line in between the end lines is called backline.
Size of the court is 36m in length, 10m in width.
Snowball
- ・Size of snowballs is 6.5-7cm in diameter, and each team uses 90 snowballs per set.
- ・Some snowballs are invalid: less than ⅔ in size; held by players who got out from the court, being outside of the court, or came inside from outside of the court.
- ・A player gets out when she/he uses an invalid snowball.
- ・Some snowballs are considered as unauthorized; made with additional snow, rebuilt with another snowball, or made while the game is still going.
- ・You’re out when you make an unauthorized snowball.
- ・The ways to give snowballs to other players are; hand it directly, put it on the ground, roll it on the court, or place it on a shelter or chateau.
Victory Conditions
- ・Count 1 player as 1 point. A player is out when hit by a snowball and needs to get out of the court.
- ・Victory conditions and details of each set are above;
| Eliminate all opponents | End a set and obtain 10 pt. |
|---|---|
| Capture opponent’s flag | End a set and obtain 10 pt. |
| After a 3-minute set | Calculate points by counting players remaining on the court. If the scores are even, it's a draw. |
・Final victory conditions are above;
| When both teams win an even amount of sets | Add up all the points and decide the winner |
|---|---|
| When both teams win an even amount of sets and points | Decide the winner with Victory Throw (VT) |
Download Official Templates
Rule Book & DVD
Rule Book
The pocket-sized rule book is available.
1000 JPY (tax included)
Shipping fee: 300 JPY
Click here to purchase, or give us a call at 0197-62-8770
We’re very sorry, but we do not ship to international destinations.
DVD of the Rules “Let’s YUKIGASSEN”
2800 JPY (tax included)
Shipping fee: 300 JPY
Shipping fee: 300 JPY
Click here to purchase, or give us a call at 0197-62-8770
We’re very sorry, but we do not ship to international destinations.
This DVD is based on the first edition of the official rule book. Consequently, the latest partial revision is not reflected. For details, please check the latest revisions below.
The revised rules in the 4th edition as of 2019/12/1
1.Clothing
All the shoes are allowed except the ones containing metal elements. The shoes with spikes (e.g. made of plastic) except rubber spikes are also allowed.2.Breakaway
When a player makes a false start, the player and the team get a caution. If a member of the team makes a false start again in the same match, they get a warning even if It’s not the same person who made the first false start.3.Order of Victory Throw (VT)
The order of VT remains the same from the second round onwards.4.The role of an assistant referee at the start of a set
An assistant referee should listen to the chief referee’s declaration right before the start of a set, focus on the players, and get ready for the starting whistle.5.Rules of Indoor Match
・Size of the court is 24m in length, 9m in width. The backline is 9m apart from the centerline. The flag is positioned 1m in front of the backline.
・Team organization; 1 head coach, 5 regular players (3 forwards and 2 backs), and 4 alternate players.
・Two players can be on the opponent’s side of the court at a time.
The revised rules in the 2nd and 3rd editions
Start, Interrupted, and End
The 1st Edition
When a referee decides timeout, the players stay still as they keep the snowballs in their hands, and line up on the backline with one or none snowballs in their hands as the referee gives directions, and wait for the cue from the referee to resume the set.
↓
The 2nd and 3rd Editions revised on December 1st, 2015
When a referee decides timeout, players must put down all the snowballs on the ground and follow the directions from the referee. When it resumes each player can pick up and hold one of the snowballs on the court. Players line up on the backline to resume, the same position as the starting position.
2.Prohibited Acts
The 1st Edition
Prohibited acts⑦ “False start at the beginning and the restart”
↓
The 2nd and 3rd editions revised on December 1st, 2015
Prohibited acts⑦ “False start at the beginning and the restart ”→Deleted
Therefore, ⑧ and ⑨ are sifted to ⑦ and ⑧.
Act of false start will be sentenced to out, not just a prohibited act.
3.Size of the court
The 1st and 2nd Editions
The backline is 8m from the end line.
↓
The 3rd Edition revised on December 1st, 2017
The back line is 6m from the end line.
By following the above change, the second shelter, flag stand, and line of VT are 8m from the end line.
Matters To Be Confirmed (Arrangements from revisions) applied from December 1st, 2015
When there is a resumption after a breakaway, players can hold two or fewer snowballs in their hands.
To place an order for the Rule book and/or DVD, or inquiry about the rules, click the button below
Contact us