AU2004100426B4 - Football game - Google Patents

Description

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION INNOVATION PATENT FOOTBALL GAME The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me FOOTBALL GAME This invention relates to a football game, in particular to Australian Rules Football which can be played using darts and a dart board.

Australian Rules dates from the 1850's when it started as a hybrid of some games played in England. It has a particularly strong following in Victoria, Western Australia, South Australia, Tasmania, the Northern Territory and to some extent in the Australian Capital Territory. It is played to a lesser extent in Queensland and New South Wales and also in certain countries overseas.

The Complete specification filed in respect of Australian Patent Application associated with Provisional Patent Application No. 2003900058 in the name of Des Pearce describes and claims a game for simulating another sporting game using darts. In particular it describes and claims a simulated field divided into a number of segments and representing the position of a player in the playing of Australian Rules Football. The scoring of goals in this game proceeds in a mechanical way by the throwing of darts at allocated targets represented by indicia or segments. If a player misses an indicia, the opposing player or team gets the opportunity to throw a dart at an allocated target in the same segment. Thus the opposing players or team proceed up and down the board towards the targets. To score it is necessary to proceed to the full forward position. As will be described in the present application play is fluid, proceeding either towards or away from the selected goal i.e. play to the back-line or to the forward-line. Thus a dart may be thrown "backwards", ie away from the intended goal if that is advantageous. In the present game, a dart may be thrown into the 50 metre arc, the "shoot for goal" area. The player may then shoot directly for goal or, alternatively, to the full forward or forward pocket etc. and then to goal. Thus it can be seen that the possibilities for playing tactics are greater than in the Pearce game. Furthermore, if a dart lands in a double line or a thick line, Sthere is a "turnover" with the opposing team taking over play.

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It would be desirable to provide a game which could be played indoors such as a dart game which simulated Australian Rules football.

Accordingly, this invention provides a dart game which simulates Australian Rules football which comprises a dartboard having a generally oval shape or on which a IN generally oval shape is marked and on which at least the normal field markings of Australian Rules appear, together with indications of the goal and behind posts and indications of the initial positions of the thirty-six players, the rules of the game ,N 10 stipulating that progress towards the goal and behind posts is achieved using one or more darts, wherein double or thick lines within the oval have been superimposed, these double or thick lines enclosing areas within which a free kick is awarded if a dart lands within the area, furthermore two part circles are shown at either end of the dart board marking a "shoot for goal" option, that is the so-called "50 metre arc".

When a ball-up occurs after a goal is scored, and one of the players in the centre square kicks towards the upper goal, the ball (ie the dart) could, for example, land in the 50 metre space so there is an opportunity to kick for goal, for example, by the half forward flank. However, if the dart lands in either of the two free kick areas surrounding the shoot for goal space, then the ball is surrendered to the opposite side. Consequently the opposing half back flank could kick to the wing and, if the relevant free kick areas are avoided, this player could kick for the 50 metre space for an opportunity to kick for the lower goal represented by throwing a dart into this goal or can kick to his centre half flank or full forward.

The double or thick lines encircling the dartboard signify "out of bounds" areas.

The following Example serves to illustrate the game the scope of which is to be understood by reference to the Claims. Thus two dart players exemplify a simple version of the game in which each player may take up to six darts.

i The game may be started by tossing a coin.

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0 In the Example the players' positions are t FB full back (s) FF full forward (s) BP back pocket (s) N FP forward pocket (s) 0 HBF half back flank (s) HFF half forward flank (s) cN 10 CHB centre half back (s) CHF centre half forward (s) W wing (s) C centre (s) R ruck rover (s) R rover (s) F follower (s) Exemplary Rules of the Game 1. A coin is tossed to see who starts first and which end you aim for.

2. Shoot to the centre bullseye circle then to 50 metre arc then to goal. If you miss the 50 metre arc and land in the CHF/CHB area you must shoot to the FP/BP/FFIFB area then to goal.

3. When shooting for the bullseye circle and you miss and land in the centre square you must shoot to wing then to the 50 metre arc then to the CHF/CHB arc then to the FP/BP/FFIFB area then to goal. There may be differing plays in the game and differing tactics ie wing to the CHF/CHB area to goal; the HFF/HBF area to the FP/BP/FF/FB area to goal; or wing to metre arc to goal. However, you cannot aim a dart further than you can kick a ball, ie. 50 metres target to target.

4. During the course of the game, so long as you land in the right area(s), you

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t can keep control of the game until you score.

5. If you land in a "free kick" area you lose your turn and the opposition takes over. He/she take their turn from where the free kick is located and work their O way through the target areas so they can score.

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6. When shooting for goal: 1 "goal" 6 points; 1 "behind" 1 point. If you kick a point/behind, then the opposition take their turn to kick from the FB area to 0 10 the FF area so they can score.

7. When a goal has been scored, the team that scores the goal goes back to the centre and starts again. See Rules 2 and 3.

8. You can play 5 minute quarters or 10, 15, 20 minute quarters etc.

9. This game may have an independent umpire who can rule on free kicks, marks, out of bounds, goal scoring, time wasting etc.

In the process of playing this dart game, it is allowable to shoot to wing to HFF, back to wing, across to wing, ie. shoot backwards with respect to the dartboard.

11. The quickest way to score is straight up the centre, ie. centre circle to metre arc to goal.

12. In this Example the game is played by two persons, but may be played by opposing teams or single players or by one player only.

The board may be placed wherever convenient. For example, it may be placed in a games room with the bullseye located at 1.7 metres from the floor and a toe line located 2.4 metres from the wall on which the board is placed. These distances can be altered as desired, for example, to suit the heights of the players.

Claims (2)

1. A dart game which simulates Australian Rules football which comprises a dart board having a generally oval shape or on which a generally oval shape is marked and on which at least the normal field markings of Australian Rules appear, together with indications of the goal and behind posts and indication of the initial positions of the thirty-six players, the rules of the game stipulating that progress towards the goal and behind posts is achieved using one or more darts, wherein double or thick lines within the oval have been superimposed, these double or thick lines enclosing areas within which a free kick is awarded if a dart lands within the area, furthermore two part circles are shown at either end of the dart board marking a "shoot for goal" option, that is the so-called "50 metre arc".

2. A dart game as claimed in Claim 1 substantially as described with reference to the Example. Dated 2- oO Date Edward Wilson by his Registered Patent Attorney JAMES MURRAY