The formal Rules to Talossan Football are given below.

A football stadium set up as if for Talossan Football

The Game

Object

The object of a game of Talossan Football is to score more points than the opposing team, according to these rules, and during a timed game of limited duration.

Officials

One or more officials shall be responsible for the conduct of play, including the keeping of the game clock (which may be stopped and restarted at any time at the discretion of the head official), the awarding of points, enforcement of these rules, and the imposition of penalties.

Periods of Play

Duration of the Periods of Play

Talossan Football is played in two or more periods of twenty minutes each (as counted by the game clock), with breaks of no less than ten minutes between periods.

Number of Periods Determined by Opera

The number of game periods shall be determined by the home team, which shall arrange for a performance of an opera during the intra-period breaks. One act of the opera shall be performed at each break, and the final period of play shall commence after the final act of the opera has been performed.

Overtime Periods

A game in which both teams have been awarded the same number of points at the conclusion of the final period of play shall be continued into a subsequent overtime period, and shall end when either team first scores. If neither team scores in an overtime period, another overtime period is played, until a winner is determined. Breaks before each overtime period shall be of no less than ten minutes in duration, during which time selections from the chosen opera shall be reprised.

Choice of Goal

Players shall defend alternating goals for each period, with the home team choosing the goal that it shall defend in the first period of play.

Time Outs

Each team shall be eligible to call for one time-out at any time after any tackle in each period of play, and each such stoppage of the game clock shall be of fixed duration.

Equipment

Playing Field

Talossan Football is played on a rectangular field of natural grass, chalked or otherwise marked as shown and described below:

Boundary Lines, defining the twelve-sided playing surface, which is described as a rectangle from which has been removed two smaller rectangles of ten-metre depth, centered on each of the shorter parallels of the larger rectangle, two corners of which being marked by the rump posts (defined below).
a Center Line, dividing the field into two equal halves, the line being equidistant from both goal lines,
two Goal Lines, two lines paralleling the center line, each ten metres from the endlines (the pairs of parallel boundary lines furthest distant from each other),
a Center Circle, having a radius of five metres, established around the midpoint of the center line, and
two Goal Boxes, being the completion of rectangles extending 10 metres from each goal line into the playing field from the rump posts (defined below).

Goal Marks

Two Goal Nets: association football (soccer) nets, positioned at the center of either goal line,
Four Goal Posts: vertical poles extending upward from the goal line along either side of the framework of the goal net, from which shall be flown the flag of the team defending that goal,
Four Rump Posts: vertical poles or markers set into the ground along each goal line, each at a fixed distance (being the width of the goal net) to either side of the framework supporting the goal net, and
Four Pylons: rubber pylons or other markers, established at the intersection of the goal line with the two longest sidelines.

The Football

Talossan Football is played with one spherical ball, approximate to the size of a volleyball. Only one ball may be in play at any given time during the game.

Other Equipment

Talossan Football players may choose to wear specialised equipment, including but not limited to pads, helmets, and gloves. A governing body for any given league may choose to impose rules that limit use, type, or size of said equipment.

Definition of Terms

Backward: in any direction which causes the ball to increase in distance from the attacked goal line before contacting another player or the ground.
Block: pushing or otherwise impeding an opposing player through use of the hands, shoulders, or body against the front of the torso of that player. That is, blocking must be done from the front of the blocked player; it is illegal to contact a player from behind him. Further, a player may not be grasped or held; simply contacted and pushed with the body or arms. If a player crosses any boundary line and exits the field of play as a result of being blocked, the fact of the block is immaterial; the blocked player has legally left the field of play.
Bump: to propel the ball by intentional contact with the head, torso, or shoulder.
Catch: to begin to hold the ball, with its previous contact having been with another player.
Carry: to run with the ball while holding it in one's arms or hands.
Drop-Kick: to drop a held ball and kick it with the foot before it contacts the ground.
Endline: any of the four boundary lines that are not sidelines.
Forward: in any direction which causes the ball to decrease in distance from the attacked goal line before contacting another player or the ground.
Free Kick: A drop-kick executed by a backer who has taken a mark. The drop-kick must be taken at any point within the field of play which is on the same side of the goal line being attacked -- but further distant from that goal line than -- the spot where the mark was taken. The opposing team shall allow the free kicking backer sufficient space to execute the free kick.
Handball: to drop or slightly loft the ball with one hand and punch it with the other.
Hike: the action of a protector tossing the ball backward, from a stationary position on the ground at the point of a turnover or tackle.
Hold: to control the ball with the hands.
Kick: to propel the ball by contacting it with the foot or leg.
Mark: a full catch by a backer of a football on the fly, being the first player to contact the ball after it has been kicked or thrown a distance of at least 15 meters in a forward direction relative to the last player contacting the ball. A backer taking a mark is eligible to take a free kick, but may choose to play on rather than do so.
Punch: to propel the ball with an open hand or closed fist.
Sideline: any of the eight boundary lines upon which a goal mark (pylon, goal post, or rump post) is placed, including that part of the goal line which runs between the rump posts.
Tackle: grasping an opposing ball-carrier by the torso or legs, or pushing or tripping a ball-carrier, causing the ball-carrier to touch the football, torso, or either knee to the ground within the field of play, during which time the ball-carrier is contacted by an opposing player.
Toss: to propel a held ball by throwing it overhanded or underhanded.
Turnover: to hold the ball after it was most recently held by an opposing player.

The Teams

Number of Players

Talossan Football is played by two teams which shall not field any number of players exceeding an agreed-upon maximum, which shall be no less than six and no greater than sixteen.

Player Positions

There are six different player positions in Talossan Football. At the beginning and at the conclusion of each period of a game of Talossan Football, each team must have at least one player of each of the six positions on the field. The cézembre ("zoomer," shirt) of each player must be well-marked, indicating to the opposition, officials, and spectators, the player's position. These six positions, and the maximum number of players which may, for each team, play that position simultaneously, are described below.

No more than nine Quebecs (Q) (being Talossan for "Sire" or "Highness"), but to begin each period and after each score, no more than one
Exactly one Kämpfeir (K) (being Talossan for "Fighter", also called the Keeper)
No more than ten Ritxeirs (R) (being Talossan for "Runners"), but to begin each period and after each score, no more than two
No more than ten Baqueirs (B) (being Talosan for "Backers"), but to begin each period and after each score, no more than two
No more than ten Numadeirs (N) (being Talossan for "Nomads"), but to begin each period and after each score, no more than two
No more than eight Prostexheirs (P) (being Talossan for "Protectors")

Player Capabilities

Rules determining each player's on-field capabilities are defined by the player's position, and are given below.

Position		Count per Team			Abilities
Position		Start Max	Min	Max	Kick, Bump	Catch, Hold, Carry	Drop-Kick	Punch, Handball	Toss	Block, Tackle	Be Blocked or Tackled	Scoring Method(s)
K	Keeper	1	1	1	Yes	Only When In Goal Box				No		Goal
Q	Quebec	1	0	9	No	Yes	Forward Only	No	Yes			Touchdown, Field Goal
R	Runner	2	0	10	No	Yes	No	Backward Only		Yes		Touchdown
B	Backer	2	0	10	Yes	Yes (may mark)	Yes	Yes	Backward Only	Yes	Yes; Must Release Ball	Field Goal, Rump
N	Nomad	2	0	10	Yes	No						Goal
P	Protector	8	0	8	No	Yes (may only catch backward balls)	No		Backward Only	Yes		Touchdown

Additional Restrictions

A runner may not be the first player to contact a ball sent forward by any player on his team.
When the football is on the ground, a backer must make his first contact with the football with his foot or leg.
A backer carrying the football must dispossess himself of it before running more than fifteen metres. Note that "soloing" (bouncing the ball off the ground or his foot and back into his own hands) shall be sufficient to meet the terms of this rule.
A backer may not maintain possession of the ball while being tackled. That is, a backer must dispossess himself of the ball before being tackled.
A nomad may not contact the football with his arms or hands.

Player Substitution

A keeper may not leave the field of play or be substituted for another person playing that position, except in case of injury or medical necessity. A keeper who crosses any boundary line may return to the field of play without penalty.
If a quebec, runner, backer, nomad, or protector crosses any boundary line, that player has left play and may only re-enter legally.
A quebec, runner, backer, or nomad may only enter the field of play by crossing the endline behind the goal being attacked by his team, providing that at the time of such entrance, the player tags (claps hands or otherwise makes contact with) a protector who is at that time legally leaving the field of play by crossing the same endline, and provided that no more than ten players of his position will be on the field for his team.
A protector may enter the field of play at any time only by crossing any endline behind the goal being defended by his team, providing that no more than eight Protectors will be on the field for his team and no more than the agreed-upon maximum total number of players will be on the field for his team.

Scoring

A Goal (seven points) is scored when a keeper or nomad causes the ball to cross either goal line and enter the space confined by the goal net. The points are awarded to whichever team is defending the goal line that the ball crossed to score the goal.
A Field Goal (three points) is scored when a quebec or backer drop-kicks the ball across the goal line and between the goal posts being attacked by his team, at any distance above the goal net. If the kicked ball comes in contact with either goal post but still crosses the goal line, the field goal is awarded.
A Rump (one point) is scored when a backer drop-kicks or punches the ball, causing it to cross the goal line between the one goal posts and the nearer rump post. If the kicked ball comes in contact with either post but still crosses the goal line, the rump is awarded.
A Touchdown (six points) is scored when a quebec, runner, or protector has possession of the football while the football is in contact with the ground at any point in either of the end zones behind the goal line being attacked by his team.
A Safety (two points) is scored either
- when a quebec, runner, or protector is tackled while in either of the end zones behind the goal line being defended by his team, or
- when the football goes out of bounds by crossing any boundary line (endline or sideline) behind the goal being defended by the team last contacting the ball.
A Moat (ten points to the opposing team) is scored at the end of any period of play in which either team did not conclude the period with at least one player of each position (quebec, keeper, runner, backer, nomad, and protector) on the field. Note that it is possible for both teams to score moats at the end of any given period.

Starting and Restarting Play

At the Beginning of Each Period

To begin each period of play, the teams must have the same number of total players on the field, and each team must have at least one player in each of the six positions on the field before play can begin. At that point, an official bounces the ball in the center of the center circle. With the exception of the quebecs, all players must be outside the center circle and on their own defensive side of the center line, from the time of the bounce until the ball is contacted by any player.

After a Tackle

When a quebec, runner, or protector is tackled, the football is left at the spot of the tackle and play is started again by a hike, but only when all players have positioned themselves such that the ball is between them and the goal line they attack. The official may stop the clock at his discretion to allow a protector to reach the ball position, including, if necessary, by legally entering the field of play as per the substitution rules.
If the tackled team has been tackled four consecutive times since either the beginning of the period or the most recent tackle of any member of the opposing team, the completed tackle shall become a turnover, and a protector from the opposing team shall hike the football.
Between the time of the tackle and the ensuing hike, either quebec may call for a huddle. If a huddle is called, each player must be positioned such that the football is between that player and the goal being attacked by that player. Teams may discuss plans and options in a "huddle" and time may be stopped for this purpose at the discretion of the official.

After a Score

After a team is awarded points, if either team has more than two nomads, backers, or runners, or more than one quebec in play, such excess players must be replaced by protectors before play is restarted. Time may be suspended for these substitutions at the discretion of the official. The quebec of the team receiving the points shall then restart play by drop-kicking the football from any point within the center circle on that side of the center line nearer to the goal being defended by his team. The kicked football must cross the center line before being contacted by any player. At the time of the kick, all players shall be positioned on their defensive half of the center line and (apart from the quebecs) outside the center circle

After the Ball Crosses a Boundary Line

A ball crossing any boundary line without scoring a goal, field goal, rump, or safety and which, while outside the boundaries of the field of play, contacts the ground or any person or object in contact with the ground, is ruled out of bounds.

A ball which has gone out of bounds across a sideline and between both goal lines is put back into play by an official tossing the ball over his head toward the center circle and into the field of play from the point where it crossed the sideline. The official may stop and restart the game clock at his discretion.
A ball ruled out of bounds after crossing an a boundary line but not between both goal lines is put back into play by the keeper defending the goal that is nearest that point where the ball crossed the boundary line. The keeper shall kick the ball from the ground within the goal box. When a keeper is entitled to restart play, no member of the opposing team may be positioned within the goal box where the kick will be taken.

Penalties

Minor Penalties

Illegal Contact (O-O)

Whenever a player contacts the football or dispossesses himself of the football in contravention to these rules, the ball is awarded to the opposing team at the point of the infraction. Any player on the team being awarded the ball may be first to contact the ball, and the penalized team must give clearance of at least five metres.

Invalid Substitution (O-O-O)

Whenever any team has (on the playing surface) more players than the agreed-upon maximum to be fielded by each team, or whenever a player violates any rule providing for his entry onto the field of play, the ball shall be awarded to the opposing team at its current location or at any point along the center line, whichever is the greater penalty, and put into play as described above, but only after such time as the offending team corrects the error through player substitution. If a team refuses to correct its situation in a timely manner, the game shall be forfeit to the opposition.

Delay of Game (ZZZ)

Whenever a backer entitled to a free kick, a keeper in possession of the ball within the goal box (including when entitled to a restart kick after the ball has gone out of bounds), a protector charged with performing a hike after a tackle, or a backer being tackled delays (in the opinion of the official) in giving up possession of the football, the ball is awarded to the opposing team at the point of the infraction. This penalty may also be imposed against a team failing to timely position its players properly following the call for a huddle, failing to give sufficient clearance to any player entitled to such clearance, or which in any other way acts without expected timeliness. The ball is put back into play as described above.

Major Penalties

Clipping (CLP)

Whenever a player is pushed from behind by a protector or other player, the ball is awarded to the opposing team at a point fifteen metres forward from the point of infraction, and is put into play as described above. At his discretion, the official may also order the penalized player from the field of play, without eligibility to be replaced, for some period of game-time, up to a maximum of two minutes.

Egregious Personal Conduct (EP)

When a player intentionally or recklessly contacts an opposing nomad or keeper, or acts in any way with vicious intent, the ball is awarded to the opposing team at a point fifteen metres forward from the point of the infraction (or the position of the ball at the time of the infraction, whichever is the greater penalty), and put into play as described above. At his discretion, the official may also order the penalized player from the field of play, and direct that the penalized team play with one fewer men than the maximum currently allowed that team for some period of game-time, up to a maximum of five minutes, during which time the penalized player may not return to the field of play.

Unpalatable Player Suspension (UPS)

When a player, in the opinion of the official, acts in such way as does not befit a player of the noble game of Talossan football, the ball is awarded to the opposing team at a point fifteen metres forward from the position of the player at the time of the infraction (or from the position of the ball at the time of the infraction, or from the center line, whichever is the greater penalty), and is put into play as described above. The offending player may also, at the discretion of the official, be warned against a second infraction or may be ejected from the game, such ejection being required after a second infraction that follows a warning. An ejected player may be replaced by his team, unless the game official directs that the penalized team must play with one fewer men than the maximum currently allowed to that team for some period of game-time, up to a maximum of ten minutes.

Leagues

League Organisation

Two or more Talossan Football teams may agree to compete under the auspices of an organized league in games that adhere to these Rules of Talossan Football.
A league shall establish a competition schedule for a season of play and rules to determine the championship team at the conclusion of the scheduled season and any post-season games.
A league shall provide game officials for all scheduled games, and shall regulate their conduct.
A league may specify the maximum number of players that may be on the roster of all teams in the league.
A league shall be empowered to fine, suspend, or expel from the league any player, team officer, or team for any violation of any terms of the agreement which established the league.

League Rules

An organised league may choose to modify these Rules of Talossan Football in only the following ways:
A league may allow any or all games to be played without the actual performance of the chosen opera.
A league may specify the fixed maximum players-per-game to be obeyed by all teams in all scheduled games, or may allow the home team to specify this number in any game.
A league may allow a game to be played without one or both team flags flying from the goal posts.
A league may adopt alternate rules on tackling, such as two-hand touch, or flag tackling.

Rules to Talossan Football