General Stango® Rules (for teens & adults)
SET-UP
The game begins with the three hoops set at ~120 degrees from one another, and for the remainder of the game they are left to move as they will.
There are three Periods, each 30 minutes long, with 10-minute breaks in-between.
Except for injuries, subs may only enter as Outsiders, and are only allowed at the start of each Period and the Period 3 mid-point.
Since Stango’s guiding principles are good sportspersonship, honesty, comradery, and having fun, the responsibility for fair play and honesty rests with each player. Competition and winning should never come as at the expense of respect for all players, the fans, and the game’s rules and guiding principles. Ideally, the game should therefore be self-refereed where players are responsible for calling their own fouls and resolving any disputes.
To start, the captains meet at the stango to flip a coin (or duke it out: odds/evens, rock/paper/scissors), with the winning team inbounding the ball from anywhere outside the boundary. For the remaining two Periods, teams alternate inbounding to start play.
PLAYING
Players score by getting the ball through the hoops from either direction using any body part. And since play is continuous, both teams are allowed to immediately try and gain possession of the ball after a goal.
There are two positions in Stango: Outsiders and Insiders.
OUTSIDERS
For all Stango versions (other than for Frisbee and Kids Stango):
Outsiders are allowed to roam everywhere outside the 9m Double Point Line including outside the Boundary Line. (Except in Court Stango, where they are not allowed beyond the 9m line.) Should an Outsider touch the ground inside the 9m Double Point Line, they are given a 3-minute suspension beyond the Hedge (or if no Hedge, 2 meters beyond the Boundary Line).
When a ball goes out of bounds, the team touching it last loses possession, and the nearest opponent inbounds from where the ball went out of bounds.
While Outsiders must play by soccer rules, there are three exceptions:
1 They may use any part of their body to score with, including their hands.
2 When an opposing player has the ball in their hands, defenders may block using their hands and arms, and
3 Players may inbound the ball in any way they want, including their hands, but they may not pass to themselves or step over the Boundary Line until the ball is released. The opposing team must give the inbounder a two-meter clearance. Should the inbounder violate one of these rules, the opposing team inbounds the ball.
And here are two important notes regarding the use of hands:
1 Passing via hands / “throwing” isn’t allowed. Once the ball is in a player’s hands, they must take a shot on goal by either “throwing” or drop-kicking. Should they fail to do so, the other team takes possession from that spot, and is given a two-meter clearance before restarting, and
2 Since passing via hands / “throwing” isn’t allowed, should an Outsider’s scoring attempt by “throwing” touch a teammate before passing through the No-Zone, the other team takes possession at the place of touch, and is given a two-meter clearance before restarting.
INSIDERS
Insiders are allowed to roam everywhere, including outside the Boundary Line, but with two caveats:
ONE: Should an Insider move beyond the 9m Double Point Line, they must play by Outsider rules, with the one exception that they’re allowed to reenter the Inside area.
TWO: Insiders are restricted from the No-Zone except for these three reasons:
- To kick out a ball. Players may run in to immediately kick a ball out, but may not pick it up, dribble or take possession of the ball for themselves,
- To defend an opponent who has possession of the ball in their hands just outside the No-Zone Line. When doing so, defensive players must stay within a meter of the the No-Zone Line, and
- To pass through the No-Zone. When running through, Insiders are not allowed to play defense or touch the ball at all. An Insider running through and interfering with a shot on goal, is goaltending, resulting in an automatic goal, except when the ball is intentionally shot at the Insider.
In no case may Insiders stay within the No-Zone for more than the few seconds necessary to fulfill one of these three objectives. Should they, they are given a 3-minute suspension beyond the Hedge.
Insiders may use any part of their body while inside (interior to) the 9m Double Point Line, and therefore, may try to score or pass the ball by throwing, bouncing, punching, heading, kicking or rolling. NOTE however, that with the exceptions of Frisbee and Kids Stango, Insiders may only score through the top and bottom hoops.
Note that Insiders are allowed to kick or throw the ball outward, beyond the 9m Double Point Line.
While in possession of the ball, Insiders may move by dribbling either soccer or basketball style. When dribbling basketball style, players are allowed two consecutive non-dribbling steps which may be taken before, after, or during their dribbling (i.e., they can double-dribble so long as they don’t take additional non-dribbling steps).
Insiders may use their arms and hands to block an Outsider’s goal attempt, as long as they remain inside the 9m Double Point Line. Should their blocking momentum take them beyond the 9m Double Point Line, it’s considered goaltending, resulting in an automatic goal.
Final Note:
All Insiders must become Outsiders during the following Period, including any overtime Periods; and except for injuries, may not be substituted out during either of those two Periods. No one is allowed to be an Insider for more than one Period unless due to injuries or a substitute shortage, in which case Insiders from Period 1 may repeat during Period 3.
SPECIAL OVERALL NOTES
At this time, the number of allowable subs has not been set. As more play time is gained, the number for different versions and ages will be posted.
Each version of Stango has rules specific to that version. MAKE SURE to check them out!
Fouls & Violations || Terminology || Goal Point Values || Field & Court Dimensions
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