Hello. I'm sure some of you guys remember my Driveball threads from the old CCSLC Sports Fan Fiction forum.

Without further ado, let's begin...

Killian "Cubby" Dempsey (b. 1917) was once a backup quarterback for the Chicago Bears, sitting behind the legendary Sid Luckman. During his brief tenure, Dempsey saw limited action, if at all. Only one game did he start. That was in 1941 at Wrigley Field against the Chicago Cardinals, but only due to Luckman injuring his elbow against the Cleveland Rams the week before.

A year later, the United States was thrust into World War II. Athletes in all sports were drafted to serve their country and those who remained at home faced a diluted talent pool.

Dempsey served in the Pacific Theater for much of the war. On a visit to Australia, he came across a hybrid sport called Austus. It was a combination of Gridiron and Australian Rules Football played by soldiers from both countries. Less than ten exhibitions were played throughout 1943 and into 1944, but the action left a inseparable impression in Dempsey's mind.

After the war, Dempsey returned to his native Chicago. Meanwhile in Australia, the game of Austus disappeared almost overnight. Working at a bar during the day, Dempsey spent his spare time, well into midnight, laying out the rules for his version of Austus.

By early 1946 Dempsey pitched his new idea to the Chicago Tribune's then-sports editor Arch Ward [1]. Concerned that the public would struggle to pronounce "Austus" correctly, Ward suggested a new, snappier name. Thus, Driveball [2] was born. 

[1] Mr. Ward was instrumental in helping form the All America Football Conference.
[2] Originally spelled as "Drive-Ball" according to early registrations with the United States Patent and Trademark Office.



The game would be played on a field identical to the size of an American football field. The 25 yard lines would serve as the Quarter Lines and the 50 yard line would become the Halfway Line. The football endzones would serve a different purpose in this new game.

FIELD
120 yards long.
Quarter Lines: The lines that separate the midfield from the defensive and attack zones. Depending on which direction a team is attacking, the forwards and defenders much line up on the coordinating quarter line at the ball-up.
Halfway Line: The line where the midfielders line up to start the game.
Center Circle: Only one midfielder from each team can line up inside the center circle before the opening ball-up.

GENERAL RULES
Team with the highest score wins.
Games are played with 20 minute quarters for an 80 minute game.
Substitutions are unlimited.

CLOCK
The clock only stops when the following occurs.
- The ball goes out of bounds.
- A player is injured.
- The referee signals a penalty.
- Time expires for each quarter.
- A team scores.
- A timeout is called. Each team gets three per half.

BALL-UPS and RESTARTING PLAY
- The ball-up occurs at the start of the game.
- After a team scores, the ball-up process starts again.
- After a timeout, a player from the possessing team inbounds the ball from the nearest quarter line, similar to a rugby lineout.

THE BALL ITSELF
- Basically a collegiate or professional size football. The classic brown pebble grained leather. No official manufacturer just yet, as the early days of this game are pretty much the Wild West. Keep in mind, this will evolve over time.


EQUIPMENT
- Helmets (Leather at the beginning; plastic later on)
- Jerseys.
- Shorts.
- Shoulder, elbow and knee pads.
- Socks.
- Cleats.

ADVANCING THE BALL
- Ball can be passed, kicked or fist-balled (spiked with a clench fist and the ball in the other hand) in any direction.
- The throw can be made similar to the forward pass in American football.
- Six tackles must be recorded to stop a drive and gain possession.
- After running ten yards, a ball carrier must bounce the ball, but only once.
- After a bounce, the ball carrier must pass to a teammate or attempt to score.
- After a tackle, the ball carrier must let go of the ball.
- Defending players can steal or intercept the ball to gain possession for their team.
- A "steal" is when the ball carrier is stripped of the ball and an opposing player recovers.

MARKING THE BALL
- A pass or kick that travels fifteen yards or more can be marked, but only if the ball travels forward depending on the direction a team is attacking.
- For a mark to count, the player must have both feet in bounds and complete control of the ball upon making the catch.
- Defensemen can spoil the mark by deflecting or intercepting a kick or pass.
- Only six consecutive marks are allowed per possession. A seventh mark results in the ball being awarded to the opponent on the nearest quarter line.
- A potential receiver cannot push or shove an opponent in the back while attempting to make the catch.
- Only one player from the possessing team can mark the ball at any one time.
- Once a mark, the referee signals the mark and the receiver can pass to a teammate or attempt to score.
- The opponent nearest to the receiver must retreat five yards on the ref's signal.

TACKLING
- Tackles can only be made at the chest, waist and thigh areas.
- The tackler must wrap his arms around the ball carrier to tackle cleanly.

CHANGES IN POSSESSION
- After six tackles.
- After a penalty kick.
- After a score.
- After an interception or a steal.

FOULS
- Contact above the shoulders or below the knees is prohibited.
- Gamesmanship or "flopping" constitutes an objectionable conduct foul, resulting in a yellow card and a penalty kick awarded to the opposing team.
- Excessive demonstration, such as using obscene language or gestures towards an official also constitutes "unsportsmanlike conduct."
- Tackling an opponent who does not have the ball constitutes unnecessary roughness.
- Carrying the ball outside of the player's designated zone constitutes an offsides call.
- Delay of game.

OFFICIALS
- One Referee: Responsible for the general supervision of the game and makes the final rulings on each call.
- One Umpire: Makes sure each team has eleven men on the field; Records scores and timeouts; Makes sure the players' equipment is within the rules.
- Two Goal Judges at either side of each goal post.
- One Side Judge at either sideline to make sure players have both feet in bounds when making a catch.


SCORING
- The goal post is shaped like an "H," just like the football goal posts of the late 40's.
- The goal post is placed at the back of the the end zones.
- At either side of the goal post is a behind post which stands ten yards away from each upright.
- Generally, the behind posts stand at half the height of the goal posts.
- For a field goal to count, the ball must fly continuously over the crossbar and through the uprights.
- FIELD GOALS
--- Six points inside the attack quarter line.
--- Nine points beyond the attack quarter line.
- BEHIND
--- One point inside the attack quarter line.
--- Three points beyond the attack quarter line.
- SAFETY
--- Two points to the attacking team if an opposing back takes possession of the ball and tackled by a forward in his own end zone.
- ROUGE POINT
-- Worth one point to the attacking team if a kick or pass bounces untouched out of the end zone.
- PENALTY KICK or CONVERSION AFTER TRY (CAT)
-- Taken at the 10 yard line
-- Worth three points.
- TRY
-- Similar to rugby union and league.
-- Forward must apply downward pressure on the ball in order for a try to count.
-- Worth five points.

UNIFORM NUMBER SYSTEM
- Defense: 65-99
- Midfield: 32-64
- Attack: 00-31
- Three digit numbers could be legalized should the need arise.



POSITIONS (Based on a modern take on the Austus rules, which you can read about here: LINK)
ATTACK
- FF: Full Forward (Alternate captain)
- HF: Half Forward
- FP: Front Pockets
MIDFIELD
- C: Center (Main team captain)
- W: Wings
DEFENSE
- HB: Halfback
- BP: Back Pocket
- FB: Fullback (Alternate captain)

PLAYERS ON THE FIELD
- 11-a-side on the field at any one time
- Four forwards
- Three midfielders
- Four backs

ROSTER SIZE
- Nine Forwards
- Eight Midfielders
- Nine Backs

COACHING STAFF
- Head Coach
- Forwards' Coach
- Midfielders' Coach
- Backs' Coach
- Trainer

As a quick reminder, the rules of Driveball will evolve with changes approved by the rules committee.

Last edited by NeoPrankster (5/18/2020 9:57 pm)