Patent Application
20070296148
The present invention comprises a game apparatus and method for playing a table top game simulating the sport of football. The game is played with a game board which resembles a football field, a flat disk which represents a football, and a set of blocking pieces or blockers. An example of a game board is illustrated in
The shooting region is bounded by the end of the game board and scoring line 18 closest to the offensive player. Accordingly, the shooting regions correspond to the sections of game board 12 which represent the end zones of a standard football field. Scoring line 18 lying on the opposite end of game board 12 of the offensive player represents the goal line. The purpose of the goal line will be described in greater detail subsequently. Red zone 68 is positioned between the goal line and the 10-yard line. Its purpose will also be described in greater detail subsequently.
Blocking zone 32 is the region between the 20-yard line and 30-yard line on the goal line side of the field. Blocking zone 32 extends from the left sideline to the right sideline. The defensive player may place their blocking pieces anywhere within blocking zone 32 prior to the random selection of the actual scoring region as will be explained subsequently.
To start the game, offensive and defensive roles are assigned to the players for the opening possession. This may be determined by die roll, coin toss, or any other means of determination (including agreement between the players). The player who is on defense on the opening possession sets their blocking pieces, stationary blockers 38, in blocking zone 32 of game board 12 as illustrated in
Stationary blockers 38 and table football 32 may be any shape or size. Stationary blockers 38 and table football 32 may also be made out of any material, including paper, plastic, wood, or foam composite. Because table football 42 is thumped with the shooter's finger, it is desirable for table football 32 to be made of a lightweight, yet rigid material. A paper-foam composite such as the material used in foam board is a good material for such an application. In the preferred embodiment stationary blockers 38 are made of the same material as table football 32, but they may also be made of dissimilar materials.
Once the defensive player places their blocking pieces in the blocking region, the offensive player then rolls a dice (or uses some other random selection means) to randomly select an actual scoring region from the various shooting regions. Various scoring regions are illustrated in
As mentioned previously, the offensive player selects an actual scoring region from the group of possible scoring regions by a random selection means after the defensive player positions stationary blockers 38. The random selection means may be any means that allows the random selection of the actual scoring regions from the group of potential scoring regions. For example, the random selection means may be a single die, a pair of dice, or a spinning pointer wheel. If a die is used, marking may be provided on each face of the die to indicate which scoring zone is to be used. For example, the faces of the dice may indicate “right half”, “left half”, “right corner”, “left corner”, “open”, and “defense chooses.” If the side facing up on the dice indicates “right half”, “left half”, “right corner”, or “left corner”, the offensive player will attempt to score in the appropriate scoring region. If “open” is indicated, the offensive player may attempt to score in any of the possible shooting regions. If “defense chooses” is indicated, the defensive player may select the actual scoring zone for the offensive player.
The reader will appreciate this input of randomness makes the game more exciting by allowing the defensive player to adjust their defensive strategy between a conservative or aggressive strategy. If the offensive player has a sizable lead in the game, the defensive player may elect to play more aggressively in the hopes of catching up. If the defensive player has a sizable lead, then the defensive player may choose to play more conservatively. The defensive player may play aggressively by concentrating the blocking pieces in a small region. For example the defensive player may position the blockers to protect one corner. If the offensive player randomly selects the protected corner, then it will be more difficult to score. Accordingly, the use of blockers and randomly selectable scoring zones makes the game much more exciting by introducing the element of strategy into the game.
In addition, the use of blockers and randomly selectable scoring zones allows defensive players to adapt their playing strategy to their opponent. For example, some players may not be very effective when attempting to score at corner scoring zones. Knowing this fact, a defensive player may elect to leave these targets unprotected. Instead the defensive player may cover the center of the playing field with the hope that the offensive player will not score if the random selection means returns a corner target as the actual scoring region.
Once the actual scoring region is established, the offensive player may launch table football 42 a designated number of times across game board 12 to land in the actual scoring region. If the football lands in the actual scoring region in one of the attempts, the offensive player scores a touchdown. In each possession, an offensive player has four opportunities to score a touchdown. If the player does not score on the first three attempts, the player has an option of kicking a field goal or attempting a touchdown one final time.
To score a touchdown, part of table football 42 must come to rest on and cover the goal line, scoring line 18, in the actual scoring region. If the actual scoring region is the “left half,” the offensive player launches table football 42 at the region of scoring line 18 indicated by scoring zone 46 in
If after three unsuccessful attempts the player elects to attempt to kick a field goal, the player rolls a dice (or uses some other random selection means) to determine a kicking location. Various kicking zones 34 may be marked on game board 12 including a “close center” location, a “long center” location, a “right hash mark” location, and a “left hash mark” location as illustrated in
As mentioned previously, goal 14 is placed on the opposite end of the game board from the offensive player as indicated by
Goal 14 is shown from the back in
The players alternate possessions a designated number of times with each player alternating between offense and defense. This continues until a designated number of possessions have been used. The players may even switch sides relative to game board 12 at a halftime. The player with the most points at the end of the game is designated the winner. Although point values for touchdowns, field goals, and extra points (field goal attempt after a touchdown) may be anything, the conventional values of 6, 3, and 1 respectively are preferred.
The reader will appreciate that the above described game involves skill. Launching table football 42 so that it comes to rest in a scoring region or passes through opening 54 requires aiming precision. It also requires that the player use the appropriate launching force on table football 42. The more that a player plays the game, the mare attuned the player's skills become.
Although the preceding descriptions contain significant detail they should not be viewed as limiting the invention but rather as providing examples of the preferred embodiments of the invention. For example, many variations on the scoring and game play can be used. For example, red zone 68 as illustrated in
In addition, bumpers 44 may be provided around the scoring zones as illustrated in
Also, penalty line 36 may be provided on game board 12 as illustrated in
