Football game system and method of play

Abstract

A new game is disclosed, involving substantially the same rules as American football (e.g., NFL or NCAA) except that kicks or passes into the end zone may be deflected back onto the playing field as a playable ball by a rebounding assembly that surrounds the goalposts. Upon an attempted field goal, an errant kick will result in the ball hitting the rebounding assembly instead of passing between the vertical uprights of the goalpost. The reflected ball can be caught before it hits the ground by only players of the team defending the goal. Once caught, the defending team may advance the ball toward the opposite goal in accordance with the normal rules of American football. If the ball reflected off of the rebounding assembly hits the ground before it is caught by a player of the team defending the goal, the ball is free for players of either team to advance. In order to ensure that an errant kick results in the rebounding of the ball back into the playing field, the rebounding assembly is comprised of resilient material that returns much of the kinetic energy to the ball after it impacts the rebounding assembly. The rebound assembly for playing the game is comprised of a goal post substantially similar to that used in American football, with the exception that the instant goal is provided with a ball rebound net extending outwards from each side of the goal post, along the extremity of the end zone to substantially the entire width of the playing filed.