Halfway Rule
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The Three Square Rule (also known as the Halfway Rule) is a rule that was introduced to Buce in 2008, after the second official match of the 2008 Buce League. The rule restricted the serving length of servers in a game of Buce and was created to prevent the repetitious act of serving the hackisack across the entire length of the field.
History[edit]
The Quad Team had been playing and honing the rules of Buce as early as 2007, and during that time the Original 8 were considered the moderators and decision makers of the sport. Despite this, the Original 8 were known to have considered the sport's development complete (in terms of rules) as early as January 2008.
During 2007 and most of 2008, the Three Square Rule did not exist, and without it players were permitted to serve as far as they could, from anywhere on the field. After extensive exploration of tactics and field positions in Buce, the most successful strategy for a Buce team was to dissipate their midfield in place of more defenders and attackers- and use the unlimited serving distance to ones advantage, by having defenders serve the sack across the field to attackers in one go. The realisation of this had most games turn into a ping-pong event where the hackisack rarely landed into the middle of the field. During this time, midfielders were considered a detriment to the game, as carrying the sack down the field is considered too high a risk compared to just serving it across the field.
This became a problem during the 2008 Buce League, the first official Buce-related competition. Despite the Quad League existing for a year, this was the first proper competition with formalised matches, and with it, came the largest concern regarding Buce and the way it was played.
Original 8 began discussing adding a rule that forbade the repetitive serving over an entire field, and to base the game more around juggling and passing. Many members were against the change, stating it would be too hard to referee, and wasn't necessary. Others insisted that it was necessary, and as a compromise, a test match was played, allowing all players to see the benefits of having a rule that limited the distance of a serve.
The rule was later called the Three Square Rule, as the Quadrangle's field was made up of large squares of about 3x3 metres, three of which was counted as the distance limit of a serve.
The rule has since been credited for making the game much more skilful and rewarding, and giving midfielders more dominance in the game.
Modification Since 2008[edit]
Halfway Rule[edit]
Following the move of most Buce matches to either Customs Plaza or the Rooftop in late 2008 and early 2009, the 3 square rule underwent a fundamental change, on the grounds of there not being squares on the ground at these venues. However the main intention of the rule was retained, yet enforced in a different manner. It was decided that serves would not be allowed to travel a distance greater than half the length of the field, or around 6 metres. This meant that it was impossible to directly serve to the goal from one's own half. Effects of this included an increase in the value of midfield players, who are able to collect sacks, and pass them off. The 3-Square Rule also no longer applies across the width of the field, only down the length.
Attacking Half Modification[edit]
Changes were made in 2010 to the Halfway Rule so attacking the bin from a set play (starting with a serve) would be easier for attackers.
If the hackeysack landed anywhere in a team's attacking half, the team would be allowed to serve the sack anywhere within the Double Point Line- that is, they could exceed the halfway distance limit with a serve as long as it was in the double point line. So theoretically, if a server was serving it 50cm from the halfway line, but it was in their attacking half, they had the right to serve it past the bin (and therefore past the legal distance) and beyond, to a player, who is anywhere in the double-point line.
This change was made to allow more diversity in attacking situations for an attacking team. It meant servers could always serve a sack to a teammate located behind the bin (even if he was more than half the court away) as long as the server was in the half.
The recent modifications made to the Three Square Rule were generally met with positive reactions, as they allowed a more flowing and easier way to play Buce, particularly in an attacking sense.