The National Animal Ball League

Overview
Animal ball is a water based game featuring two teams. Each team has two lines of 3 forwards, 2 defenders, and goalie. The object of the game is to score more goals than the opposing team. Goals are scored by knocking down the opponent’s tripod made out of dense foam boards. Games are played in three 15 min periods and the clock stops for timeouts (each team has two per period), penalties, out of bounds play, and goals. The first and third period are played with the first line, while the second period is played by the second line. Goalies play for the entire game unless specifically subbed out in between periods. The team with more points at the end of the game wins. If no team has a lead at the end of the regular time, there is a 5 min overtime which plays with the first line and is sudden death. If there is still a tie after 5 minutes, there is a shootout to decide the game.

Positions
Forwards: Forwards spend most of their time in the opposing zone. They are the only players that are allowed to cross the center line and score goals and therefore focus on speed and attacking near the goal, often with speed as they attempt to outpace the opposing forwards' return to their own side to defend.

Defense: Defenders are the players who, along with the goalie, defend their own end. While forwards are allowed to come to their own side to defend, defenders have to be ready to face a mismatch as three forwards come at them. They prioritize getting the ball out of the hands of forwards, disrupting passing, and often are good at long passing to set up their own offense.

Goalies: Goalies are focused entirely on protecting the boards and preventing goals. They often have the physicality of a defender, but require the quickness to be able to block and catch opposing shots. While it is not very common outside of the professional level, some goalies also possess the ability to complete long passes directly as a jumpstart to their offense.

The League
The National Animal Ball League (NABL) was founded by Everett Banks in 1915 as the Patrician Tournament in which 4 teams from around the capital region competed to win the trophy that bears his name, The Banks Cup. This format continued for the first 7 years of competition when it was opened to the rest of the nation. It continued to operate as a tournament until 1927 when the 8 teams which had competed most often decided to hold a regular season where the top two teams competed for the cup at the end of the season. It was also at this time that they officially adopted the name The National Animal Ball League (NABL). The format established in 1927 has been changed many times, and many teams have been added, but the modern format has been in use since 1987.

Modern League Schedule: The Regular season is played where every team plays all other teams in their conference twice a season and all teams in the other conference once for a total of 22 games a season. The Postseason consists of a single elimination bracket tournament with the winners of each division as well as a wild card team from each conference. There are three rounds with the wildcard team and the worse record division winner facing off in the first round, the winner playing the division winner with the better record in the conference championship. That winner will compete for The Banks Cup.

The Current Teams:

Name	Conference	Division	Year Founded	Championships	Championship Record
Nordlich Vikings	North	Polar	1960	1968, 1969, 1971, 1997	4-4
Falcon City Falcons	North	Polar	1920	1921, 1922, 1924, 1925, 1926, 1948, 1951, 1953, 1954, 1956, 1957, 1963, 1964, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983, 2012, 2013, 2015, 2016	21-7
Stark Owls	North	Polar	1922	1930, 1931, 1947, 1958, 1962, 1979, 1985, 1995	8-12
Rustin Coppermen	North	Polar	1952	1952, 1959, 1961, 1984, 1986, 1994, 2017	7-4
Crescent Lunas	North	Capital	2000	2003, 2014, 2018	3-1
Kent Pike	North	Capital	1915	None	0-17
Herrisbourge Hawks	North	Capital	1915	1915, 1916, 1917, 1920, 2022, 2023	6-12
Wane Bluecaps	North	Capital	1915	1918, 1919, 1923, 1933, 1965, 1966, 1973, 1978, 1992, 1993, 1996, 1999, 2008	13-8
Orpheus Notes	South	Coast	1921	1932, 1946, 1949, 1950, 1960, 1988, 2009	7-9
Allentown Magpies	South	Coast	1920	1928, 1955, 1967, 1976	4-6
Hephestus Bay Automatons	South	Coast	1977	2000, 2002, 2004	3-3
Seansburg Swimmers	South	Coast	1960	1970, 1974, 1975, 1987, 1990, 1991, 2005, 2007	8-3
The Oasis	South	Inland	2000	2019	1-1
Phoenix Flame	South	Inland	1977	1977, 1989, 1998	3-2
Dentro Pine	South	Inland	2000	2010	1-0
Hermes Flyers	South	Inland	2000	2001, 2006, 2011	3-1

Former Teams:

Name	Year Founded	Final Year of Existance	Championships	Championship Record	Notes
Herrisbourge Red Caps	1915	1921	None	0-4	Only Founding Member to Cease Operations
Mt. Patrick Miners	1920	1935	1927, 1929, 1934, 1935	4-1	Herrisbourge suburban team that folded during the Airlandian Invasion
Crescent Moons	1929	1935	None	0-1	Ceased operations due to during the Airlandian Invasion
Point Sean Armymen	1946	1946	None	0-0	Ceased operations due to financial trouble of long travel
Bison City Buffalo	1970	1976	None	0-1	Moved to Phoenix
Schneeburg Snowmen	1970	1976	1972	1-0	Moved to Hephaestus Bay