Powerball (Gladiators)

Infobox Gladiators Event
Event_Name = Powerball|

|thumb
width = 320px
c

of Australian Gladiators.|
Int. Year = 1989
origin_country= flag|United States
Used In = flag|United States
flag|United Kingdom
flag|Australia
flag|Denmark
flag|Finland
flag|Sweden
flag|South Africa
Last_Used = present
num_cont = 2
num_glad = 2-3
timelim = 45-60 seconds

Powerball is an event played in several incarnations of the television series "Gladiators". In this event, two contenders simultaneously face three Gladiators on a pitch with the contenders trying to score by putting balls into scoring baskets whilst the Gladiators try to prevent this.

Rules

The Powerball pitch has five scoring pods, four near the outer corners and one in the centre. At both ends are baskets containing sponge balls of two different colours.

On the whistle, the contenders must select their appropriately coloured ball and must attempt to place it in one of the five scoring pods by dodging or outrunning the Gladiators. The Gladiators must attempt to stop the contenders from scoring by either tackling or pushing the contenders outside of the pitch. The event lasts 60 seconds and contenders receive 2 points for a score in one of the outer baskets and 3 points for getting a centre basket.

Both challengers had 45-60 seconds to place as many balls in one of the five baskets to score points. However, in order for this to happen, they must pass through three Gladiators and try not to get tackled by them, as they try to stop them from scoring.

Should a ball touch the floor, it is deemed as 'dead' and will not count as a score should it be put in a pod. Contenders may not pick up a ball from the same side in consecutive attempts and are not allowed to pick up dead balls. Should a contender be pushed out of bounds, then the ball they are holding will be deemed dead. Contenders may not make any aggressive move towards the Gladiators, but are allowed to attempt to throw the ball into the basket.

The Gladiators are not allowed to intentionally target just one contender and must spread their team so that both contenders are marked. Gladiators may not perform dangerous high tackles or tackles round a contenders neck, nor may they deliberatly knock over the scoring pods.

Powerball has seen more injuries than any other event in Gladiators.

International Differences

Different amounts of points are awarded in some territories for scoring, and some territories have had different time limits.

In Sweden, this event went under the name 'Attackbollen' ("The Attack Ball"). In Finland it was called Taistelupallo ("Battle Ball").

In Australia, there is a 'contender safety zone' that spans from the box containing replacement balls and the edge of the actual Powerball pitch. Gladiators may not tackle contenders in this area.

In certain cases, such as the Ashes, whenever Powerball was played where one challenger from Australia and the other from UK, the Gladiators were from Australia or UK. However, when played, all the UK Gladiators stopped the Australian challenger and vice versa. As a result, it means that for one, they have to face off two Gladiators and the other faces only one Gladiator because there are three Gladiators in the game at once.

Event History

America

Years active: 1989-1996, 2008-

Powerball first aired during the initial season of American Gladiators, in which the event lasted 45 seconds. The scoring pods were small which meant that contenders would generally be unable to score by throwing the balls at the baskets. Initially, the event was played on a semi circle pitch with the ball baskets in the centre and scoring pods round the edge of the semi circle. 15 points were awarded for each score.

From the second half of series 1, the pitch was changed into what would become its traditional format of a rectangular course with 5 scoring pods. A contender safety zone was incoporated into the space between the balls baskets and the edges of the Powerball pitch. Scoring results were changed with contenders receiving between 1-3 points for scoring in an outer basket and 2-5 points for a score in the central basket dependent on the season and round.

Overtly aggressive tackles by Gladiators would result with them being sent off, unreplaced as opposed to receiving a warning from the referee. During the second half of season 1, "all" tackles were prohibited, and from the quarterfinals of that season until the beginning of Season 2, Gladiators were disqualified if they tackled a contender. This resulted in much higher scoring and one match during the quarterfinals where one Gladiator was forced to defend against both contenders after the other two had been disqualified for tackling. In subsequent seasons, only the first Gladiator to be called for a high tackle was disqualified. Subsequent high tackles would result in penalty points to the Contender fouled.

During Season 4 (1992) a variant of the game was played known as Super Powerball.

For the 2008 revival, the game was expanded to 60 seconds, with the Powerball pitch being enclosed by barriers, removing the 'out of bounds' zone. The contender safety zone, while present, was not enforced strictly. Several Gladiators were given warnings about encroaching into the safety zone, but none were disqualified. 2 points were awarded for an outer basket score and 3 for a central score. The scoring pods themselves were enlarged which allowed contenders to try and score by throwing the balls. Additionally, Gladiators were forced to play a zone defense scheme, but this rule, like the safety zone rule, was not enforced strictly.

In the second series of the revival, the scoring pods were made smaller to reduce the chance of contenders scoring by throwing. Only 1 point would be awarded for an outer basket score and 2 for the central basket.

UK

Years active: 1993-1999, 2008-Despite being a staple event in America for some years, Powerball did not debut until the second series (1993) of the UK run, quickly becoming a staple of the UK series. The Gladiators teams would enter the arena to certain themes ('We are family' by Sister Sledge for the women and 'The boys are back in town' by Thin Lizzy for the men).

From Series 5 (1996), the male team entered the arena to a re-recording of 'The boys are back in town' sung by the Gladiators themselves.

From Series 6 (1997), contenders were allowed to wear chest guards (the same ones used in Gauntlet) in order to reduce the risk of injuries.

In series 7 (1998), the rules were changed with only 2 Gladiators now facing the contenders. The Gladiators now had an assigned contender and could not tackle the other without risking disqualification. The entrance themes were changed too, with the female team entering to 'Sisters are doing it for themselves' by Eurythmics and 'Let's get ready to rumble' by PJ & Duncan.

For the 2008 revival, contenders would receive 5 points for a score in the central basket. The baskets themselves being much larger compared to the previous series, allowing contenders to throw the balls in. The Gladiators no longer walk onto the Powerball pitch with a theme playing.

Australia

Years active: 1995-1997, 2008-

In 1995-1997, Powerball was played for 60 seconds. In 2008, Powerball was played for 45 seconds, with the contenders wearing chest guards in order to reduce the likelihood of injuries.

Since its revival, Angel is the only female Gladiator never to play Powerball.

References

[http://www.gladiatorszone.co.uk/events/powerball.php Gladiators Zone- Powerball]