OFFICIAL PALLAFIOCCO RULEBOOK
(As issued by the Sports Council of the World of the Two Rainbows)
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What Is a Pallafiocco
A Pallafiocco is defined as a luminous sphere, similar in appearance to a balloon.
There are two types of Pallafiocco:
1) Light Pallafiocco
A levitational sphere.
Two long ribbons are attached to it, specifically designed for the creation of the bow.
This is the Pallafiocco used to score points through paired performances.
2) Heavy Pallafiocco
A sphere made of compact foam.
Attached to it is a ring of the same material, designed to ensure a firm grip during throwing.
This is the Pallafiocco used to score points through:
throws passing beyond the opposing team's ring
penalties inflicted upon opposing players (see relevant section)
When a Pallafiocco successfully reaches its intended objective, it illuminates:
with solar rainbow colors in the case of Light Pallafiocco
with lunar rainbow colors in the case of Heavy Pallafiocco
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The Playing Field
The playing field is suspended above a wide, green expanse.
Six beams—three per team, one for every two players—are held aloft by magical means.
At the center, between the beams, float three golden rings, drifting and moving in unpredictable patterns, which serve as the primary objectives.
The two lateral rings—occasionally appearing motionless in midair—belong to the opposing teams.
The central ring, in constant motion, functions as a score multiplier.
Beside each group of three beams stands a large basket shaped like an inverted rainbow, filled with Pallafiocco.
As previously stated:
the lighter Pallafiocco are equipped with ribbons and are intended for the creation of bows
the heavier Pallafiocco are designed for striking opposing players
There exists a single landing zone beneath the beams, filled with soft magical cushions that shift in response to falling players, in order to prevent accidents.
Players
For main and minor professional teams:
Six players per team, aged between sixteen and two hundred and sixty years.
For amateur teams:
Six players per team, of any age starting from four years old.
The Crown considers the encouragement of natural talent to be a fundamental virtue.
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Rules and Objective of the Game
The objective of the game is to throw the Pallafiocco in pairs—two players, even from different beams—through one of the opposing team's rings and to form a large bow between the team's lateral ring and the central ring.
This may be achieved by:
using the two ribbons of a single Pallafiocco
or crossing the ribbons of two Pallafiocco
If two Pallafiocco are available, two ribbons may be used.
A double ribbon formation grants double points.
All actions must be performed through swift acrobatic maneuvers, while avoiding being struck by opposing players.
Precision, acrobatic virtuosity, and the aesthetic beauty of the bow are qualities that may increase the value of the action by up to +2 points, at the discretion of the presiding judge.
Being struck by a Heavy Pallafiocco results in a warning, potentially leading to elimination (see relevant section).
Each successful score marks the team's progression toward victory.
Physical contact between opposing players is strictly forbidden, except through the use of Pallafiocco.
Any physical contact results in a warning.
After three warnings, the player is eliminated.
If a Pallafiocco is successfully thrown through the central ring, which moves constantly and unpredictably, and the bow is completed within five seconds, the point value is doubled (see relevant section).
Matches are divided into:
three rounds for neighborhood matches
five rounds for national matches
To achieve victory, a team must always reach 12 points per round.
Each round may not exceed a duration of 30 minutes.
Once the allotted time has elapsed, the team with the highest score shall be declared the winner.
Bow Values and Special Scoring
For ease of reference, the official scoring system is listed below:
Maximum score per round: 12 points
Standard bow (through the opposing team's ring): +1 point
Double ribbon (using two Pallafiocco): +2 points
Bow completed through the central ring within 5 seconds: +2 points
Bow completed through the central ring within 10 seconds: +1 point
Virtuosity, grace, and acrobatics (judge's bonus): up to +2 points
Exceptionally large and harmonious bow (judge's bonus): up to +2 points
Successful dodge of a light or glancing strike: +1 point to the team
Successful dodge of a direct strike: +2 points to the team
Direct strike delivered: +2 points to the team
Light strike delivered: +1 point to the team
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Eliminations, Penalties, and Victory
During play, opposing players may only be struck using the Heavy Pallafiocco, and never to the head.
Light strike received (avoidable, but sustained): –1 penalty point
Direct strike received: –2 points.
The struck player is immediately eliminated.
Glancing strike received: –1 penalty point
Light and glancing strikes, when successfully dodged, grant bonus points to the team.
When sustained, they deduct points from the team's total score and are recorded as penalties.
Three sustained light strikes or three sustained glancing strikes result in the elimination of the struck player.
A bow completed through the central ring after more than 10 seconds results in the action being nullified.
Victory is awarded to:
the team that scores the highest number of points within the allotted time, up to a maximum of 12 points,
or
the team that successfully eliminates all remaining opposing players.
Teams and Colors
Each Gnome bears the identifying color of the Crown or of their own village.
The two principal teams of the Crown officially recognized by the Council are the Solar Rainbow and the Lunar Rainbow.
For each village, both professional minor teams and amateur teams are established.
During the annual championship, minor teams compete among themselves until reaching the final challenge against the two principal teams.
Should a minor team succeed in defeating one of the two principal teams, it shall fully assume that team's name and role within the Crown.
Matches and Championships
Comparable regulations apply to the General Matches of the Great Universal Realm
(hereafter referred to as G.U.R.).
Every two years, the national teams of the G.U.R. may compete against the principal teams of the following realms:
The Realm of the Two Rainbows
The Realm of Cloudland
The Realm of the Verdant Forests
The Inner Realm of the Magical Wings
The Outer Realm of the Magical Wings
The Realm of Water
The Realm of the Mountain Chains of Sliabh
The Realm of the Storm
Given the differing sizes, forms, and inherent characteristics of the Peoples of the G.U.R., prior to each match an appointed High Master—either the Sovereign of the host realm or, in their stead, one of the Knights of the Golden Light—shall be tasked with harmonizing the physical attributes and abilities of the competing teams, in order to ensure fair and balanced play.
Official Notice of the Sports Council
Although designated as "heavy," the Heavy Pallafiocco is composed of compact, elastic foam that fully absorbs impact.
As such, strikes do not cause pain nor inflict any physical harm.
They hold value solely for the purposes of penalties and eliminations as defined within this regulation.
Any action undertaken with the intent to injure or physically harm opposing players, for the mere sake of doing so, shall be severely punished.
Such punishment shall include:
the exclusion of the offending team from all games—professional and amateur alike—for a duration of ten years, and
the permanent disqualification of the responsible player from the sport.
Thus it is written, approved, and established by the Sports Council of the World of the Two Rainbows, creator and regulator of this sport.