Introduction to Dronesoccer
Drone soccer, also know as drone football is played in a special indoor (usually) area where two teams of each having five players control the drone soccer balls equipped with LED lights in protective cages and play. The objective is straight forward and yet challenging. It is like regular soccer; intention is to overcome the opposition and maneuver the drone soccer balls into the opposite goal posts. This sport not only tests player’s piloting skills, but also demands high strategic thinking and brain activity as well as great team work.
Field and Equipment
There are two types of Drone soccer balls, Class 20 and Class 40. Class 20 is dedicated for Youth and children, also used for training purpose. Class 40 balls are used for professional games. Class 20/40 means the diameter of the balls in cm. Class 20 ball having diameter of 20 cm weighs not more than 110 grams, whereas class 40 balls weighs 795 grams having diameter of 40 cm. Both the ball’s outer layer is spherical shape made of carbon fiber which is durable. Inside the sphere, it consists of the basic drone, LED light. The field measurement is different from both games. For class 20, The size of the field should be in the shape of a rectangle with one side measuring4m and the other side measuring 8m, maintaining a ratio of 2:1 in between longer and shorter sides. A round shaped goal post with diameter of 30cm (inner). For class 40, The size of the field should be in the shape of a rectangle with one side measuring4m and the other side measuring 8m, while maintaining a ratio of 2:1 in between the longer and shorter sides. A round goal post with diameter of 60cm (inner diameter)
Team Composition and Roles
A drone soccer team consists of five players, each with a distinct role:
Striker: A drone that scores through the opponent’s goal
Sweeper: The final defense to block the opponent’s attack
Libero: Plays both defense and offense depending on the game plan
Guide: An attacker who runs past the opponent’s defense.
Keeper: Preventing the opponent from scoring in front of the goal
Gameplay Mechanics
Each team consists of five players. In Drone soccer, two teams strategically fly drone balls aiming to score goals in the opponent’s net. Each team has a designated striker, the only player who can score. The rest of the team acts as support, assisting the striker and defending their own goal. To avoid a forfeit, both teams need at least three players, including the striker, present in the pilot area before the game begins. The game is played in sets, and if a team has less than three players before a set starts, they lose that particular set. To score a goal, the striker’s drone ball must completely cross the opponent’s goal from front to back. Bouncing the ball off the goal or scoring while offside won’t count. Defensive players can only defend their goal from the front, not the back. Pushing the ball back through their own goal with more than half of it entering the net is considered a “reverse pass” and awards the opposing team a penalty kick.
Rules and Regulations
All the drone balls have to be measured in weighing machine before the game starts and it has to match FIDA standard. There are three sets. Each set continues for 5 minutes. During a set, if a drone is fallen down or there are some malfunctions, players are not allowed to enter the game and pick it up.
Only after the set is completed, they can pick it up. During each set there is a 5 minutes break time for players to repair the drones or change the batteries. There are fouls like if the keeper enters the opposite end goal post, the point will be cut down. After 3 rounds, if the scores of the both team is same, a tri braker round will be played and further. The entire game has to be monitored by FIDA certified referee.
