Hooverball
US medicine-ball volleyball variant invented 1929 by White House physician Adm. Joel Boone for President HERBERT HOOVER's morning exercise. Played on volleyball-sized court with 8-foot net; 6-pound (~2.7 kg) MEDICINE BALL thrown (not hit) over net. Annual Hooverball Championship held in West Branch, Iowa (Hoover's birthplace) since 1988.
Quick facts
Category
Ball Sports
Type
Team sport
Players
2–8
Duration
~30 min
Where played
both
Field / court
Hooverball court
Country of origin
🇺🇸 United States
Estimated origin
Invented 1929 by Adm. Joel T. Boone for Pres. Herbert Hoover; National Championship since 1988.
Olympic
No
Popularity
niche
How it works
Objective
Throw the medicine ball over the net so opponent cannot catch it before it lands in-bounds.
Rules
Basic rules
BALL IS THROWN (not hit) — caught by opposing player + returned immediately from where caught
Signature throw-and-catch rule.
MUST THROW BALL FROM WHERE CAUGHT — no running with ball
Signature stationary throw rule.
POINTS scored when ball lands in-bounds, is dropped, or thrown out
Standard scoring.
NET at 8 feet (higher than volleyball)
Signature 8-foot net.
WOMEN + JUNIORS use lighter (4 lb) ball
Standard adjusted ball.
Scoring
1 point per fail (ball landing, dropped, out).
Win condition · First to 15 or 21 (must win by 2).
Playing area
Called
Hooverball court
Dimensions
66 ft × 30 ft (volleyball-sized) with 8-foot net
Equipment
Medicine ball (6 lb / 2.7 kg leather, historical; women/juniors use 4 lb)
Signature heavy ball.
8-foot high net
Higher than volleyball net (7'4").
Terminology
- Medicine ball
- Historic weighted training ball; here 6 pounds (2.7 kg).
- Hoover Cabinet
- Historical group of White House staff who played on the lawn.
Major competitions
National Hooverball Championship
annual · USA (West Branch, IA) · since 1988
Where it is played
Governing bodies
Herbert Hoover Presidential Library-Museum (organiser of national championship)
Founded 1962 · West Branch, Iowa
Famous names & records
Famous athletes
- Pres. Herbert Hoover (US, patron 1929-33)
- Adm. Joel T. Boone (US, inventor)
Sources & provenance
- Wikipedia — Hooverball— Wikipedia
- Hoover Presidential Library— US National Archives