Newcomb Ball
AMERICAN SCHOOLYARD + PE-CLASS BALL SPORT (invented 1895 by CLARA GREGORY BAER at NEWCOMB COLLEGE, TULANE, LOUISIANA) — predates + is SIMPLER than VOLLEYBALL. TEAMS on opposite sides of NET THROW + CATCH a large ball; SCORE if opposing team drops it or ball lands out. Very popular in ELEMENTARY PE CLASSES + YOUTH CAMPS USA + ISRAEL (called 'ETGAR / כדור נט'). Bridge activity for teaching volleyball fundamentals. Rules simpler than volleyball (no bumping/setting/spiking — just throw + catch).
Quick facts
Category
Playground Games
Type
Team sport
Players
6–20
Duration
~20 min
Where played
both
Field / court
Gym floor, grass, or outdoor court
Country of origin
🇺🇸 United States
Estimated origin
Invented 1895 by CLARA GREGORY BAER at H. Sophie Newcomb Memorial College (Tulane) as a women's alternative to men's basketball; predates volleyball's popularization; popular in USA + Israel PE curricula throughout 20th c.
Olympic
No
Popularity
regional
How it works
Objective
Throw ball over net so opposing team can't CATCH IT before it hits ground.
Rules
Basic rules
SERVE: player throws ball over net from back row
Signature throw serve.
CATCH + THROW: receiving player must CATCH ball, then can THROW OVER NET or PASS to teammate
Signature catch-then-throw rule.
MAX 3 PASSES per team before throw must clear net (like volleyball 3-hit rule)
Signature 3-pass limit.
POINT: scored if opposing team DROPS ball, ball hits floor in-bounds, or team fails to return in 3 passes
Signature drop-scores rule.
ROTATION: after side-out (or in modern rally-scoring), players rotate positions like volleyball
Signature volleyball rotation.
OUT-OF-BOUNDS: throwing team scores point if ball lands out on opponent's side; loses point if throws out on own side
Signature out-of-bounds scoring.
Scoring
1 point per successful drop-force or opponent error; games to 15-25.
Win condition · First to 15 or 21 (per house rules).
Playing area
Called
Gym floor, grass, or outdoor court
Dimensions
Similar to volleyball court ~9×18 m; net 2-2.4 m high (adjustable to age)
Equipment
BALL: soft playground ball or volleyball
Standard soft playground ball.
NET: standard volleyball net (or rope + tarp)
Standard volleyball net.
Terminology
- Newcomb
- Term derived from Newcomb College, Tulane.
- Side-out
- Rotation trigger when serving team loses point.
Where it is played
Famous names & records
Famous athletes
- Not a competitive elite sport — PE class + youth camp focus.
Sources & provenance
- Wikipedia — Newcomb ball— Wikipedia