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Plinngo

Plinngo is a cooperative, aquatic team sport and counting game derived from Blinngo, which is itself a variation of Roundnet (commonly known as Spikeball). Played entirely in a body of water, the objective of the game is to keep a lightweight ball airborne for as long as possible while accumulating points exclusively through headers.

At a Glance

• First Played: Summer 2023
• Location: Kitsilano Pool, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
• Creators: Tim, Sarah, Jim, Beth, Fabian, and Florence
• Team Size: Any number (3–5 players recommended)
• Equipment: One Plinngo ball (under 30cm in diameter)
• Playing Area: Water (minimum depth of 1 meter)

History

Plinngo was invented in the summer of 2023 at Kitsilano Pool in Vancouver, British Columbia. The sport was created by Tim, Sarah, Jim, Beth, Fabian, and Florence as an aquatic adaptation of Blinngo and Roundnet. Seeking a way to combine the rapid reflexes of Roundnet with the physical dynamics of water sports, the creators established a cooperative counting system rather than an adversarial scoring system, emphasizing teamwork, positioning, and aquatic mobility.

Equipment and Venue

To officially play Plinngo, specific environmental and equipment standards must be met:

• The Ball: The game requires a single "Plinngo ball," which must have a diameter of less than 30 centimeters (approx. 11.8 inches).
• The Venue: The sport must be played in a body of water. To ensure player safety and maintain the difficulty of aquatic movement, the water depth must be greater than 1 meter (approx. 3.3 feet).

Gameplay and Laws of the Game

Unlike traditional Roundnet, Plinngo is a cooperative counting game. The team works together to achieve the highest possible score in a single continuous rally.

Scoring

Points are scored exclusively through "headers."

• A header is defined as the ball making contact with any part of the player's head from the chin and above.
• Each successful header adds one point to the team's total score for that rally.
• Players are permitted to start a rally with a header, which immediately counts toward the score.

Touches

Players may use their hands or any other body part below the chin to strike and set up the ball. These are referred to as "touches." Touches are critical for keeping the rally alive and positioning the ball for a teammate, but they do not contribute to the team's point total.

Infractions

If any of the following Laws of the Game are infringed upon, the rally immediately ends, and the team's score resets to zero:

• Double Hits: A player may only header or touch the ball once at a time. Consecutive contacts by the same player are strictly prohibited.
• Carries: Players must cleanly "strike" the ball. Catching, holding, guiding, or throwing the ball is not allowed.
• Venue Violations: Moving into water shallower than 1 meter voids the rally.

Formations and Strategy

While Plinngo can technically be played with any number of participants, teams of 3 to 5 players are strongly advised. This size optimizes communication, prevents crowding, and maximizes the fun and flow of the rally. Teams typically utilize specific physical formations in the water to maximize their scoring potential:

Traditional Formations

• The Circle: Used for larger groups (4+ players), participants tread water in a standard ring, passing the ball across or adjacent to one another.
• The Triangle: The standard formation for a 3-player team, allowing equidistant spacing and clear lines of sight for cross-touches and headers.

The Hub & Spokes

For more advanced, high-scoring rallies, teams often employ the "Hub & Spokes" formation. In this strategic setup, one designated "header specialist" acts as the hub, treading water in the center of the formation. The remaining players act as "setter-uppers" (the spokes) forming a circle around the specialist. The setters use their touches to continuously feed the ball into the center for the specialist to score, alternating touches among themselves to avoid double-hit infractions.

World Records

The current official world record for a single Plinngo rally is 144 points. This milestone was achieved at the sport's birthplace, Kitsilano Pool in Vancouver, by Tim, Sarah, Jim & Beth.