Kronum
Encyclopedia
Kronum is a sport which was invented in 2008 by Bill Gibson. For now this sport is only played in the United States and the professional league takes places in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
, but it is becoming more and more popular, also in Europe
. Gibson decided to include elements of different sports: soccer, basketball
and handball
. The main philosophy of Kronum is to introduce a new gameplay experience to the world of sports, which is why the main slogan of Kronum is “join the revolution." This sport combines classical activities (football, basketball, handball, rugby
…) into a common sport where players can contribute their unique skill-sets to the game. The website of the American Kronum league also works like a social network where fans and players can stay in contact.
The games are divided into three phases of 20 minutes. The goal of this sport is to score as many points as possible. The points are counted depending the place where the shot was taken on the field (like basketball). Kronum goals have at their top five rings which have a diameter
of 20 inches (50 cm). When a player scores through one of those rings (“Ring Shot”), points are worth twice what they would be scoring into the chamber. Physical contact is allowed like in rugby for example, though excessive contact may result in the fouled player being awarded a penalty shot to be kicked from the tip of the wedge zone.
The average score for a match is between 60 and 120 points.
KRONUM FIELD DIAGRAM
The game is fast-paced because possessions can change quickly, and players must be able to adapt to defensive or offensive positions at any given time during game play.
Those points are doubled if the player makes a Ring Shot instead of simply kicking or throwing the ball into the chamber (the goal under the rings). If the player makes a Ring Shot from the Cross Zone, he scores 8 points for his team, called a "Kronum."
The Nimble Jacks won the first championship and the 2nd Kronum Captain's Cup. The Urban Legends won the 1st Captain's Cup. The next Kronum Recreational League has been underway since the beginning of May 2011 and it is played in an indoor arena
with a 50 yard diameter field. The professional league will resume play in September 2011.
and the ESPN
TV show SportsNation
. Fans of the sport are using social networks to organize local Kronum recreation leagues. In Europe, interest in this sport is growing through social networks, press and the internet. The New York Times, the French newspaper Le Monde
, the Italian La Stampa
and the Spanish., Italian, UK versions of Yahoo/Eurosport
wrote about Kronum.
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
, but it is becoming more and more popular, also in Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
. Gibson decided to include elements of different sports: soccer, basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
and handball
Team handball
Handball is a team sport in which two teams of seven players each pass a ball to throw it into the goal of the other team...
. The main philosophy of Kronum is to introduce a new gameplay experience to the world of sports, which is why the main slogan of Kronum is “join the revolution." This sport combines classical activities (football, basketball, handball, rugby
Rugby football
Rugby football is a style of football named after Rugby School in the United Kingdom. It is seen most prominently in two current sports, rugby league and rugby union.-History:...
…) into a common sport where players can contribute their unique skill-sets to the game. The website of the American Kronum league also works like a social network where fans and players can stay in contact.
Presentation
Kronum is played by two teams, each with 10 players on the field at all times. Four of them are wedgebacks (like soccer goal keepers) during the defense phases. During the offensive phases they are field players like their teammates. Substitutions are made "on the fly," similar to hockey.The games are divided into three phases of 20 minutes. The goal of this sport is to score as many points as possible. The points are counted depending the place where the shot was taken on the field (like basketball). Kronum goals have at their top five rings which have a diameter
Diameter
In geometry, a diameter of a circle is any straight line segment that passes through the center of the circle and whose endpoints are on the circle. The diameters are the longest chords of the circle...
of 20 inches (50 cm). When a player scores through one of those rings (“Ring Shot”), points are worth twice what they would be scoring into the chamber. Physical contact is allowed like in rugby for example, though excessive contact may result in the fouled player being awarded a penalty shot to be kicked from the tip of the wedge zone.
The average score for a match is between 60 and 120 points.
The field
The field consists of three concentric circles. On the outer circle are the four Kronum goals which are shared by the two teams. In front of every goal is a round Goal Zone and a rectilinear Wedge Zone. Then is the Flex Zone and the Cross Zone having the shape of a cross. In the middle of the field the smaller ring is called the Prime Ring.KRONUM FIELD DIAGRAM
Prime Rush and Game Play
Each of the three periods starts with the "Prime Rush" when the referee bounces the ball on the ground inside the prime ring high into the air. Any player may obtain possession of the ball to begin the gameplay. Strategic teams will send players immediately toward each goal, even before one team gains possession of the ball. These players will then be in position to defend or score quickly. All 10 players from each team are allowed to use any part of their body to dribble, except in the Wedge Zone where the use of arms and hands is prohibited. Like in Basketball, players can dribble with their hands, and may only take two steps with the ball in the hands without dribbling. This violation of the rules is called traveling. At any given moment of the game, one team is trying to score on any of the four goals, and one team defending all four goals. The four Wedge Backs (like soccer goal keepers) of every team are allowed to touch the ball with the hand in the Goal Zone. When the attacking team scores, a player from the defending team is given the ball to establish possession in the Second Ring, and that team becomes the attacking team.Positions
Each Kronum team on the field consists of 10 players, who play three distinct positions: Wedge backs, Rangers, and Crossers.- Wedge Back: One Wedge back plays in each of four Goal Zones, where use of hands and arms is allowed to defend the goal. The Wedge back defends the goals when the opposing team is in possession, and scores low-point goals during periods of possession.
- Ranger: The area beyond the Wedge back position consists of one Flex back for each goal, resulting in four Ranger positions during game play. Rangers may cross into other goal zones to assist in defending or scoring, but tend to focus on scoring from the three or four point zones of a particular goal during game play.
- Crosser: The two remaining players are in a position referred to as Crossers. Crossers are similar to Point guards in basketball, and focus on gaining possession of the ball, and getting the ball out to other backs who can score easily.
The game is fast-paced because possessions can change quickly, and players must be able to adapt to defensive or offensive positions at any given time during game play.
Scoring
The points are counted depending from where the shot was taken:- Goal Zone = 1 point
- Wedge Zone = 2 points
- Flex Zone = 3 points
- Cross Zone = 4 Points
Those points are doubled if the player makes a Ring Shot instead of simply kicking or throwing the ball into the chamber (the goal under the rings). If the player makes a Ring Shot from the Cross Zone, he scores 8 points for his team, called a "Kronum."
Teams
Currently there are only 8 teams. They are all based in U.S.A. and took part in the American Championship:- The Jet Sets
- Limelights
- Morningstars
- The Night Owls
- The Nimble Jacks
- The Throwbacks
- Urban Legends
- The Work Horses
The Nimble Jacks won the first championship and the 2nd Kronum Captain's Cup. The Urban Legends won the 1st Captain's Cup. The next Kronum Recreational League has been underway since the beginning of May 2011 and it is played in an indoor arena
Arena
An arena is an enclosed area, often circular or oval-shaped, designed to showcase theater, musical performances, or sporting events. It is composed of a large open space surrounded on most or all sides by tiered seating for spectators. The key feature of an arena is that the event space is the...
with a 50 yard diameter field. The professional league will resume play in September 2011.
Developing and diffusion
The media has grown more interested in Kronum in the U.S.A., especially WiredWired (magazine)
Wired is a full-color monthly American magazine and on-line periodical, published since January 1993, that reports on how new and developing technology affects culture, the economy, and politics...
and the ESPN
ESPN
Entertainment and Sports Programming Network, commonly known as ESPN, is an American global cable television network focusing on sports-related programming including live and pre-taped event telecasts, sports talk shows, and other original programming....
TV show SportsNation
SportsNation (TV series)
SportsNation is a sports-related television program that airs on ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN America and ESPNews. It is hosted by Colin Cowherd and Michelle Beadle. It is based on SportsNation, the fan forum and poll section of ESPN.com...
. Fans of the sport are using social networks to organize local Kronum recreation leagues. In Europe, interest in this sport is growing through social networks, press and the internet. The New York Times, the French newspaper Le Monde
Le Monde
Le Monde is a French daily evening newspaper owned by La Vie-Le Monde Group and edited in Paris. It is one of two French newspapers of record, and has generally been well respected since its first edition under founder Hubert Beuve-Méry on 19 December 1944...
, the Italian La Stampa
La Stampa
La Stampa is one of the best-known, most influential and most widely sold Italian daily newspapers. Published in Turin, it is distributed in Italy and other European nations. The current owner is the Fiat Group.-History:...
and the Spanish., Italian, UK versions of Yahoo/Eurosport
Eurosport
Eurosport is a pan-European television sport network operated by French broadcaster TF1 Group. The network of channels are available in 59 countries, in 20 different languages providing viewers with European and international sporting events...
wrote about Kronum.