Below, you’ll find the rules of the game in English. In case the English-language version differs or lends itself to other interpretations than the Danish-language version, the Danish version is considered correct.
§1 Equipment
Subsection 1 – The wicket consists of two logs or bricks placed parallel to each other. Each has a length of approx. 30 cm and a width of approx. 15 cm.
Subsection 2 – The stick is approx. 30 cm long and has a diameter of approx. 3–4 cm.
Subsection 3 – The stick-stick is approx. 1.5 m long and has a diameter of 3–4 cm.
§2 The Pitch
Subsection 1 — The pitch consists of a square of approx. 10*10 stick-stick lengths, marked out on grass or gravel. The area inside the square is the outfield. The wicket is placed across the middle of one side, which is defined as the wicket-line, while the opposite line is the backline. The other sides are the sidelines. Additionally, there are two lines on the pitch: The defense line is a circle with a radius of 1 stick-stick length from the center of the wicket. The safety line is a circle with a radius of 2 stick-stick lengths from the wicket.
Subsection 2 — The player who lifts and defends the wicket (the wicket-player) must not cross the defense line. The players on the fielding team (the out-team) must not cross the safety line while the stick is in play.
Subsection 3 — Alternatively, the pitch can have the shape of an isosceles trapezoid, where the wicket-line is shorter than the backline.
§3 Teams
Subsection 1 — The game is played between two teams of 5–8 players each, ensuring that each team, when fielding, has an equal number of players on the pitch. The remaining players are substitutes.
Subsection 2 — There is an in-team and an out-team (fielding team), which switch places according to the rules in §10.
Subsection 3 — Unlimited substitutions are allowed for the fielding team. On the in-team, the players take turns to lift.
Subsection 4 — Each team has a captain.
§4 Purpose
Subsection 1 — The purpose of the game is to score more points than the opponent. Only the in-team can score points. The fielding team must attempt to give the in-team an out so that the teams switch places.
§5 Course of the Game
Subsection 1 — Before the game begins, the captains flip a coin to determine which team starts as the in-team.
Subsection 2 — After the coin toss, the fielding team distributes themselves across the outfield, and the first player from the in-team steps up to the wicket to lift. The game then proceeds through the phases of lifting, defense, and point measurement as described in §6, §7, and §8, within rounds as described in §9.
Subsection 3 — A match lasts 30 minutes, excluding breaks. However, the ongoing round is played to completion before the match ends.
§6 Lift
Subsection 1 — A lift is performed by placing the stick-stick under the stick, which lies across the wicket, and then lifting the stick-stick so that the stick is launched out into the outfield.
Subsection 2 — It is forbidden to 1) “click”, i.e., hit the stick with the stick-stick, or 2) lift the stick from behind the wicket-line. In both cases, the wicket-player must re-lift and receives a foul. Three fouls result in an out.
Subsection 3 — Once the stick has been lifted out, the fielding team must attempt to catch it before it hits the ground. If they succeed, the wicket-player is out. If not, one of the players from the fielding team (the thrower) must pick up the stick and throw it towards the wicket from the spot where the stick came to rest. If the stick lands inside the safety line, it must be thrown from the edge of that line.
§7 Defense
Subsection 1 — Following a successful lift, the wicket-player must defend the wicket. The thrower throws the stick towards the wicket. The wicket-player must use the stick-stick to try to prevent the stick from hitting 1) the wicket or 2) their own legs below the knee, if the wicket-player is standing between the thrower and the wicket. If the stick hits either, the wicket-player is out.
Subsection 2 — It is permitted to hit the wicket-player’s legs below the knee, but the purpose of this rule is to prevent the wicket-player from using their legs to defend the wicket, not for the thrower to deliberately target the legs.
Subsection 3 — If the wicket-player hits the stick out into the outfield, the fielding team may attempt to catch it before it hits the ground. If they succeed, the wicket-player is out. If not, points are scored.
Subsection 4 — In the event that the stick-stick breaks, it is replaced with a new stick-stick of equivalent length before any potential point measurement. If the stick breaks, the part closest to the wicket counts as the stick. The stick is replaced before the next lift.
§8 Points
Points are counted by the in-team measuring the distance between the wicket and where the stick landed after the defense phase, using the stick-stick. The number of full stick-stick lengths in the shortest straight line from the edge of the wicket to the nearest end of the stick equals the number of points scored.
§9 Round
Subsection 1 — A round is the period between switches, as described in §10.
Subsection 2 — The first round begins at the start of the match. Subsequent rounds begin after a switch.
Subsection 3 — A round lasts a maximum of 5 minutes. If the wicket-player is in the process of lifting or defending when time expires, the round ends once there is either an out or the point measurement has been completed. The time for a round restarts from scratch upon a switch.
Subsection 4 — The referee may choose to pause the clock temporarily, for example, due to injuries. Similarly, the referee can adjust the time if deemed necessary, for example, if a point measurement took an extraordinarily long time.
§10 Switch / Changeover
The teams switch places 1) when the time for a round ends, as described in §9, and 2) when the in-team gets their second out.
The following actions result in an out: If the stick is lifted over the sideline and the landing spot is simultaneously not behind the backline. If the stick is caught by the fielding team during either the lift or defense phase. If the stick touches the wicket or the wicket-player’s legs below the knee while they are defending the wicket. If the wicket-player at any point during the lift or defense phase crosses the defense line. If the wicket-player commits three consecutive fouls according to §6.
§11 The Referee
Subsection 1 — Official matches under the Dansk Pind Union are refereed by an official appointed by the Union.
Subsection 2 — The referee may have assistant referees. However, the head referee always has the final word if the referees disagree.
Subsection 3 — It is the referee’s responsibility to ensure that play complies with the rules in this rulebook. The referee keeps track of time and judges, for example, whether the stick “clicks” during a lift or if the wicket or wicket-player is hit during the defense phase. The referee’s decisions are final and cannot be appealed.
§12 Unsporting Behavior
Subsection 1 — All players should display good sportsmanship during the game.
Subsection 2 — The referee may choose to eject players who exhibit unsporting behavior.
Subsection 3 — The referee assesses what constitutes unsporting behavior in each specific instance.
The following are examples of unsporting behavior: Throwing the stick at parts of the wicket-player’s body other than the legs below the knee. Throwing the stick unnecessarily hard at the wicket-player’s legs. Complaining to the referee about their decisions. Covering the wicket with parts of the body other than the legs.
§13 Special Rules for the Danish Championship
Subsection 1 — If a match in the preliminary rounds ends in a tie, a penalty stick shootout is played, cf. subsection 3.
Subsection 2 — If a semifinal, final, or bronze medal match ends in a draw, the current round continues, and the total match time is extended by 10 minutes. If a winner has still not been found after this, a penalty stick shootout is played, cf. subsection 3.
Subsection 3 — In a penalty stick shootout, the teams take turns defending the wicket. Each team defends the wicket three times alternately. The players on each team take turns representing their team. A successful defense awards the team one point.
§14 Validity and Amendment of the Rules
Subsection 1 — These rules apply to all official matches in tournaments under the Dansk Pind Union.
Subsection 2 — The legal committee of the Dansk Pind Union may amend the rules at any time.