Ladder Ball Rules
- Players
- 2 or 4 (1v1 or 2v2)
- Ages
- 8+
- Setup time
- 2 min
- Space
- 25 ft between targets, plus room to throw
What you need
- 1 or 2 ladder targets (3 rungs each)
- 6 bolas total (3 per player or team, two colors)
- A flat area with 25 feet between targets, plus room for players
- Optional: a marker for the toss line
Set it up
The GoSports setup places two targets 25 feet apart. Mark consistent throwing lines and keep the targets fixed during the game. For younger players or a smaller yard, agree a shorter distance before starting; that is a family adjustment.
Scoring
- Top rung = 3 points, middle = 2, bottom = 1.
- Count only bolas still hanging after all six throws; bolas knocked off do not score.
- Cancel the lower round total from the higher. Only the higher side adds the difference; equal totals score zero.
- First to at least 21 with a lead of two points wins after a complete round. There is no exact-21 bust in this GoSports format.
How to play
- Set up the targets. Place the two GoSports ladders 25 feet apart and mark the throwing lines. A family may agree a shorter distance before play; use the same distance throughout the game.
- Decide who goes first. Flip a coin or rally. The winner throws first in round one; after that the previous round's scorer throws first.
- Alternate your three bolas. The two sides alternate one bola at a time until each has thrown all three. Throw from behind the agreed line toward the opposite ladder.
- Score the round. After all 6 bolas are thrown, count bolas that are still hanging on the rungs once any knock-offs have settled.
- Apply cancellation. Add each side's hanging-bola points, subtract the lower total, and give only the difference to the higher side. Equal totals add nothing.
- Reach 21 and lead by two. Finish complete rounds until one side has at least 21 points and a lead of two. If the margin is only one, keep playing; going over 21 is allowed.