Play the Ball is based on the popular sport of Australian Rules Football. The game has two opposing teams that move a disc (the ball) up and down a numbered path on a rectangular board using a teetotum. A player may land on a favorable spot such as "Mark" or "Play On" and get another spin. The player may also land on a penalty spot and turn the ball over to the opposing team. The opposing team then moves the ball to the opposite position and has a spin. Teams score points by advancing the ball along their side until they reach spot 17 or 21 and receive 6 points (a goal) or 16 or 20 for one point. Play time is agreed by players at the beginning of the game and the team with the highest tallied score at the end of time is the winner