Basque pelota

Pelota (also Pelota Vasca ) is a game setback Basque origin. In Pelota two players or two teams of two take turns hitting the ball against a wall. The field of play is called fronton and is 30-54 feet long and 10 to 11 meters wide. Pelota are also referred to as Pelotari.

Variants

Pelota mainly exists in the variants pelota a Mano, a pelota Pala and Cesta Punta. In Pelota Mano a the ball is struck with the bare hand. This is today the most widespread in northern Spain and especially popular way of playing. The players of the pelota a Pala use a simple wooden bats, which is called Pala or Paleta. The game variant Cesta Punta is most commonly played in the United States where she Jai Alai is also (Basque for merry game) called. As a racket serves a glove, which is connected to an elongated basket, hence the name Cesta Punta, Spanish for " Spitz basket" (Basque xistera ).

Dissemination

The game is today ( there especially in Florida) played in different variations both in Spanish and French Basque country and neighboring areas, as well as in Mexico, Argentina, Uruguay, the Philippines (Manila ) and parts of the United States.

Pelota was in 1900, as well as croquet and cricket, for the first and so far only time a sport at the Olympic Games in Paris. In the years 1924, 1968 and 1992, it was merely demonstration sport.

Pelota a Mano is a very popular sport in the Basque Country, where it has a similar status as football. Some TV channels from northern Spanish regions disrupt their normal program to broadcast there Pelotaspiele. During the games usually bets are made with partly high amounts.

The game ball

The Pelotaschussball, especially for pelota a mano, is usually made of leather or rubber, is filled with a wood core and multiple layers of fabric or latex and weighs about 100 grams. He is technically prepared so that each ball has its own characteristic playability. In Pelota a Mano players choose the balls from an existing number from a personal preference. Pelota a Pala is played under certain circumstances, with rubber balls.