Jai alai – the game of dodging death
The Serve
Each point is started by serving the pelota (ball). The server must bounce the ball
behind the serving line, and, with the cesta, hurl the ball directly to the front wall so
that upon rebound it will bounce between lines No. 4 and 7. If it does not, it is
an under or over serve and the other team will receive the point.
Scoring Points
The ball must be caught on the fly or first bounce. The ball, also, must be caught
and thrown in "one fluid motion". The judges will rule juggling if the ball "pops
up" or if it is held for "more than the required time". All three walls are in play - the
red is out-of-bounds. In "Spectacular Seven/Nine" scoring point value is 1 until
each team has played once, thereafter point value is double.
Interference
Like handball or squash, Jai-Alai players share the court with the opposition. If a
player blocks another's line to the ball on the catch or to the wall on the return, the
judges may rule interference if they deem that the ball was "playable".
Playing Rotation
Most games are played to 7 points with points doubling after the first round of play
(called Spectacular Seven) scoring. The game is played in a round-robin rotation,
usually by 8 teams or single players. In doubles, each team consists of a frontcourt
player and a backcourt player. The game begins when the frontcourt player of Team
No. 1 serves the ball to Team No. 2. The winner of each point stays on the court to
meet the next team in rotation. Losers go to the end of the line to await another turn
on the court. The first team to score 7 points (or 9 in Superfecta games) wins. The
next highest scores are awarded "place" (second) and "show" (third) positions,
respectively. Playoffs decide tied scores.
POST
POINTS
1
0
2
0
3
0
4
0
5
0
6
0
7
0
8
0
*Note that the combination of Spectacular Seven scoring and the round-robin
rotation gives an advantage to the lower post positions in that they will have more
chances to play than the higher numbers.
Jai-Alai Rules, History, Tips & Equipment
How To Play Jai-Alai
Jai-Alai is a Basque word meaning "merry festival." The sport is played
in an open arena and is promoted by the Basque government as "the fastest
sport in the world."
Jai-Alai History
Jai-Alai, originated as the sport of the Basques in the Northeastern part
of Spain and the Southwestern part of France in the Pyrenees Mountains.
The game evolved from different types of hand and racquet sports and
became known as Pelota Vasca or Basque Ball. The game was usually played
on Sundays or Fiesta days. The Church walls served as the walls of the
court. The game soon spread to Italy, Mexico, and Cuba. The first indoor
court was built in 1798 in Marquena. It was first introduced to the
United States at the St. Louis World's Fair in 1904. The sport became a
gambling alternative to horseracing and is popular in Florida.
Jai-Alai Rules
Jai-Alai is usually played eight players or eight teams of two players. A
Jai-Alai court, also known as a "cancha," is composed of three walls
(front, back, and left) and the floor between them. The court is divided
by 14 parallel lines going horizontally across the court. Line one is
closest to the front wall while line fourteen is closest to the back
wall. Games are played to seven or nine points. Two teams are on the
court for each point. The team that wins the point stays on the court to
meet the next team in the rotation, while the other team goes to the back
of the line.
Each round begins with one team serving. The server must bounce the ball
behind the serving line, and then with the cesta "basket" throw the ball
so it bounces off the front wall and lands between lines four and seven
on the floor. The ball is then in play. Teams go back and forth catching
the ball in the cesta, and throwing it in one fluid motion. The ball must
be either caught on the fly or either after one bounce.
A team scores a point if a player on the opposing team:
1. Fails to serve the ball so it bounces between the fourth and seventh
line
2. Fails to catch the ball on the fly or after one bounce
3. Holds or juggles the ball
4. Throws the ball out of bounds
5. Interferes with a player trying to catch the ball.
Points double after the first round of play. A round consists of each team playing at least one point.
Jai-Alai Tips
One should practice using a "kill shot" serve called a "chula" shot,
where the ball is played off the front wall very high, then reaches the
bottom of the back wall by the end of its arc. The ball is difficult to
return because it bounces very low off of the back wall.
Jai-Alai Equipment
Teams need one jai-alai ball, called a pelota, 125g -140g, covered with
goat skin. Each player needs a cesta, a curved throwing and catching
instrument. Traditional jai-alai players wear a faja, a red sash, as part
of the standard uniform. The rest of the uniform consists of white shoes
and trousers, and a colored and numbered shirt indicating post
positions. Players also are known to wear a casco, Spanish for helmet.
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Full game (good quality video)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0OeUvxRN5EI&feature=related
Documentary:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bo4L83VQjPM
Direct hit
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N4KXETHZ24o
Nombre________________________________________ Hora_____
Using the information from the video you saw in class, as well as the
articles above, answer the following questions. (FYI -you may need to
watch the youtube videos on the previos page). Do NOT skip questions.
Investigate!
1. If you had to explain the basic rules of Jai Alai to someone who has never heard of or seen the sport, what
would you say? What is the basic idea of the game?
Quic kT i me™ and a
dec om pres s or
are needed t o s ee thi s pi c ture.
2. Explain and describe a “Frontón.”
3. Where does a player wear the “casco?” What other protective gear is worn? How is this different from
most other sports? How is this sport dangerous?
4. If you wanted to see a live game of Jai Alai in the United States, where would you go?
5. Now, explain the game of Jai Alai to a parent or sibling. Have that person sign on the line that you
explained it and that they understand it. Feel free to show a video, draw pictures, or demonstrate.
Signature ____________________________________________________________
What do you think of Jai Alai?
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are needed to see this picture.