Pelota – a Basque national sport

The Basque national sport of pelota (also known as pelota vasca) is one of the most traditional and impressive sports in Spain. Jai Alai or Cesta-Punta is a variant of the Basque pelota game. We watched jai alai games and were thrilled by the sport.

The origins of pelota

Historians believe that pelota goes back to ancient ball games that were played by the Romans. The Roman “harpastum”, a ball game that required skill and speed, could be a forerunner. With the fall of the Roman Empire, these games changed and were further developed in medieval Europe.

In France, a sport called Jeu de Paume emerged in the 12th century, in which the ball was played with the hand. This game also spread to neighboring regions (including the Basque Country) and is now considered a direct predecessor of pelota. While jeu de paume was later played with rackets in France and developed into modern tennis, the Basque Country stuck to the more original variant: playing with the bare hand.

The games were initially played on public courts, often against the church wall of a village. They were not only sporting competitions, but also social events where the village community would gather.

Over the centuries, pelota has become an integral part of Basque tradition. The sport became increasingly popular in the 18th and 19th centuries in particular. It was at this time that the first frontones (pelota courts with walls) were built, which were specially designed for the game.

The late 19th century saw another important development: the internationalization of the sport. Basque emigrants brought pelota to the New World, particularly to Latin America and the USA. Variants of the game became popular in countries such as Cuba, Mexico and the Philippines, with Jai Alai in particular finding many fans.

In the 20th century, pelota vasca was finally officially organized. In 1925, the Federación Internacional de Pelota Vasca (FIPV) was founded, the international federation that established the rules and competitions for the sport. Pelota found its way into the program of the first World Games and was even part of the 1900 Olympic Games in Paris, where it was presented as a demonstration sport. Unfortunately, it remained with this one Olympic appearance.

Pelota Vasca has been a UNESCO intangible cultural heritage since 2000.

The pitch – The Frontón

The pitch on which Pelota Vasca is played is called the Frontón. It is a specially designed pitch that has different dimensions and characteristics depending on the variant of the game. However, the frontón is always designed to support the dynamics and speed of the game.

A classic frontón consists of three main elements:

• Frontis (front wall):
• The front wall is the central element of the court against which players hit the ball. It is smooth, solid and firm so that the ball bounces back precisely and quickly. There is usually a marking line on the frontis (about 1 meter above the ground) indicating that the ball must be hit above this line to be valid.
• Lateral (side wall):
  The side wall extends along one side of the court, usually on the left side. It helps the players to bring the ball towards the front wall and enables angles and tactics.
• Pitch surface:
  The floor of the Frontón is usually made of concrete or a smooth surface that is adapted to the fast movements of the players. The lines on the floor mark different zones, which are important depending on the type of game and rules. These lines indicate, for example, how far the ball must fly after the serve or from which zone it may be played.

Some variants of pelota also use a backboard (rebote) to keep the ball in play. The size of the frontón varies depending on the pelota variant, but is usually standardized. A standard frontón is 30 to 36 meters long. The width is usually 10 meters, with the side wall only on the left side of the pitch. The right side remains open to create space for the referee or spectators. The front wall has a height of around 10 meters, while the side wall is often slightly lower (approx. 8 meters).

The playing field is divided into different zones by lines. If you have never seen the game before, it will take a while to understand it better and grasp the function of the lines. The service line is located about 7 meters from the front wall and marks the point behind which the ball must touch the ground when serving. Other lines indicate how far the ball may fly after a hit before it touches the ground.

The racket

In many pelota variants, a racket is used to hit the ball. These bats are specially designed for the respective type of game.

The pala is the classic wooden racket used in the game variant of the same name. These rackets are robust and heavy to hit the ball against the wall with maximum force.

The cesta, also known as the chistera, is probably the most characteristic tool in pelota. It is used in the spectacular Cesta Punta variant and is a curved basket that is attached to the player’s wrist.

In the Frontenis variant, which is very similar to tennis, players use a tennis racket. However, this is specially adapted for the game in the Frontón.

The ball – the heart of the game

The ball is the central element in all pelota variants, and its characteristics vary depending on the type of game. What all balls have in common, however, is that they must be extremely robust and durable, as they are played at high speed and must be able to withstand strong strokes.

Traditionally, the balls consist of a hard core, which is usually made of wood or rubber, and a leather cover, which ensures a smooth surface. In some variants, the ball is also wrapped in wool or cotton thread to make it a little softer. The diameter and weight of the ball vary depending on the discipline. A typical ball for the mano (handball) variant weighs between 90 and 120 grams and has a diameter of around 5 centimetres. For other variants, such as cesta punta, the balls are often somewhat larger and heavier.

Balls used in variants such as Cesta Punta or Frontenis can reach speeds of over 200 km/h. They are usually white or light-colored so that they stand out well against the dark walls of the frontón and are easily visible

The balls can only be made by hand and are therefore expensive. The referees have to change the balls several times during the game. They can only be played for 15 to 20 minutes and are then repaired.

The game

We take our seats in the spectator stand and I’m pleased that the net surrounding the pitch looks very sturdy. Now that I know more about the ball and the speed of the game, I don’t want to get it.

Four players enter the pitch. Two players always form a team, which can be easily distinguished by their clothing. Traditionally, the players wear white long pants, white shoes, a colored jersey and a helmet. They hold a banana-shaped bat in one hand. For safety reasons, the players only hold their bat with their right hand. This prevents the ball from being thrown directly towards the spectators.

After a few practice shots, which suggest that the game is about to get very athletic, the game begins. The teams take it in turns to hit the ball against the wall. The players do not have to take turns within the team. The player who is closest to the wall picks up the ball. If the ball is not played against the wall in accordance with the rules or if a team fails to catch the ball with its racket, the opponent is awarded a point. The game ends when one team reaches a certain number of points.

What a game!

Even though I didn’t understand the rules straight away, I was immediately captivated by it. The players on the pitch were fast, athletic, powerful and sometimes even performed almost artistic feats. The ball often flew so fast that I could hardly see it. The clacking sound when the ball hit the wall or the floor gave you an idea of how hard the shots were.

It was a great experience for me and I got to know a new sport. If the opportunity arises again, I’ll definitely be back!

Here is a great video that not only tells you something about the Basque Country, but above all about the different types of pelota.