A sport of unparalleled popularity across the globe. A dangerous, fast-paced game with historic ties to gambling and Golden Age Miami.

Transcription

1 Jai Alai pamphlet prototype, written by Christine G., October "Fastest Game in The World" A sport of unparalleled popularity across the globe. A dangerous, fast-paced game with historic ties to gambling and Golden Age Miami. Jai Alai is all this, and more. While it may resemble Squash at first glance, Jai Alai s long court and unique hand-basket (cesta) make it a wilder, more athletically challenging sport than its ball-and-racket cousins. Widely played from Spain to the Philippines, the excitement of Jai Alai (pronounced hi-lie) makes it an enduring favorite across the world, but its complicated history in the US has left it in obscurity for decades. Once a rising star in the world of American Pro Sports, Jai Alai gained national popularity in the 1970s, but a players strike in 1988 ended the national circuit. It continues to be popular in Florida, where several clubs exist, and Jai Alai is beginning to experience a new age as both an amateur and spectator sport in the United States. Curious yet? This manual provides everything you need to know about learning and mastering the fastest game in the world. TOC 1. Equipment... p.3 2. Universal Rules... p Match Setup... p Serve and Re-serve... p Scoring and Penalties. p.8 3. I Want To Try! What Now? 4. Glossary of Serves And Shots 5. Glossary of Terms Used In Jai Alai Tools Cesta (basket) An elongated scoop, worn on the player s hand. The cesta may look a cross between a Lacrosse stick and a catcher s mitt, but its shape allows players to serve with unparalleled speed and control. A glove at the base keeps it attached comfortably to the player s hand. Cesta are handcrafted from reeds and can be costly, though amateur clubs are always willing to help new players looking to purchase one. They can also be found second-hand on the internet. Ball (pelota) The ball used in professional Jai Alai is equally unique; ¾ the size of a baseball, the pelota is a solid rubber ball sewn into hardened goatskin, which gives it incredible bounce. The top speed recorded for a Jai Alai ball is 302kph. Professional Jai Alai balls are expensive and wear out quickly, but durable balls made from modern materials are available and are generally used in amateur play.

2 Helmet and safety wear A lightweight acrylic helmet is standard in American Jai Alai. It provides similar protective coverage to a Baseball helmet, and given the extreme speeds that the ball is capable of, it s a worthwhile investment for players at every level. Elbow pads are sometimes worn, but are nonessential. Court (cancha) Jai Alai is played in a long 3-walled court with a granite wall (the front) at the far end. Fourteen lines divide the court into sections, with the 11 th line (at the rear) indicating the serve line and the space between lines 4-7 (the 4-7 zone) indicating the server s rebound area on the floor. An out-of-bounds zone exists on the floor to the right and front of the court, and on the upper edge of the walls. Uniform Along with their cesta and any required safety wear, professional Jai Alai players wear white slacks, sneakers, and jerseys indicating their name and number. A traditional sash (faja) may also be worn as a reminder of the game s heritage. The unique tools of Jai Alai give its gameplay a style unlike any other, and make it one of the fastest-paced and most exciting ball games in the world! Universal rules There is a lot of variety in Jai Alai, from court size to materials used, but the basics are consistent throughout. Match Setup Matches are set up as follows: 1V1 1. Player 1 serves the ball to Player 2 2. Player 2 attempts to catch and re-serve the ball to Player 1 before it has rebounded more than once 3. Player 1 attempts to catch and re-serve, etc., until one player fails to re-serve 2v2: Each team consists of a Frontcourt and Rearcourt player, and the rules are basically the same. 1. Team 1 s Frontcourt serves the ball to Team 2 2. Team 2 attempt to catch and re-serve the ball to Team 1, etc. Competitive matches are arranged in various ways, with Round Robin tournaments being the most popular in the American professional circuit. Similarly, the most popular scoring system in the US is the Spectacular Seven, where players receive a double score after the first round until seven points are reached. These conventions are used in American Jai Alai because of its historic connection to gambling, but they ensure that professional games are fast-paced and exciting events.

3 Serve and re-serve In Jai Alai, a serve is performed by pre-bouncing the ball once against the floor, then launching it towards the front wall using the cesta. When the ball goes out of play, the last team to score a point gets next serve. A serve is successful if: The ball is pre-bounced behind the serve line (11 th line) The ball strikes the front after being launched directly or rebounded from the inner wall The ball rebounds inside the 4-7 zone on the floor When re-serving, players still aim for the front, but a rebound in the 4-7 zone isn t required A player may: Catch the ball (before or) after it has rebounded once against the floor Run onto the out-of-bounds area of the court to catch the ball Players are expected to move continuously, catching and serving in one fluid motion- you can stand, turn or step, and as long as your cesta doesn t stop moving, you ll be keeping the ball in play. Stay still or hold the ball for too long, and you ll incur a penalty. Scoring and Penalties Scoring in Jai Alai is straightforward and centers around penalties: you earn points by following the rules while making it impossible for your opponent to catch your serves. Scoring: The following count towards your score Serving (or re-serving) successfully Your opponent suffering a penalty Penalties: The following count as a point towards your opponent s score Failing to serve successfully Losing the ball after a catch Launching the ball out-of-bounds Holding or juggling the ball- based on the judges call Interfering with another player- based on the judges call The unique shape of the cesta and the ball s potential for speed allow players to employ a wide range of serving styles. A successful player stays on his toes and stumps his opponent with crazy shots, aiming low for a super-slow dejada or powering through with an overwhelming picada!

4 I Want to Try! What Now? Starting out as a Jai Alai player isn t easy: the cesta is so unlike any other racket that mastering it without help from a veteran is an exercise in trial and error, but with a little patience you ll develop an understanding of how to use its momentum to keep the ball in play. Here are some tips to keep in mind when starting out. 1. The cesta s curved form causes the ball to launch at an angle, and encourages spin. 2. Steady your cesta when catching. A split-second pause will keep the ball from being fumbled. 3. Keep it moving: use the centrifugal force of your swing to hold the ball in the cesta as you position yourself for a serve. 4. Jump, step or lunge to give the ball extra momentum when you serve! If you're looking to find a club or fronton in your area, check the back of this pamphlet for contact information. Glossary of Serves and Shots Once you have a solid understanding of the cesta, learning to combine your swing and body motion to predictably aim a shot is the next step towards understanding Jai Alai. The following is a list of common shots that every player strives to master. Pasa (pah sah) "Pass": An overhead serve Corta (kor tah) "Short": An underhand serve Arrimada (ah re ma dah) Close up : A reverse-spin shot that follows the inner wall Chic-chac: Any shot that rebounds against the floor near the rear wall, and then against the rear wall Chula (choo lah) Beauty : Often to describe a low serve that hits the front and 4-7 zone before rolling back towards the players. Chula! is a suitable exclamation after any especially good play, though. Carambola (kah rom bo lah) Cannon : A shot that strikes the inner wall and sends the ball outwards on rebound. Cortada (kor ta dah) Cut : A low shot made from the right (out-of-bounds) that strikes the front near the floor. Costada (kōs ta dah) Cost : A high shot that rebounds against the floor near the rear wall. Dejada (dé ha dah) Left : A slow shot that flies low and achieves little bounce Picada (pii ka dah) Chop : A fast overhead shot that employs a forceful wrist snap to put a spin on the ball, causing it to bounce high on rebound

5 Remate (ré ma té ) Re-kill : A two-wall shot from the left that sends the ball outwards Glossary of terms used in Jai Alai Because of its Spanish origins, many enthusiasts and players use Spanish-language words and phrases when describing the sport in English or other languages. It s good to be familiar with the meaning of these important terms- translation and pronunciation notes have been provided, as required. Cancha (kahn chah) - Literally, the Court. Cesta (sess tah or tess tah): Basket, the hand-racket used in Jai Alai. Guante (gwon té): The glove attachment which holds the cesta snugly on a player's hand. Cesta Punta (-pūn tah): Basket Point : the commonly-used name for Jai Alai in Europe. Contracancha (kōn tra-): Countercourt, the out-of-bounds area on the floor to the right of the court Delantero (dé lan té ro): A player who favors the frontcourt area. Frontis: The front of the court. Fronton: The arena where Jai Alai matches are staged. Jai Alai (hi lai): Merry Festival in Basque. Outside of Europe, this is the common name for Jai Alai. Lateral: The inner wall of the court. Pelota (pé lo tah): The ball used in Jai Alai, classically a hard rubber ball sewn into a goatskin. Pelotari: A Jai Alai player. Rebote (ré bo té): Rebound, the rear wall. Saque (sa ké): The serve. Tanto: A point scored in play. Zaguero (zah gwé ro): A player who favors the rearcourt.