Escala i corda

Escala i corda (Catalan for "Stairs and rope") is the most prestigious variant of Valencian pilota, and the only one, with Raspall, that have professional players.

History

"Escala i corda" vriant began around 1910, when the player Nel de Murla settled a 1.80 m high rope in the midle of a trinquet and thus divided the courtfield in two sides. Until then, the midfield was variable, using the "ratlles" of the Llargues modality.

Ball

In the "Escala i corda" a kind of ball called vaqueta ball (Catalan for "little cow ball") is used, it's a small and extremely fast ball, very tough and good bouncer. The name comes from the fact that it's made of cow leather. The size for adults are 42 mm diameter, 138 mm circumference, and 42 gr of weight.

Rules

The objective of an "Escala i corda" game is sending the ball over a net by hitting it with the hand. When the opponent doesn't get it the sending team wins the "quinze".

Matches are played to 12 games, counting 5 to 5: every game scoring is valid for 5 points. Every game is divided in 4 "quinzes" (15, 30, "val" and game). The team who first gets 60 points for 12 games is the winner.

Every "quinze" begins when the "feridor" player throws the ball to the opponent "dauer", who must turn it back to the team in the "rest" midfield. This way, both teams will be sending each other the ball over the net with an only hit of the hand by team, they may hit the ball on the air or when it's bounced once on the ground, until one of the teams is not able to throw it back or a "fault " is committed.

"Faults":
* When the ball bounces twice, or the same team (or player) touches it twice.
* When the ball touches the net or passes under it.
* When, in the "ferida", the ball doesn't enter into the "dau"

There is also a way to get direct "quinzes", by throwing the ball to the gallery of the trinquet or the "llotgeta" and without the ball coming back.But there are competitions where it is not allowed (such as the Circuit Bancaixa league), or special challenges. That's because this way is too easy for certain players and it's regarded as less spectacular. Anyway, in one-on-one matches "galleries" are allowed.

Players

"Escala i corda" may be played one-on-one, but it's mainly a team sport. Teams may be formed by 2 or 3 players, and they may in every combination (2 vs. 2, 3 vs. 3, or 3 vs. 2 if those three players are considered not to be as good as the other two), this way bets are more interesting.

Anyway, the favourited team (the one organizers thinks is better) will dress in red, and the other one in blue.

Players are called according to their position in the "trinquet". So, there is "dauer", a "mitger" and a "punter". There use to be also two special players called the "feridors" which are raffled before the match begins to know who'll they play for (the "punter" may be the "feridor" as well).

* The dauer (also called as "rest", "reboter", or "escalater") is the player closer to the walls, hence, he's in charge of throwing back the bouncing balls and the main amount of balls sent to the stairs. He, as well, will begin every "quinze" by standing into the "dau" and replying the serve of the "feridor". He uses to be the player who plays the "caiguda d'escala".

* The mitger is positioned in the middle of his teams' field and his main shot is on the air, when the ball hasn't bounced on the ground. If the ball has bounced once he is able to aim and throw the ball to the corners, to the non-protected places of the opponent team, or to the special places as the "galleries", the "llotgeta" or the stairs.

* The punter is the player closer to the net, that's why he's who'll play less balls (because they are so fast they won't be able to hit them properly) and who needs less strength in order to throw it back, but also, he'll receive the stronger balls, hence he'll use more protections on the hands.

* The feridor is a special player. He might be a "punter", but many times, before the match begins, two "feridors" are raffled in order to know who'll they play for. He's in charge of beginning every "quinze" by throwing the ball to the "dau", this serve is called "ferida" (Catalan for "wound"), because the more difficult to play the "dauer" receives the ball the more painful it'll be.

Spectators

When entering into a trinquet, spectators may choose where to seat. Some, the most careful will watch the match from the "galleries" on the top of the walls, and the bravest or scholars may be allowed to seat in the "llotgeta". Some selected people will seat under the rope (1,80 m high). But the main amount of fans will be on the "rest" midfield stairs.

Competitions

* Circuit Bancaixa, teams
** Circuit Bancaixa 07/08
* Trofeu Individual Bancaixa, singles
** Trofeu Individual Bancaixa 2007

External links

* [http://www.museupilota.com/joc.htm| Online Escala i corda one-on-one game]
* [http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=genov%C3%A9s+sarasol&search= Youtube: One-on-one match, Genovés I vs. Sarasol I]
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p6XSt0g6bGo Youtube: Team match]