Even though today Basque Pilota has become more accessible, practiced by several generations around the world, its link with the Basque Country is undeniable. Erramun Martikorena sang, « zer litzateke Euskal Herria, pilotarik gabe! » (What would be the Basque country without pilota?). But after all, what is Basque Pilota? How many different games does Basque Pilota consist of in 2005?
Pilota is a very old game that appears in many civilizations. The Greeks had codified the game of Pilota under the name of "sphéristique" which brings to mind the roundness of the pilota (ball). The Mayas considered Pilota tournaments to be sacred ceremonies, relating the fight between good and evil. Later, roman colonization spread this game throughout the west, notably in Gaulle under the name of "pila" (paume). It is in the Basque Country however that the game underwent the most radical adaptations and transformations. Now, the Basque Country is the undisputed cradle of Pilota in the world.
The biggest upheaval in the history of Pilota was undoubtedly the introduction of rubber (1820/1850) in Europe affecting the manufacturing of the “pilotas” (balls). The range of the bounce was bigger than before - the old “pilotas” were made with old sheets, cotton, wool, leather -, the "jeu de blé" (against the wall) triumphed over the classical games (opponents facing each other, separated by a net or a line to the ground).
A second upheaval was the discovery of the wicker glove - "chistera"- in 1857.
Chronology:
800 BC: “Man is like a “pilota” in the hand of God.” (Isaiah)
The Ancient Greeks play Spheristique,the Romans play “Pila”, the Gaulois of Europe play “jeu de paume” (real tennis), the Basques play their “paume” (tennis) (bote-luzea, mahi-jokoa, laxua-largo).
1740: Latex is introduced in Europe
1789/1783: The “paume” (tennis) game disappears due to the Revolution
1820: Vulcanization of latex, transformed into rubber
1830: Height of the game “largo” or “laxua” ( short and flat leather glove)
1820/1850: Rubber is introduced in the manufacturing of “pilotas”. The Basques continue to play “paume” (tennis) that they make their own little by little, by subsequent transformations.
1850: The miller of Mauleon uses a longer leather glove for the first time.
1850/1870: The Basques abandon little by little the game resembling “paume” (tennis) to play increasingly against walls.
1857: The wicker glove is discovered in St Pée sur Nivelle.
1860: Xare appears
1862: First official appearance of the wicker glove in Espelette.
1884: Chiquito de Eibar leaves for Buenos- Aires to introduce the “Chistera” and establish professionalism
1887: First serious twist in the game by Samperio in Buenos-Aires.
1888: Second twist in the game: the playeur Gurutxaga plays with a longer, deeper, curved wicker chistera, in order to alleviate his stiff shoulder, and plays mainly back-hand.
1888/1890: All players adopt this chistera: the “Grand Chistera” is born.
1892/1893: Height of the “Grand Chistera” and of “Xare”.
1893/1902: Improper use of the “atxiki” with the new chistera – which the purists call “sucio”- mostly hit with a back-hand.
1903: The player, Juanito Moya, creates a flat chistera, not very deep, in response to the chistera “sucio”: the “remonte” is born.
1910/1920: The golden age of the “remonte”.
1921: The Pilota Federation is created.
1924: Basque Pilota at the Olympic Games in Paris
1929: The International Federation of Basque Pilota is created.
1952: First world championships of Basque Pilota in San Sebastian
1955: World Championships in Montevideo
1958: World Championships in Bayonne- Biarritz- Hossegor
1962: World Championships in Pamplona
1966: World Championships in Montevideo
1968: Basque Pilota at the Olympic Games in Mexico
1970: World Championships in San Sebastian
1974: World Championships in Montevideo
1978: World Championships in Bayonne-Biarritz-St. Pierre D’Irube
1982: World Championships in Mexico
Basque Pilota: The king of all sports.
Pilota is an intense sport that demands equal amounts strength, dexterity and agility. This sport, presumably imported centuries ago, is so strongly rooted in the Basque Country, that it carries henceforth the name: Basque Pilota
The infatuation is so strong that history has seen colossal bets and high stakes in the trinquets on both sides of the Pyrénées. Pilota in the Basque Country is a way of life: every town has its own “fronton” on which the greatest (Atano III, Dongaïtz, Saint-Martin, Harambillet, etc) where first initiated to the game.
Basque Pilota is divided in 7 major specialities:
Rebot:
Rebot plays in thirteen games like Laxoa; but while Laxoa practically disappeared, rebot is still played considerably in the Basque Country. The instrument used in this game is the “chistera”. Formerly, in the game of Laxoa, the “arraia” (foul) zone spread itself throughout the entirety of the court. Today, it is reduced to about thirty meters separating the serve line "pasamarra" and the "barne" line, 5 meters from the wall.
Rules of the game:
In the game of Rebot, one serves by hand from the "pasamarra" line and, the goal, the pilota (ball) will rebound against the wall while striking the first wall (“paret"), or first the ground then the wall ("errabote"). When the pilota (ball) hits the intersection of the wall and ground, it is a "pik", crushes itself, rolls and cannot be lifted, and this causes an "arraia" (foul).
The player that receives the serve does not need to wait for the ball to hit the wall first: they can take it on the fly. All balls passed that go directly out of the lateral limits are foul balls.
> The goal, for which the ball must ricochet off the wall, gives the advantage to the good “scorer” and gives the "refileurs", those that play "paret" in particular, the opportunity to show off their flexibility.
If the pilota (ball) crosses the serving line or after having rolled, it is point. All the other pilotas (balls) bring on pursuits ("arraia") and this is when teams change sides at 40 points or immediately when there are 2 "arraia”. This is because the scoring is in games (with "quintze", "trenta", "kuarenta" or "kuante" and "jokoa -jeu-), as in tennis, with the simple difference that when there is a tie at 40 points, we go back down to 30 points in order to have a two point difference for a team to win the game.
“Arraia" is a penalty: all fouls committed inside the zone in question, all pilotas (balls) crossing lateral limits after having bounced in the playing area (court) and not being played, gives place to an “arraia” and also by that changing of sides. The serving side regains the receiving side which is less vast, therefore easier to defend, at 40 points or immediately when there are 2 "arraia" during a same game.
Each side successively has the advantage to attack
2) Pasaka
Rules of the game:
The central net, 1.2 meters high, can be found in the game of Pasaka, a game which is played with leather gloves between teams of two players, a “refileur” and a “cordier”.
It is also played in thirteen games like “laxoa” and rebot, but the balls are larger and the gloves are larger and shorter. The playing area is demarked by four walls and it is no longer necessary to use a long glove.
Pasaka is a real game of dexterity, because you can crash the ball onto the walls, try and reach the net that borders the left side and the back of the trinquet, or reach the “xilo” (hole) or the corner of the frontal wall.
> Dexterity wins over strength. This game seemed to become obsolete, however it is reclaiming vigor thanks to a number of players that are regaining interest in it.
3) Hand ball (Main Nue)
Hand ball is the cornerstone of Basque Pilota since it is the oldest and the noblest game. It can be played in open courts, two against two in 30 points, in a left-walled court (mur à gauche) in 22 points (tête-à-tête or two against two), and in a “trinquet” (tête-à-tête or two against two) in 50 point games.
Rules of the game:
Fronton: Only one bounce is permitted. The game begins with the serve when the ball is bounced once and then hit directly against the wall. At that moment, each player can hit the ball wherever he wants on the wall except for under the metal bar that is at a certain distance from the ground, and also respecting the demarcated playing area on the ground.
Trinquet: Only one bounce is permitted. The game begins with the serve when the ball is bounced once and then hit directly against the frontal wall. However the ball must land between the two red lines on the ground.
At this moment, when each player hits the ball, he must hit the frontal wall at least once (the ball can hit the frontal wall after having hit one of the side walls for example).
The players can thus “play” on all 4 walls but also on the inclined wall “mur coupé” and the “xilo” (hole at the base on the right side of the frontal wall).
If during the exchange, the ball enters the net on the left of the court, the point is won by the player on the receiving end.
Left Wall Court: Only one bounce is permitted. The game begins with the serve when the ball is bounced once and then hit directly on the frontal wall. However, the ball must land between the two lines “pasa” and “falta” trace on the ground. At that moment, each player can hit the ball anywhere on the wall except under the metal bar that is a certain distance from the ground, and respecting the demarcated playing area.
> The players can also indirectly target the frontal wall by striking the left wall first.
4) Xare:
Xare is stringed racket that has a slight pocket. It is also called the Argentine racket because the Argentines dominate this specialty that is played in trinquets without nets in the back.
Rules of the game:
The rules are fairly simple. Only one bounce is permitted. The player that hits the ball must hit the frontal wall (directly or indirectly). The playing area is delimited by the four walls (all part of the game).
5) Chistera:
Chistera is played most often in a fronton, open court 100 meters long and 16 to 18 meters wide very popular in the Basque Country.
The small chistera is used the play “joko-garbi” (clean game) or “limpio”, because the ball is not kept in the glove, in games to 50 points in open courts, and 45 points in left wall courts.
The games in fronton courts are played three against three, as opposed two against two in left wall courts.
The same type of chistera, even more solid and made of rattan, allows players to play “remonte” which makes the ball glide along the glove (“xirrixt”). This variety is played in “jai-alai” courts and the games are played in 35 points.
The grand chistera, is longer, with an emphasized curved, and is born around 1890. This grand chistera increases the player’s power, compels the ball to stay in the glove, and the player does an “atxiki”.
The games are played three against three in frontons and go to 45 points. For “cesta punta”, the game is played two against two, in “jai-alai” courts and goes to 35 points.
6) Paleta Cuir:
In the Basque Country, we also play “pala larga”, with a wooden instrument weighing about 850 grams, and the “pala corta” weighing 600 to 700 grams. The game is played in frontons, long and short left wall courts. The “paletas” are used for leather balls in frontons, left wall courts and in trinquets.
This sport is just as spectacular as cesta punta: the ball is very hard, and reaches high speeds and the front players are required to wear helmets.
7) Paleta Goma:
The “palas anchas” are used essentially in trinquet for “paleta goma”. The rules of the game are not that different than the rules for handball in trinquet: the games are most often played two against two and with each hit, the players, must directly or indirectly, strike the frontal wall.
The play area is demarked by the four walls and only one bounce is permitted.
This type of game is actually played very often in the Basque Country because it is the most accessible of all 7 specialties in Basque Pilota as far as technique is concerned.
Some of these specialties are subdivided:
-Chistera : joko-garbi, grand chistera, remonte and cesta punta
-Pala cuir: pala larga, pala corta, big pala and paleta
-Paleta Goma : spanish paleta goma, argentine paleta goma (« baline »)
The intruments used are represented in the website of EuskoSare.
These games, so different one from the other, are played on 3 frontons very different as well:
-Place libre (fronton)
-Trinquet
-Left wall fronton, the short fronton (35 to 38 meter long) and the long fronton (55 to 60 meters long) or the “jai-alai” where the famous cesta-punta games are played.
The different specialties are played on the following frontons:
-Trinquet: Hand Ball, pasaka, paleta cuir, spanish paleta goma, argentine paleta goma, Xare.
-Fronton: Hand Ball, rebot, joko-garbi, grand chistera, large pala, paleta cuir, spanish paleta goma.
-Left Wall Fronton:
1. 35 meters (short): hand ball, pala corta, paleta cuir, argentine paleta goma, spanish paleta goma, joko-garbi, frontenis.
2. 55 meters (long): Cesta-punta, remonte, pala larga.

source : EuskoSare : www.euskosare.org