Pallone facts for kids
Pallone is an Italian word that means "inflated ball." It's a bit like our word "balloon." Pallone is also the name for several old, traditional ball games played in different parts of Italy. These games are quite similar, with only small changes in their rules.
Contents
Traditional Ball Games
Pallone col Bracciale
Pallone col bracciale was a very popular sport across Italy. It was especially big in the 18th century and 19th century. Until about 1930, it was one of Italy's most loved traditional national sports. The first official rules for this game were written way back in 1555.
Players of pallone col bracciale are called pallonisti. In the 1800s, professional Italian pallonisti were some of the richest and most famous athletes in the world! Many famous writers, like Johann Wolfgang von Goethe and Giacomo Leopardi, wrote about this sport and its champions.
How to Play Pallone col Bracciale
Players hit the ball using a special wooden cylinder called a bracciale. This bracciale is worn over the forearm. It can weigh between 1 and 2 kilograms. If you don't play carefully, you could even break an arm!
Originally, the ball was inflated and weighed about 934 grams. Today, a hard rubber ball is used, which weighs about 350 grams.
Scoring and Court
The scoring in pallone col bracciale is similar to tennis. Points are counted by fifteens (15, 30, 45, game). The first team to win 12 games wins the match.
A unique rule is that a special player serves the ball to start each point. This server does not play in the rest of the point. The other players can choose to reject the serve if they don't like it.
Pallone col bracciale is often played on courts marked out on town streets. For official championships, players compete in special stadiums. These stadiums are called sferisterio or sferodromo in Italian.
Today, there are two main ways to play this sport:
- Three players on each side, with a side wall.
- Four players on each side, in an open playing field without a side wall.
Famous Players
Some famous professional champions from the past include:
- Antonio Mariotti from Ancona
- Antonio Gambero from Genova
- Ubaldo Travagli
- Pietro Orazietti
- Pietro Tarini from Fano
- Luigi Eredi from Ravenna
- Lorenzo Pierotti from Firenze
- Giovanni Contieri from Udine
- Gaetano Trentin from Bassano del Grappa
- Vettor Gasparini from Bassano del Grappa
- Gaspare Socci from Firenze
- Giuseppe Mariotti from Ancona
Pallapugno
Pallapugno, sometimes called pallone elastico, is a game that comes from the Piedmont and Liguria regions of Italy. In this game, players hit the ball with a bandaged fist. The rubber ball is about 10.5 centimetres wide and weighs 190 grams.
Scoring and Court
Like pallone col bracciale, scoring is by fifteens. However, if the ball bounces a second time, it can lead to a "chase." This is similar to how "chases" work in real tennis.
Each team has four players. The team that wins 11 games is the winner of the match. Professional players play their matches in a sferisterio. These stadiums are usually 90 metres long and 18 metres wide, with a side wall.
There is a professional Italian pallapugno league. This is the highest level of competition for the sport. In 2008, 10 teams competed in this league. This sport is also played in other countries, and there is even a world championship!
Pallapugno Leggera
Pallapugno leggera is a simpler version of the game. It is played on a court that is the same size as a volleyball court, but without a net. Each team has four players, plus two reserve players. A match can be one set or three sets long.
Pantalera
Pantalera, also known as pallapugno alla pantalera, is usually played on city streets. The game starts with a special shot. Players hit the ball upwards so it bounces off a roof. This roof is called a pantalera in the Piedmontese language. All the other rules are the same as regular pallapugno.
Pallonetto
Pallonetto, or pallonetto ligure al lungo, is another game often played on city streets. Players use tennis balls that do not have the felt covering. The playing field is usually between 60 and 90 metres long and 18 metres wide. It can have a side wall or not. Players hit the ball using one hand, which is usually bandaged.
Other Pages
- Italian variants
- Similar ball games
See also
In Spanish: Pallone para niños
