Galotxa
Encyclopedia
Galotxa is a variety of pilota
that is always played in the street, whether artificial or natural, practiced mostly in the northern counties of the Xúquer river.
In the evolution of the various Valencian pilota
forms, Galotxa would be immediate precursor of the Escala i corda
(a net in the center of the court, starting the game with the ferida, and the ball can only bounce once on the ground), but without the stairs nor llotgetes (in natural streets galleries neither exist).
There are only amateur players, although many professionals pilotaris (pilota players) of Escala i corda began in Galotxa, such as Álvaro
.
Furthermore, given the dominance of cars and streets in the neighborhood nuisance, some councils have built artificial streets for the practice of Galotxa. These streets simulate windows, balconies, lampposts, sidewalks (and even the sewer lids) of a typical street, but with the advantage of a more regularly pitch and without the interruption of a car that wants to enter the garage, or the elderly lady who returnes laden with shopping bags. Among others, there are artificial streets in Albuixech
, Benidorm
, Beniparrell
, Calp, Foios
, L'Eliana
, Montserrat
, Torrent
, and Xirivella
.
In the center of the street, and at a height of 1.80 m, is placed a net that divides the court in two halves, the dau and the rest. From this net, 15 steps towards the rest hangs another net, the Galotxa net. And two feet from the Galotxa net to the dau wall, reaching the left wall, it's drawn on the floor a rectangle called dau. Both the dau and the Galotxa net are only required when serving every quinze, and are ignored in other play situations.
The audience sits at the bottom of the street, on sidewalks, or under the midfield net. In the case of artificial streets there are staired public galleries in the top of the border walls, limiting the depth of the courts.
, 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 14 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 70 points for 14 games is the winner.
Every quinze begins when the "feridor" player throwing (not hitying) the ball to the opponent bot over the Galotxa net and falling on the dau. Then the bot 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. The quinze is won when the other team is not able to re-hit the ball over the net.
Also, however, a quinze is won when the other team committed a foul:
(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.
Players are called according to their position in the street. So, there is "bot", a "mitger" and a "punter". There are also two special players called the "feridors".
Valencian pilota
Valencian pilota is a traditional handball sport played in the Valencian Community. Its origins are not known, but seems to be related to the French Jeu de paume....
that is always played in the street, whether artificial or natural, practiced mostly in the northern counties of the Xúquer river.
In the evolution of the various Valencian pilota
Valencian pilota
Valencian pilota is a traditional handball sport played in the Valencian Community. Its origins are not known, but seems to be related to the French Jeu de paume....
forms, Galotxa would be immediate precursor of the Escala i corda
Escala i corda
Escala i corda is the most prestigious variant of Valencian pilota, and the only one, with Raspall, that have professional players.- History :...
(a net in the center of the court, starting the game with the ferida, and the ball can only bounce once on the ground), but without the stairs nor llotgetes (in natural streets galleries neither exist).
There are only amateur players, although many professionals pilotaris (pilota players) of Escala i corda began in Galotxa, such as Álvaro
Álvaro Navarro Serra
Álvaro Navarro Serra , simply known as Álvaro, is one of the main Valencian pilota professional players. He is one of the most reputed dauers due to his strong left hand and his professionality, and has got to be a member of the Valencian Pilota Squad...
.
Playing Area
Galotxa games are played on the street. This street should be straight and flat, about 50 meters long and 7 meters wide. But these are only guides, and usually people elect a street that fits more to their style of play.Furthermore, given the dominance of cars and streets in the neighborhood nuisance, some councils have built artificial streets for the practice of Galotxa. These streets simulate windows, balconies, lampposts, sidewalks (and even the sewer lids) of a typical street, but with the advantage of a more regularly pitch and without the interruption of a car that wants to enter the garage, or the elderly lady who returnes laden with shopping bags. Among others, there are artificial streets in Albuixech
Albuixech
Albuixech is a municipality in the comarca of Horta Nord in the Valencian Community, Spain.-External links:*...
, Benidorm
Benidorm
Benidorm is a coastal town and municipality located in the comarca of Marina Baixa, in the province of Alicante, Valencian community, Spain, by the Western Mediterranean....
, Beniparrell
Beniparrell
Beniparrell is a municipality in the comarca of Horta Sud in the Valencian Community, Spain....
, Calp, Foios
Foios
Foios is a municipality in the comarca of Horta Nord in the Valencian Community, Spain....
, L'Eliana
L'Eliana
L'Eliana is a municipality in the comarca of Camp de Túria in the Valencian Community, Spain.- Neighborhoods :* Casco Antiguo** Les Casetes** La Fonda** Estació* Almassereta* Montesol* Montealegre* MontePilar* Torre del Virrey* Pinaeta del Cel...
, Montserrat
Montserrat, Valencia
Montserrat , also known as Montserrat d'Alcalà, is a municipality in the comarca of Ribera Alta in the Valencian Community, Spain....
, Torrent
Torrent, Valencia
Torrent is a city located within the metropolitan area of the city of Valencia, Spain. It is the largest municipality of the Horta Sud comarca, with 79,843 inhabitants . It is situated some 7 km from Valencia city proper, to which it is connected via the...
, and Xirivella
Xirivella
Xirivella is a municipality in the Valencian Community, Spain. It borders the city of Valencia and the municipality of Mislata.It is connected to central Valencia by bus routes and a railway station...
.
In the center of the street, and at a height of 1.80 m, is placed a net that divides the court in two halves, the dau and the rest. From this net, 15 steps towards the rest hangs another net, the Galotxa net. And two feet from the Galotxa net to the dau wall, reaching the left wall, it's drawn on the floor a rectangle called dau. Both the dau and the Galotxa net are only required when serving every quinze, and are ignored in other play situations.
The audience sits at the bottom of the street, on sidewalks, or under the midfield net. In the case of artificial streets there are staired public galleries in the top of the border walls, limiting the depth of the courts.
Rules
The Galotxa games are played by two teams of three members each, some dressed in red and others blue (the red color is the favorite or the supposedly stronger), and the objective is the same as the Escala i cordaEscala i corda
Escala i corda is the most prestigious variant of Valencian pilota, and the only one, with Raspall, that have professional players.- History :...
, 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 14 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 70 points for 14 games is the winner.
Every quinze begins when the "feridor" player throwing (not hitying) the ball to the opponent bot over the Galotxa net and falling on the dau. Then the bot 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. The quinze is won when the other team is not able to re-hit the ball over the net.
Also, however, a quinze is won when the other team committed a foul:
- 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" or passes down the Galotxa net.
The balls
In the "Galotxa" a kind of ball called pilota de vaquetaVaqueta ball
The vaqueta ball is the kind of ball used to play some Valencian pilota variants: Escala i corda, Galotxa and Raspall. Its name derives from the fact that it's made of bull's skin, hence its black colour , this way the ball contrasts with the white colour of the trinquets' walls.- Traits :The...
(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.
Players
"Galotxa" is played by teams of three players. The visiting team dresses in red (as an act of deference, because historically the red color is the one of the winners or the favourite team), and the other one in blue.Players are called according to their position in the street. So, there is "bot", a "mitger" and a "punter". There are also two special players called the "feridors".
- The bot (also called as "rest", or "dauer") is the player closer to the walls or the limits of the court, hence, he's in charge of throwing the ball after the ferida and receiving the farthest thrown balls.
- The mitger (also called galotxer) 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.
- 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 usually he's a member of the team that does exclusively the ferida He's in charge of beginning every quinze by throwing the ball to the dau, over the galotxa net. This serve is called "ferida" (Catalan for "wound"), because the more difficult to play the "bot" receives the ball the more painful it'll be.