Rules
Chapter 1
Lesson : Games of gain-ground
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Games of gain-ground


Introduction: this is an introductory lesson on rules of Games of gain-ground.

Games of gain-ground are team sports which happen with a small ball or a balloon. They happen often outdoor on a "ballodrome" but can also be practised indoor.

Among these games, longue paume is the most known because it takes place with rackets. Rules change little according to the concerned sport but the basic principles remain from a game to the other one.

Games of gain-ground are characterized in particular by the use of "chasses" which indicate the limit between both teams.

Points count by "fifteen": 15, 30, 40 and set, as in the tennis today.

"ballodrome" for Ballon au poing

General principles edit

The teams are separated on the ground by a line ( "la corde" in french (the rope) ) which is mobile during the party.

The purpose of the game is to gain ground by moving the rope. To do it, we try to make the ball " die " in the opposite camp.

The team which receives has to send the ball back of flight or after a bounce with ban to be made by passes.

There are 2 manners to score points =

In a positive way, by sending the ball or the balloon behind the ledger line
In a negative way, when the opponent makes a fault (for example, the ball goes out of the ground)
  • The player has to send the ball back of flight or after a bounce, and over the rope.
  • A ball which does not cross the rope is "fault" and gives one "fifteen" to the opponent.
  • A ball which goes out directly of the ground on sides is "fault" and give one "fifteen".
  • We cannot make of passe and a ball struck by 2 players of the same team is "fault" and give one "fifteen".
  • A ball must be played by the racket, by the hand, by the drum or the fist. A ball which touches the body of the player (other than the parts planned in the game) is "fault" and give one "fifteen".

Service edit

Deliverer has to throw the ball (or the balloon) of flight and exceed the distance which separates the line of fire and the rope. After involvement(throw-in), the ball can be "rechassée" (return) on both sides of the rope, the exchanges which can continue either of flight, or in the first jump.

The two chasses (red and blue)

The chasses or the ratlles edit

We use two chasses (one red and one blue) to mark the places where the ball "died". A ball died when it made 2 bounces of which at least 1 in the ground and was not affected. She cannot be anymore sent back and this dead ball which keeps running in the ground gains ground and must be arrested (we say " cut ") by a player as soon as possible!

In Llargues, we have the ratlles ( lines in Valencian language ), the signals set in the place where the ball has been blocked every quinze.

Notes and External links
  • Luc Collard, Longue paume et ballon au poing, revue EPS, n° 274, p. 72-75 , nov-déc 1998
  • M. LAZURE, Les jeux de balle et ballon picards, Amiens, (Sports de France), p. 96. , (1981)