How the Game is Played

The object of Jai-Alai is to hurl the ball against the front wall with such force, spin, and placement that an opponent will not be able to return it. The ball may touch the side wall, the back wall, and/or the floor and remain in play until it strikes the floor a second time. A player may take the ball off the front wall in the air, or he may elect to play it off the back wall after one bounce.

Any ball which strikes the front wall and the floor is fair. A foul is called when the ball strikes the red cushion, the overhead screen or the red areas (unless it has hit the front wall and then the floor) and it has touched a player or his clothing. Holding or juggling is a foul, which awards the point to an opponent.

When the game begins, post one serves to post two, the serve must strike the front wall first and land between arrows 4 and 7 (unless intercepted). The other arrows on the side wall are to aid the players in judging distance and angles of shots.

Games are played on the elimination system. A team plays until it looses and then goes to await its next turn on the court. Games are to 7 or 9 points. One point is awarded for each point scored during the first round. Starting with the second round, points double for the remainder of the game.

Once a team achieves game point, second place is awarded to the team with the next most points, and the same for third. In case of ties, playoffs determine second and third.