Uppies must touch the Ba against a wall in the south end of the town whereas Doonies must get the Ba into the water of the harbour to the north. A typical game can last for hours, with a heaving throng of players pushing and pulling to try to gain a few yards. When the crowd breaks, the man with the Ba will try to get as close to the goal as possible before being stopped. Numerous tactics are used. Players have been known to smuggle the Ba through winding lanes and even to attempt to reach their goal via the rooftops.
Spectators travel from around the world to watch.
Every year we bring out a supplement, in conjunction with the committee, which charts the history of the game. The players tend to know how to look after themselves, but spectators might be inclined to climb on to a wall.