Valencian frontó
Frontó () is a modified Valencian pilota version of the original Basque Pelota game. The name "frontó" refers both to the game, ball and the playing area. Unlike some of the more popular Valencian Pilota rules, "frontó" is an indirect game, that is, players do not stand face-to-face but share a common playing area. History. The first "frontó" in Valencia is dated in the late 1800s, and was called the "Jai Alai" (Basque for "joyful party"). On 12 June 1894 the newspaper "El Mercantil" announced one of the first matches with 4 Basque players. After its foreign  origins, Valencian "frontó" evolved with the use of a different ball, the "tec", so that it has more in common with Valencian pilota. So far, though it has not gained as much popularity as the Escala i corda or Raspall rule variations, the only version of pilota with professional players. Valencian and Basque Pelota players now meet in casual tournaments or exhibitions despite the use of different balls and different court sizes. Playing area. A Valencian "frontó" is a rectangular flat three-walled courtfield: The side wall has 10 numbered vertical lines used for players to stand in their positions  and to locate two lines: The fault line, at the 4, marks the closest place to the "frontis" where the serving ball may be bounced on the ground, and the pass line, at the 7, signals the farthest place from the "frontis" where the ball may bounce when serving. Spectators usually sit on stairs or chairs placed where the fourth wall would stand, after an area called "contracanxa", which is used to play openly bouncing balls. Under normal Valencian Pilota rules, public stands aren't separate from the playing area. Ball. Valencian frontó is played with a tec ball, made  of goat skin. The ball weighs , and has a diameter of . Rules. A "frontó" match may be played one-on-one or by teams formed by 2 players. As players use the same playing area, they must have different colored clothing to distinguish themselves. Usually, whichever player is the 'favorite' to win wears red, while the other player wears blue. Due to influence of the Basque Pelota now it is usual to use the Basque scoring, which goes to 22 points. The Valencian Pilota Federation, however, plays its tournaments under the traditional Valencian rules: A match is played until one  of the teams attain 40 points, counted 5 by 5, being each one a joc Every team, alternatively, serves for a whole "joc", which consists in 4 quinzes: 15, 30, "val" and "game". Whoever wins the "val" gets the "joc" and scores 5 points. A "quinze" begins when a player bounces the ball before the "fault line" and throws it to the "frontis" wall, after it rebounds it must pass the "fault line" without going over the "pass line". Every team hits the ball alternatively with their hands, sending it to the "frontis" over a 90 cm horizontal line after  a first bounce on the ground or when it is still in the air. If the ball passes the "pass line", the teams serve the ball again. The "quinze" is won when the opposing team can not throw back the ball according to these rules or commits a fault: Other versions