Escala i corda
Escala i corda (, "stairs and rope") is the most prestigious variant of Valencian pilota, and the only one apart from raspall to have professional players. History. The "Escala i corda" variant began around 1910, when the player Nel de Murla settled a 1.80 m high rope in the middle of a trinquet and thus divided the courtfield in two sides. Until then, the midfield was variable, using the "ratlles" of the Llargues variant. Ball. In "Escala i corda" a kind of ball called pilota de vaqueta (Catalan for "little cow ball") is used; it is a small  and extremely fast ball, very tough, and bounces well. The name comes from the fact that it is made of cow leather. The dimensions of the ball for adult games are 42 mm diameter, 138 mm circumference, and 42 gr weight. Rules. The objective of an "Escala i corda" game is sending the ball over a net by hitting it with the hand. When the opponent does not return it, the sending team wins the "quinze". Matches are played to 12 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 60 points for 12 games is the winner. Every "quinze" begins when the "feridor" player throws the ball to the opponent "dauer", who 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, only hitting it by hand; they may hit the ball in the air or when it has bounced once on the ground. This continues until one of the teams is not able to throw it back or a "fault " is committed . "Faults": There is also a way to get direct "quinzes", by throwing the ball to the gallery of the trinquet or the "llotgeta" and without the ball coming back. In some competitions this is not allowed, such as the Circuit Bancaixa league or special challenges. This is because this way of scoring is too easy for certain players and is regarded as less spectacular. Anyway, in one-on-one matches "galleries" are allowed. Players. Escala i corda may be played one-on-one, but it is mainly a team sport. Teams may be formed by two or three players, and  they may play in every combination (2 vs. 2, 3 vs. 3, or 3 vs. 2 if those three players are considered not to be as good as the other two); this way, bets are more interesting. The favourite team (the one organizers thinks is better) will dress in red, and the other one in blue. Players are called according to their position in the "trinquet". So, there is "dauer", a "mitger" and a "punter". There used to be also two special players called the "feridors" which are drawn by lots before the match begins to know who'll they  play for (the "punter" may be the "feridor" as well). Spectators. When entering into a trinquet, spectators may choose where to seat. Some, the most careful will watch the match from the "galleries" on the top of the walls, and the bravest or scholars may be allowed to seat in the "llotgeta". Some selected people will seat under the rope (1,80 m high). But the majority of fans will be on the "rest" midfield stairs. In media. "Escala i corda" is a short film directed by Jorge Bea in 2003. The plot deals with a ball game between two players  who risk much in the result on a personal level. The story is set in 1909.