Basque handball, or pelota, has been played in the Basque Country for eons. Without a doubt, the regulations and variations have undergone changes over the centuries, generally for the sake of spectacularity. Cestas (wicker baskets) were adapted to the more active pace demanded by audiences, courts were modified and frontons covered. What was originally a rural game, evolved into a spectacular event which drew crowds anxious to place wagers. Entrepreneurs built frontons in heavily populated areas to ensure attendance by a certain clientele as well as the future of their business. This transformation came about in the final thirty years of the 19th century.
    At about the same time, pelota was spread worldwide. Emigration to America gave rise to significant Basque communities in the principal cities of the New World. Highly devoted to maintaining customs and beliefs, the Basque people did whatever they could to keep their traditions alive. Therefore, they erected frontons in which to play the age-old game of pelota.
    Later, in the 20th century, other versions of Basque pelota were adopted. These, however, tended to forfeit some of the game's original qualities - especially the typical vigour of Basque games - while at the same time making them more accessible to a greater number of players.
    As was mentioned earlier, a number of different variations of pelota have evolved. Below is a summarised list.

   

• Direct games (juegos directos or jeux directs): games in which the players face each other separated by a net or a line over which the ball must pass. The only type of direct game played today, and rather seldom at that, is known as rebote.
  
  
• Indirect games (juegos indirectos or jeux indirects): games in which the ball is hit off a wall. This second group has many variations, depending on the type of court or gear used.
  

BARE-HANDED PELOTA

   Bare-handed, or pelota a mano, is the most popular variation of pelota among the Basque people.
   This version is particularly difficult, as ball weighing over 100 grams is hurled with the open bare hand.
   It is a fairly recent version, the rules laid down only in the last part of the 19th century. However, in relatively little time it has become the quintessential variety of pelota.
   In the period from 1910-1920 the most famous players were Urcelay, Chiquito de Azkoitia, Errezabal and Gárate.
   Champions over the years, in chronological order, have been Mondragonés, Atano III, Miguel Gallastegui, Barberito, Soroa, the Arriaran brothers, Ogueta, Atano X, Azkarate and the Reteguis.
   Lately bare-handed pelota has become extremely popular. New frontons have been built, new pelotaris (pelota players) are making a name for themselves and a number of companies now vie for sponsoring large-scale events which draw a great number of fans. The best-known names in bare-handed pelota today include Eugi, Unanue, Zezeaga, Titín III, Elkoro, Capellán, the Goñis, the Galarzas, Alustiza and Nagore.

Rebote

   This is the "king" of pelota.
   In rebote the ball isn't thrown directly against the front wall but rather goes from one designated area to another.
   Rebote is played in a level, rectangular 70 by 100-metre court. The playing area is divided into designated zones, each of which has a different role in the game.
   Team is made up of five players, each with different sized wicker gloves.
   Scoring is not unlike the system used in tennis, with a forty-point limit and fifteen-point partial scores.
   Rebote, unfortunately, is falling into disuse. Only a few teams from equally as few towns in Gipuzkoa and Iparralde exist today.

PALA

   In the beginning of what could be called the modern era of pala, the early nineteenth-century contests between the Eraso brothers and Goikoetxea and "Chiquito de Abando" are worth highlighting. These men were the first to play pala in the Euskalduna fronton in Bilbao.
In Donostia-San Sebastián this variety was first played in 1922 in the Urumea fronton.
   The pala, or bat, is made of beech wood and is 52 cm long, 10.5 cm in circumference and has a maximum thickness of 5.5 cm.
   Playing with this kind of bat involves several difficulties. The game requires a large court, a very tough ball, and great strength and skill on the part of the player. For these very reasons easier variations- using the short bat and paleta as hurling tools -are more commonly practised today.

CESTA

   When using either the hand or the bat as a hurling tools the ball has to be hit with tremendous power. However, in cesta the ball is scooped up in a curved wicker basket, where it is caught momentarily before being hurled towards the front wall.
   Originally the game was played with a glove which was used to protect the hand. The glove developed into a catching and throwing device, which led to the cesta. Initially, it was short and wide. Years of experience proved that the longer the cesta, the faster the ball could be hurled. Therefore the cesta became longer and more streamlined, giving rise to the two classical variations known as remonte and cesta punta.
   Remonte, a very graceful game, witnessed its golden age with Irigoyen, and later with Jesús Abrego, making his debut in 1924. This game is played in two frontons: Euskal Jai in Pamplona and Galarreta in Hernani.
   Cesta punta, the more spectacular of the two, is played in frontons the world over. In the Basque Country, however, this game is only played in Biscay, in addition to the summer championship games held in Iparralde.