Galotxa

Galotxa (Valencian pronunciation: [ɡaˈlɔtʃa]) is a variety of pilota that is always played in the street, whether artificial or natural, practiced mostly in the northern counties of the Xúquer river.

In the evolution of the various Valencian pilota forms, Galotxa would be immediate precursor of the Escala i corda (a net in the center of the court, starting the game with the ferida, and the ball can bounce only once on the ground), but without the stairs nor llotgetes (in natural streets galleries neither exist).

Among others, there are artificial streets in Albuixech, Benidorm, Beniparrell, Calp, Foios, L'Eliana, Montserrat, Torrent, and Xirivella.

In the center of the street, and at a height of 1.80 metres (5 ft 11 in), is placed a net that divides the court in two halves, the dau and the rest.

In the case of artificial streets there are staired public galleries in the top of the border walls, limiting the depth of the courts.

Every quinze begins when the "feridor" player throwing (not hitying) the ball to the opponent bot over the Galotxa net and falling on the dau.