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Quiz about Jai Alai 101
Quiz about Jai Alai 101

Jai Alai 101 Trivia Quiz


Just a little introduction to the basics of the fast paced sport of Jai Alai.

A multiple-choice quiz by Rowena8482. Estimated time: 4 mins.
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Author
Rowena8482
Time
4 mins
Type
Multiple Choice
Quiz #
320,140
Updated
Dec 03 21
# Qns
10
Difficulty
Average
Avg Score
7 / 10
Plays
451
Last 3 plays: alan56 (9/10), BigTriviaDawg (10/10), Guest 76 (2/10).
Question 1 of 10
1. Where in the world did the sport of jai alai originate? Hint


Question 2 of 10
2. The wicker basketry-work scoop shaped playing equipment is worn strapped to the forearm during a game. What is the correct term for this piece of equipment? Hint


Question 3 of 10
3. A jai alai court is divided by 14 parallel lines running across the floor from side to side. When the ball is served, it must strike the front wall of the court, and then hit the floor between two of these lines. Which two lines are these? Hint


Question 4 of 10
4. What name is used for the venues where jai alai is played professionally in the United States? Hint


Question 5 of 10
5. Jai alai is always played right-handed, with the wicker playing equipment strapped to the right forearm. Why is this? Hint


Question 6 of 10
6. A traditional jai alai ball is made of very hard rubber, and then covered in a specific outer skin. What is this skin made of? Hint


Question 7 of 10
7. Has jai alai (under the name Basque pelota) ever been an official Olympic sport?


Question 8 of 10
8. The first-ever purpose-built jai alai venue in the United States was constructed in 1904. Which event's celebrations was it part of? Hint


Question 9 of 10
9. In a doubles match in jai alai, what names are used to distinguish between the two players on a team? Hint


Question 10 of 10
10. The world speed record for a ball game was set by jai alai player Jose Ramon Areitio of the United States, using a traditional pelota at 302 kilometres per hour. This record stood until it was broken in 2009 by a player of a different sport. Which sport took the record with a recorded ball speed of 328 kilometres per hour? Hint



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Most Recent Scores
Mar 17 2024 : alan56: 9/10
Feb 28 2024 : BigTriviaDawg: 10/10
Feb 21 2024 : Guest 76: 2/10
Feb 11 2024 : Guest 108: 1/10
Feb 03 2024 : Guest 172: 6/10

Score Distribution

quiz
Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts
1. Where in the world did the sport of jai alai originate?

Answer: The Basque region of Spain

Jai alai actually means "merry festival" in the Basque language, and was first used for this derivative of the game "pelota vasqua" or Basque pelota, when it was introduced to Cuba. The name comes from the times when the game was played on festival days, often using the walls of the church as part of the playing area.
2. The wicker basketry-work scoop shaped playing equipment is worn strapped to the forearm during a game. What is the correct term for this piece of equipment?

Answer: Cesta

The cesta, often called a "cesta-punta" in Spanish speaking countries, is made of woven wicker and is between 30 and 70 centimetres long. It was designed and first made in the 19th century by a Basque player named Gantchiqui Diturbide. The Basque word for a cesta is a "xistera".

The small hard ball used is called a pelota. The top jai alai players have their cesta specially handmade individually to their exact specifications. A cesta must be no longer than 60cm measured straight, and 110cm measured around the curve. Traditionally the wickerwork is woven of reeds and the framework is made of steamed chestnut wood.
3. A jai alai court is divided by 14 parallel lines running across the floor from side to side. When the ball is served, it must strike the front wall of the court, and then hit the floor between two of these lines. Which two lines are these?

Answer: Four and Seven

The lines are simply known by their numbers, 1-14, with line one being closest to the front wall, and line 14 being nearest the back wall of the court. For a service to be in, it must rebound from the front wall and hit the ground between lines four and seven. If it lands anywhere else it is called underservice or overservice. An under or over serve means the point is given to the opposing player(s). The object of the game is to hurl the ball so that it bounces back from one of the walls, or the floor of the fronton in a way that makes it hard or impossible for your opponent to return the shot. Game play is similar to the game of squash.
4. What name is used for the venues where jai alai is played professionally in the United States?

Answer: Fronton

The word fronton was first used to describe a jai alai court in the 1890s, and derives from the Latin word frons for front, via frente (meaning forehead).
Frontons are venues with indoor purpose built courts. In other parts of the world, traditional jai alai courts, particularly those outdoors, are called canchas. Sometimes the building with several courts is called the Fronton, and each court therein is called a Cancha.
5. Jai alai is always played right-handed, with the wicker playing equipment strapped to the right forearm. Why is this?

Answer: The right hand side of a jai alai court has no wall and is open

A jai alai court has three walls; the front, the back, and the left hand side. A line about a metre above the floor is marked on the front wall and the area below that line is out of bounds, as is the floor to the right hand side of the court.
6. A traditional jai alai ball is made of very hard rubber, and then covered in a specific outer skin. What is this skin made of?

Answer: Goatskin

Jai alai is sometimes called the "fastest sport in the world" because an expert player can use their cesta to hurl the ball at speeds well in excess of 100 miles per hour! There have been speeds of over 180mph recorded for a traditional rubber cored, goatskin pelota.
Modern players sometimes use ordinary rubber or tennis balls too, as the life of a ball in play is very short. The goatskin covering of a pelota will only last about 20 minutes during match play before the forces on it cause it to split.
7. Has jai alai (under the name Basque pelota) ever been an official Olympic sport?

Answer: Yes

In 1900, at the Paris Olympics, two teams competed for the Basque pelota title.
The sport was also played at three more Olympic Games in 1924, 1968, and 1992, but only as a display sport, not an official event.
The 1900 Olympic title was won by the Spanish, and was Spain's first-ever Olympic gold medal.
8. The first-ever purpose-built jai alai venue in the United States was constructed in 1904. Which event's celebrations was it part of?

Answer: St. Louis World's Fair

The first fronton in the United States opened in May 1904, during the celebrations of the World's Fair in St. Louis. It was used for just two months before later being turned into an ice skating rink known as the Winter Garden.
9. In a doubles match in jai alai, what names are used to distinguish between the two players on a team?

Answer: Frontcourt and backcourt players

The frontcourt player is the one who serves the ball at the start of each point. Players from the opposing team must catch and return the ball before it can bounce more than once, and using "one smooth fluid motion". Holding and pausing type tactics are not allowed and the referee will call a foul if he deems a player to be taking too long to return a ball. Players must also try not to obstruct members of the opposing team as they go for the ball, and again, the referee can call an interference foul if he thinks they are deliberately blocking playable balls.
10. The world speed record for a ball game was set by jai alai player Jose Ramon Areitio of the United States, using a traditional pelota at 302 kilometres per hour. This record stood until it was broken in 2009 by a player of a different sport. Which sport took the record with a recorded ball speed of 328 kilometres per hour?

Answer: Golf

Canadian golfer Jason Zuback made the phenomenal shot of 328 kilometres per hour for an episode of the television show "Sports Science" in 2009, and took the world record for ball speed in sport.
The Basque people still promote jai alai as "the fastest sport in the world" though, and many thousands of dollars change hands in betting on the sport each week, particularly in the United States.
Source: Author Rowena8482

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor Nightmare before going online.
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