Raspall: Low-Bounce Street Handball
A school version of raspall, a traditional Valencian street handball game in which the ball is struck by hand almost at ground level and may bounce many times. Students work on striking with the palm, bending low, and learning about a traditional game.
How to play
- Narrow courts about 52 x 16 ft split by a center line (the ratlla). Teams of 2 or 3 on each side; 4 courts running at once.
- Technique (4 min) in pairs: strike with an open palm, front leg bent, and the arm sweeping from back to front as if skimming the ground.
- Serve: let the ball bounce and strike it from the back line to the other side. The ball may bounce any number of times, but it must be returned before it stops rolling.
- A point is scored when the other team fails to return the ball past the line, the same player hits it twice in a row, or it goes out over a sideline.
- Simplified traditional scoring: 15, 30, val (game point), game. First to 3 games wins. Matches last about 6 minutes.
- Rotation: winners move one court right, losers move left; switch partners halfway through class.
Rules
- Strike only with an open hand, never with a fist or foot.
- Always strike with bent knees; never dive on the ground.
- If two teammates go for the same ball, one calls "mine" so nobody collides.
- Never aim the ball at people; aim for open space.
Variations
Easier
Use a shorter court (40 ft), and players may stop the ball with the hand before striking it.
Standard
Unlimited bounces and open-palm strikes, 3 vs 3.
Harder
The ball must be struck before its third bounce, and serves are made with the non-dominant hand.
Adaptations
- Limited mobility: the student plays from a wheelchair with a larger ball and may stop the ball by hand before striking.
- Visual impairment: use a ball with a bell and a shorter court, with a teammate calling out each return.
- Lower skill: play cooperatively first, counting consecutive hits before switching to scoring.
Learning goals
- Strike the ball with the palm from a low, stable position.
- Learn about raspall as a traditional handball game and how it is scored.
- Communicate with teammates to cover the playing area.
Equipment for a class of 25
- soft balls: 8
- cones: 24
- chalk: 4
Teacher tip
Use soft rubber balls or old tennis balls so hands do not get sore, and alternate right and left hands. If possible, show a short raspall clip first so students understand the motion.
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