How is it played? (Rules)

It was played mainly by boys.
The ball that was used, was made by ox ’s hair and the kids were using ox’s pee to give the appropriate shape. They also were using a long stick with one edge wider.
They were separated in two teams. Team #1 was in one line and team #2 was 20 meters away in the other line.
One player from the team #2 was in the first line and he was holding the ball. He threw the ball in the air and a player from the team #1 was hitting the ball towards team #2. The purpose was to hit one of the players from team #2. If the ball hit the target team #1 had one point, otherwise after three hits team #2 was taking the point. If the player from team #2 was catching the ball in the air, the player who hit the ball, would lose a point.
Later the game was played without the stick, and the team #1 was separated in line 1 and line 2, and team #2 was in the middle. The purpose was to hit with the ball one player by team #2. As in the first version, if a player from team #2 caught the ball in the air, he was changing with the player from team #1, who hit the ball.
The second version was and is played also in Greece and is called “mila” (apples).

Sport or Game History and origins:

The game was played in many cities and villages in Pontos, by Greek people of Pontos. After the Genocide, Greek people of Pontos were spreaded in cities and villages of Greece. It was also played in Greece after 1920.

Submitted by

Youth Coordination Committee, Panpontian Federation of Greece

Objective

Gazax topin, was a game played in many cities and villages of Pontos, by Greek people of Pontos.
It was one of the few games, which was played with ball. When the game came to Greece, after 1920, it was still used to played but without the stick.

Benefits

Physical: Physical condition improvement (strength, speed, endurance, etc).
Psychological: Psychological skills improvement (motivation, leadership, group cohesion, concentration, etc.)

Game’s materials

The ball that was used, was made by ox ’s hair and the kids were using ox’s pee to give the appropriate shape. They also were using a long stick with one edge wider.

Is it related to an specific event or festivity ( festivals, religious or pagan celebrations)?

It was played any time of the year, when the weather allowed it.