How is it played? (Rules)

We need a ball made of felt and plain piece of wood as a hitting bat for this game. There are two teams on an appointed field (we need just two appointed lines and their distance depends on the number of players). The one is the ‘hitting team’ and the other is the ‘throwing team’. The members of the ‘throwing team’ spread on the field. A player from the ‘hitting team’ has to hit the ball from the line in the direction of the field and then his or her aim is to reach the other line while the other team has to collect the ball and try to throw out the runner. If they manage to throw them out than the runner falls out and the game goes on with another player from the ‘hitting team’. If the runner manage to reach the other line he or she can decide to wait there or run back immediately (this case means more points for their team). So in some rare situations all members of the ‘hitting team’ is running on the field. In case that the ‘throwing team’ catches the ball in the air without bouncing then the to teams change their roles.

Sport or Game History and origins:

By the first mentions, the game was played by cavaliers and it refers and remembers to the castle-wars. The warriors fighting inside the castle try to get through the enemy in order to get help. The runner is the warrior who wants to get help, and the one who trows the ball is the spy of the enemy who wants to avoid the success of the castle defenders.According to written sources from the time of King Louis II of Hungary (1506-1526) cavaliers used to play this game with different rules. The game was flourishing in the end of the 19th century, it was really popular between the students of public schools. Later it spreaded back to the rural areas and became the game of the folk.

Submitted by

BARANTA TRADITIONAL HUNGARIAN MARTIAL ARTS ASSOCIATION

Objective

Playing Méta, the team can be successful if the members can work together in a coordinated manner. It has to be matched and to put its own ambitions somewhat in the background for the sake of the community.

Benefits

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

Game’s materials

A ball and a hitting bat.

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

No.