Chave is a Galician game played with teams of 2 players each using a chave (axe) and pellos (iron disks). The goal is to throw the pellos and hit either the reel or axe of the chave, scoring 8 points, or get closest to the chave to score 1 point. Play continues as players take turns throwing pellos until one team reaches the winning point total, usually 30 points. Safety precautions are emphasized for both players and spectators during game play.

1. CHAVE A GALICIAN GAME October 2010. Wernigerode (Germany) IES SAN TOME DE FREIXEIRO VIGO - GALICIA SPAIN

2. There are many different types of “ Chave ” and many different ways of playing, depending on the region. Here we are going to play with the Ourense variation which is very popular among locals on Sundays. CHAVE IES SAN TOME DE FREIXEIRO A GALICIAN GAME VIGO – GALICIA SPAIN

3. This Ourense chave is an axe with two reels which turn around horizontally. The smallest reel is placed on top and the biggest is placed at the bottom. CHAVE IES SAN TOME DE FREIXEIRO A GALICIAN GAME VIGO – GALICIA SPAIN

4. PLAYERS & EQUIPMENT It is played by 2 teams of 2 players. In each turn, the player throws 1 “ pello ”. The pello is a cylindrical iron disk that has 6 cm. in diameter and 2 cm. thick, weighing less than 400 g. CHAVE IES SAN TOME DE FREIXEIRO A GALICIAN GAME VIGO – GALICIA SPAIN

5. PLAYING AREA The playground must be a flat clay or grass alley of 8 m. long for 3 m. wide. The “ chave ” is placed at the end of this alley. There must be a parapet in order to stop the disks that don’t hit the “ chave ”. CHAVE IES SAN TOME DE FREIXEIRO A GALICIAN GAME VIGO – GALICIA SPAIN

6. THE GOAL OF THE GAME The players try to hit the “chave” (and make it sound and turn! -or not, the score is the same). The player who hits either the reel or the axe scores 8 points and the player who gets closer to the chave scores 1 point. CHAVE IES SAN TOME DE FREIXEIRO A GALICIAN GAME VIGO – GALICIA SPAIN

7. The teams throw the pello in turns, one player one disk each time: The first player of team A must throw a disk or pello from behind the throwing line. Then it is the turn for the first player of team B and so on. The referees take note of the scores. The disk must be thrown forward in a rather horizontal parabola. CHAVE IES SAN TOME DE FREIXEIRO A GALICIAN GAME VIGO – GALICIA SPAIN HOW TO PLAY

8. THE WINNER IS ….. The winner team is the one that first scores 30 points or some other amount agreed before. CHAVE IES SAN TOME DE FREIXEIRO A GALICIAN GAME VIGO – GALICIA SPAIN

9. WARNING Players and audience must be extra careful. The audience must keep BEHIND the players. CHAVE IES SAN TOME DE FREIXEIRO A GALICIAN GAME VIGO – GALICIA SPAIN The players must wait until all of them have thrown their pellos to start a new round. Nobody can stand behind the chave while the game is being played.

10. FRIENDLY & FAIR PLAY CHAVE IES SAN TOME DE FREIXEIRO A GALICIAN GAME VIGO – GALICIA SPAIN

11. Our gratitude to: The students of 4º ESO A for playing the chave with us. IES do Castro, Vigo, for lending us the chave to play at our school. IES Vilar Ponte, Viveiro, especially the P.E. Department for lending us the chave to be taken to Germany. CHAVE IES SAN TOME DE FREIXEIRO A GALICIAN GAME VIGO – GALICIA SPAIN