Cup-and-ball

"Balero" redirects here. It is not to be confused with Bolero.

Cup-and-ball

AKA ball in a cup or balero
Typical cup-and-ball
Players	1
Age range	3+
Setup time	None
Playing time	About 30 seconds to a few minutes per round
Random chance	Low
Skill(s) required	Hand-eye coordination
Primarily played by young children.

Cup-and-ball (or ball in a cup) is a traditional children's toy consisting of a wooden cup with a handle, and a ball which is attached to a string, which is attached to the cup. It is popular in Spanish-speaking countries, where it is called "boliche". The name varies across many countries — in Argentina, Ecuador, Colombia, and Mexico it is called "balero"; in Spain it is "boliche"; in Brazil it is called "bilboquê"; in Chile it is "boliche" or "emboque"; in Colombia it is called "coca" or "ticayo"; and in Venezuela the game is called "perinola".^[1] A variant game, Kendama, known in English as Ring and Pin, is popular in Japan.

Construction

A cup-and-ball consists of a small ball (usually made of wood) connected to the handle of the cup by a string of 35 to 40 centimeters. The cup is shaped to fit the ball.^[1][2]

History

The cup-and-ball has its origins in Mexico in the sixteenth century. The game was loved by King Henry III of France. This frivolous monarch was often seen playing in public. After his death, the game went out of fashion. For 100 years the game was only remembered by a small number of enthusiasts such as the Marquis de Biévre.^{[citation needed]}

The game had its golden age during the reign of Louis XV — among the upper classes people owned baleros made of ivory. Actors also sometimes appeared with them in scenes. The game was very popular in the 18th and 19th centuries.

Gameplay

A typical Mexican cup-and-ball.

The main goal of the game is to get the ball into the cup. While the concept is very easy, mastering the game sometimes requires many hours of practice. To play, the player holds the cup by the handle and lets the ball hang freely. The player then tosses the ball upward by jerking the arm holding the toy, attempting to catch the ball in the cup.

There are several styles of gameplay such as “la simple,” “la doble,” “la vertical,” "la mariquita,” “la puñalada,” and “la porteña.” Some tricks that can be done are “capirucho,” “por atrás,” and “media vuelta.”^[1]

Rules

• The player must not use any body part other than their handle-holding arm to catch the ball.
• The player must not purposefully bounce the ball off their body to change its trajectory.

In popular culture

• The Family Guy episode, "The Fat Guy Strangler," included a humorous TV commercial featuring the toy, saying it has been Mexico's favorite toy for 340 years. The gag was referred to in a later episode, "Padre de Familia."
• The toy was parodied in The Simpsons episode "Marge Be Not Proud".
• In the "Sign Language!" episode of Oobi, a deaf girl named Amy impresses Oobi and Kako with her technique, to the point of being dubbed "Cup-Ball Queen." She takes a deep breath, then gets the ball into the cup with a brusque flick of her wrist.
• In the Blackadder episode "Bells", Lord Percy asks Bob if he'd like to play a game of cup-and-ball. Later in the episode Queenie is seen playing with a cup-and-ball.
• In The Wise Man's Fear, a story within a story tells of Jax, a boy who is shown many wonderful things, none of which make him happy. Another character interrupts the tale: "Ball and cup doesn't make anyone happy," Marten muttered. "That's the worst toy ever. Nobody in their right mind enjoys ball and cup."

See also

• Kendama — a Japanese variant of the game.

References

1. ^ ^{a b c} Civila. "El balero" (in Spanish). Open Publishing. http://www.educar.org/infantiles/Juegos/tradicionales/balero.asp. Retrieved 2008-09-03. 
2. ^ "Balero" (in Spanish). Open Publishing. http://www.juguetesmexicanos.com/balero.htm. Retrieved 2008-09-03.