PETECA / PORTUGUESE & SO. AMERICAN GAME

Peteca was brought to Brazil and other South American countries in the 1600’s by Portuguese explorers.  The natives played this unique game around their camps.  Later, Brazilians introduced Peteca to the first colonist and soon it became the national game.

 The first Brazilian Petacas were first made with a cornhusk filled with dirt and pebbles. It was then tied up on the top and multi-colored feathers from exotic Amazon birds. It is not only beautiful to look at, but the bird feathers help the Peteca to fly high up in the air!

 The Peteca game can be played in different ways, but in Brazil the school system wrote a rulebook so there could be school competitions.  Peteca is played over a net as low as a Volley Ball net or Badminton net.  “Pete Queador” (The one that handles the Peteca) can hit it many times, but cannot hit the floor.  Usually, six players are on each side, but it can be organized with any number of players up to 12 on each side.  To begin the game, each team makes a circle of players on their side of the net.  A player on the backside of the circle is selected to serve.  The serve does not have to go over the net on the first hit.  Serve rotation is similar to Volley Ball.  Each player / team will remake their circle after each point is made. 

 The objective of the game is to pass the Peteka between your team as long as you can without it touching the floor and then pop it over the net to the other team.  Strike the Peteca with one or two hands as you would a Volley Ball.

 ¨       How many times can your group hit the Peteca before it falls to the ground?  Remember to have all players count out-loud.

¨       Each time someone hits the Peteca, they have to call their own name.  Next round they have to call another player’s name.

¨       How many times can they hit the Peteca with their non-dominate hand?

¨       How far can players hit or throw the Peteca - Go for the Shot Putt Peteca record, etc.

¨       Ask the group to spell a long word.  Say a letter on each hit.  Start over if hits floor.

¨       Try Peteca Golf using Hula Hoops scattered around the area. Throw or Hit Peteca.

¨       Give the group a math problem, they solve it and then hit it that many times.