KEVIN MCGUIGAN-SCOTT
Sports Writer

Got a ball, some stones, and few friends? It's teelo time, baby.

Teelo may not resonate with a typical Canadian sports fan, but to the game’s massive following in India, it is a whole other ball game.

The best part of teelo is its simplicity. It can be played anywhere, at any time. All that’s needed is a tennis ball, seven flat stones and a couple pals.

While its origins trace back to India, this simple game is enjoyed across the globe, serving a training manual for the sport of cricket.

Each region has its own name for teelo, which comes from the Eastern Uttar Pradesh region of India, near the Nepalese border. I learned teelo from my dad, who grew up in this area. In Rajasthan, for example, it’s known as “pittu garam.” Whatever alias the game goes by, its essence stays the same: seven flat stones and a tennis ball.

The way teelo’s played is quite simple. First, players divide into two teams: the throwing team and the catching team.

A player on the throwing team stands a distance of roughly five feet away from the rocks, which are piled on top of one another. The objective is to knock the rocks over with the tennis ball. If the player misses, the catching team tries to catch the tennis ball after the first bounce. If they do, the thrower is out. Each person on the throwing team gets a chance to throw. Players keep throwing until someone catches the ball off the first bounce or they succeed in hitting the pile.

The real fun begins when the pile of stones gets hit. Chaos ensues as the throwing team tries to pile the stones back up and yell “teelo!” If they succeed, they are awarded a point.

As the throwing team scrambles to re-assemble the rocks, the catching team attempts to hit an opponent with the tennis ball. However, players cannot walk with the ball (almost like travelling in basketball) so they have to pass it off to their teammates until a player from the throwing team falls into their crosshairs.

If a player on the catching team hits an opponent before the stones are piled back up, he or she is considered out, resulting in the next thrower’s turn. Once everyone has thrown, the teams switch sides.

At its heart, teelo is a social game. It lasts for as many innings as you want — winning isn’t measured in points, but hearty belly laughs. The fun occurs in the antics of setting up the rocks while dodging an oncoming ball.

There’s also a sense of theatrics involved with teelo. Once tasting the thrill of piling those rocks up, it’s impossible to turn back. If you thought crack rocks were addictive, get a load of teelo.

There will be an invitational teelo tournament on May 7 from noon to 5 p.m. in the seminary fields behind the Education building. Check out the Saskatoon Teelo Association for more information.

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image: Saskatoon Teelo Association