We will be playing Knattleikr: the Viking ball game!

Bude se hrát Knattleikr: vikingská míčová hra!

Knattleikr: Viking ball game will be played at Libušín!

This game is mentioned in Icelandic sagas. (especially Grettis saga, Gísla saga, Egils saga and Eyrbyggja saga) After searching for rules, both historical and adapted from various re-enactors, we decided to create our own rules. After many games where we tried this or that, we consolidated the elements to make the game fun and balanced.

Field size: Instead of goals, there are hooks on opposite sides (like in rugby but smaller), or shields hung on a pole. The field has no fixed boundaries. The hooks are placed on the longer side, usually 40 meters apart, but the size is not essential. Two teams of six people play against each other. Their equipment consists of a bat (a triangular bat). Each player is paired with one opponent. This player can be stopped in any way, or in popular terms, fouled. You can hold him, take the ball and bat from him, he must not have the bat with him, but only snatch it and throw it away. Once the player does not have the bat, he may not continue the game until he holds it again. If he held the ball, he must let it go.

We must behave towards other players according to the etiquette of modern sports, such as football.

Players try to score by making the ball fly through the upper half of the hook from the direction of the center of the field (or hit the shield) and only after hitting the bat. It is also played behind the hooks. The ball must not be moved (3 manipulation steps are allowed). Players may pass the ball to each other, but only as in rugby, that is, back or to the side, never forward. The ball can only be moved forward by hitting it with the bat.

A wooden ball was also used as a ball, but it is completely unsuitable and very dangerous. A cricket ball (it is leather, therefore historically acceptable) has proven itself. In the gym, however, we play with a ball wound from ropes.

Contact person for registration for participation in Knattleikr:

Dan Troll Juríček, Krohis group, +420 736 296 224