Blitzball (minigame)

Blitzball is an aquatic ball sport played in Final Fantasy X and Final Fantasy X-2.

It is Spira's favorite and most dominant sport, allowing fans to take their minds off the ever present threat of Sin. Two years following the defeat of Sin and the ensuing Eternal Calm Blitzball was still played, however it now shared its publicity with a global-scale coin-game called Sphere Break.

The verb for playing Blitzball is "Blitzing" or "to Blitz".

Final Fantasy X
During the first match, Yuna is kidnapped by the Al Bhed Psyches in an attempt to force the Aurochs into surrendering the match. While Wakka plays, Tidus goes with the other Guardians to hunt down those who took Yuna. After rescuing Yuna from the Al Bhed, Tidus learns that she is half Al Bhed. After Lulu sends a signal to Wakka, he wins the game just in time, ending a 23-year losing streak without Tidus' help. The next Blitzball match is against the Spiran Champions, the Luca Goers. After the match, a group of Fiends are unleashed upon the stadium, creating chaos. Tidus and Wakka go off to fight the beasts, and are given the surprise aid of Auron. The rest of the Fiends are dispatched by Seymour's Aeon, Anima. Yuna, along with thousands of spectators, are left in awe of the power of Seymour's Summon.

Final Fantasy X-2
Besaid Auroras, busy with Lulu and Wakka's son, asked Gullwings to take their place in Blitzball Tournament.

Field and Players
Once the Water Sphere is filled a pair of triangular goals are suspended at opposing points inside the sphere's diameter (usually at the North and South horizontal points). The objective of the game is for the player and their team to kick the Blitzball, a dimpled ball about thirty centimeters in diameter, into the opposing team's goal while the opposing team simultaneously defends their goal and attempts to steal the Blitzball in order to make an attempt at the player's goal are while the player defends it and tries to steal the ball back.

Blitzball teams are made up of six players per side; three Fielders, two Defenders, and one goalkeeper. Team captains tend to have bands on their left arms as a sign of their status.

As Blitzball players advance through the ranks they learn many new tricks to improve both their offensive and defensive skills, called Techniques. Defensive techniques in Blitzball often include violent tackles. Some tackles are intended to poison, cripple, or knock opponents unconscious altogether. As substitutions are not allowed outside of halftime intermissions, the use of these techniques can offer teams a temporary numerical advantage. Special goal-shooting and goal-tending techniques can also be learned.

Game Duration
Each Blitzball game lasts for two five-minute rounds. The team with the highest score at the end of these rounds wins.

Advancing the Ball
Players can swim with the Blitzball down the field, however the opposing team's players can attempt a tackle to knock the ball from the player's hands. Similiarly the player can pass the ball between his/her teammates to advance however the opposing team are allowed to intercept a pass to claim it as their own.

To score a goal the Blitzball must be kicked, not thrown or carried, into the opposing goal.

Variations
By the time of the Eternal Calm the Blitzball rules were altered slightly,
 * If a team leads the game by seven goals at any point in the game the game is ended and the team automatically wins.
 * There are now eight players per team; three Fielders, four Defenders, and one goalkeeper.
 * There is only one five-minute round, with no break half time.

Physical Stats
Players gain experience with each game played, increasing their stamina, speed, endurance and attack along with other skills they need in order to become better players. Great players of the game are treated as sport heroes, receiving extra attention and drawing in crowds to their games. For recreation, while they're not training, players usually either occupy the hotsprings or participate in some "downtime activity" of their choosing.

Luca Stadium
By the time of the events in Final Fantasy X the Luca Stadium in the City of Luca is the sole surviving Blitzball stadium in Spira. Protected by the Chocobo Knights the stadium was a vital monument of hope for the world's populace who were constantly under the threat of the monster, Sin.

Zanarkand Stadium
A locale in Dream Zanarkand, it was the home stadium for the Zanarkand Abes, Tidus's and Jecht's team. It was destroyed along with the rest of the city during Sin's attack on the dream world. It's structure is similar to that of the Zanarkand Dome. It appears in a ruined, ethereal state within Sin, where the party fights the final battles of the game.

Side Quests
The player can play Blitzball anytime they want after the tournament in Luca. After the player leaves Luca, most save points will have a new option that lets them play in a league, tournament, or exhibition game. A league consists of 10 games,and the score system is: 3 points for a win, 1 point for a draw and 0 for a loss, also note that the top scorer in a league is subject to a prize as well as first, second, and third place. The team with the most points at the end of the league wins. A tournament is a single elimination match. Whoever wins advances to the next round. At the end of the tournament, a championship match is played. Whoever wins the championship match, wins the tournament. An exhibition is a friendly match against another team, which you can choose. The player won't receive exp or items in an exhibition match. The top scorer in a league is also subject to a prize.

Wakka's overdrives can only be acquired by playing blitzball, various items including megalixirs and the elusive dark matter can be also won in the tournaments and leagues of this minigame.

The player is in control of the Besaid Aurochs. There are 6 teams: Besaid Aurochs, Luca Goers, Guado Glories, Kilika Beasts, Ronso Fangs and the Al Bhed Psyches.

After the tournament in Luca, the player can scout players for stats and hire them. Press "Square" when you see someone, however not everybody is a blitzball player. They require a salary for each game they play. Scout level increases as your blitzball prowess increases, allowing you to view statistics and even abilities of a candidate.

Trivia

 * Three of the main characters in Final Fantasy X are professional Blitzball players of varying skill. They are; Tidus, Wakka and Jecht.
 * Blitz is German for Lightning, reflecting the quick nature of the sport.
 * In Another Story, Yuna notes that after much training from Wakka, she is able to hold her breath for over two-and-a-half minutes.
 * While in Final Fantasy X the player can actively participate in the game, in Final Fantasy X-2, the player take a more managerial role, whose tasks include training players, assigning formations and adjusting how hard they play during play. Instead of the players leveling up while on the field, the player must level up the Blitzball players with points received after each game. Training one stat may lower another.