Valleyball

[The National Game of Dementia]
This game uses an average football-sized football and is played between two teams of any size. Each team stands on a cliff on either side of a valley and tries to pass the ball to the other cliff in at most 3 touches. The game also occasionally involves a net. [See note on net below.] When a team is unsuccessful in passing the ball in 3 touches to the other cliff or the ball doesn't reach the said cliff and rolls down into the valley, the opposing team scores a point. A team wins when its score reaches either 73 with the other team at least 6 points behind or 121 with the other team at least 4 points behind. Failing both, scores are reset and the game starts over again. An annual Dementia-wide Valleyball competition is held where teams vie fiercely for the Catas Trophy. It is a significant event in Dementia and a national holiday is declared for the day of the final.

Net: When it rains on cliffs, rainwater trickles down them forming streams and waterfalls and on flatter valleys, collects forming ponds or small lakes. If water supply is perennial, chances are good that acquatic life forms appear and flourish in these water bodies. Chances are also good that neighbouring villagers notice this and try to make a living out of fishing here. While amateurs sit by the edge with fishing rods with plump tasty worms attached to hooks, the more professional ones set up fishing nets to reap in the abundance. When a valleyball drops into the valley, chances again are also good that the ball finds its way into a net. On such occurences, the player of the team sent down to fetch the ball must dive into the lake and rescue the ball risking life and limb. However, with the advent of modern diving gear, these risks have greatly reduced.