History:
The name "oină" was originally "hoina", and is derived from the Cuman word oyn "game" (a cognate of the Turkish oyun).
The oldest direct mention comes from a diet manual of 1782 by medic István Mátyus, who talks about the health benefits of oina.However, it may have been attested as early as in 1364, during the reign of Vladislav, the Wallachian voivode.In 1899, Spiru Haret, the Romanian minister of education, decided that oină was to be played in schools in physical education classes. He organized the first annual oină competitions.The Romanian Oină Federation ("Federaţia Română de Oină") was founded in 1932 and was reactivated at the beginning of the 1950s, after a brief period when it was dissolved.Today, there are two oină federations: one in Bucharest, Romania and another one in Chișinău, Moldova.In addition to spreading oină in the regions of Romania, the Romanian oină Federation actively popularizes this game outside the country organizing demonstration tournaments in different countries (Serbia, Japan, Indonesia, England, Poland, Germany, India, Pakistan, Croatia, Ukraine).
Rules:
Oina is a traditional Romanian sport governed by the Romanian Oina Federation. It involves two teams of 11 players each, aiming to score points by hitting a ball with a stick and avoiding being hit by the opposing team. The game can be played in different formats with variations in rules and field dimensions.
The field is rectangular, with specific areas for hitting and playing. Equipment includes a wooden stick and a leather ball. Teams consist of 11 players and up to 5 reserves, with a maximum of 3 substitutions allowed during the game. Players are divided into "hitting" and "catching" roles, with points scored based on the distance the ball is hit and specific field areas.
The game begins with hitting the ball, followed by specific movement and scoring rules. Points are awarded for successful hits and catches. Players are categorized by age, with tailored rules for each group. Rankings are based on points, with tie-breaking criteria in place. Referees oversee the game to ensure adherence to rules. Oina has variations, including formats with 6 or 8 players per team, each with adapted rules.
