Cyals

Cyals is the national sport of Utlia, it is a distance based ball sport governed by the CieLeague. Originating from the Eutan kingdom, the game revolves around trying to kick a ball into a goal from as far away as you can while also trying to maintain control over the ball.

History

Cyals was invented in 993 TT by a group of Ardey trying to kill time while working at the Shrine of Azgrar-Wycalt in Kelna-Ut. Originally the teams featured only 3 players each instead of the modern 6, this was due to the low amount of Ardey working in the shrine. The sport caught on through word-of-mouth, with it becoming a sensation in Kelna, eventually catching on around Utlia.

Originally a sport seen as being for working class citizens and commoners, Cyals has gone through booms in popularity throughout its lifetime leading to it becoming Utlias most played and watched sport. In 60 TT Carent Liamia declared it the national sport of the Unified Kingdom of Utlia, after the first Utlian Civil War occurred in 10 TT this doctrine remained untouched, with Yyme Braia supporting and reportedly playing it in his free time.

In 34 PC, cyals was introduced to international audiences after it was chosen as one of the team sport disciplines for the Attu Games. Utlia would finish 3rd, behind Liaia and Hongtongula. Cyals would return in the following iteration of the Attu Games, in 57 PC. It would, however, receive the most attention in the 80s PC, as a result of the "cyals diplomacy" of Rossan Dux Alessandro Spadi. A longtime admirer of Utlia, he was also a fan of the sport, and encouraged games between Rossan and Utlian teams. This would attract notable international attention, with cyals stadiums being opened in T'vaqi and Hapšaw in the years after.

Rules

Standard CieLeague gameplay involves two teams of six players on a 115 yard length field, called the cien. While on the cien no player is allowed to touch the ball with their hands or upper body. On opposite ends of the cien are large nets, to score in cyals a team must kick the ball into the opposing teams net, the specific score is based on the distance traveled by the ball.

Scoring

To make scoring less confusing, someone will usually take the role of score calculator and keeper to track the distance traveled by the ball and the current score. In contemporary Utlia it is common to see players carry along special score notebooks that contain helpful notes and tools for scoring.

Organization

Main article: CieLeague

Cyals is governed by the CieLeague, who also operate all official tournaments. Created in 124 TT by two Tinlea shoemakers, Yeri Oroen and Loom Yirk, the league is currently ran by Kercacery Lerel, who replaced the previous league head, Lyremen Insayl, after he was found guilty of murdering his wife in 38 PC. While initially only 4 teams were in the Cieleague, they have expanded considerably, now featuring 15 top level teams and dozens of smaller, local and lower level teams.

In 88 PC, the first international cyals league was organized in Utlia, with clubs from La Rossa, Kalam, Deysachin, MPLMoN and T'vaqi participating alongside Utlian clubs.

Unlike clubs, national teams are organized in coordination with the Attu Games, with national teams generally being allowed to use players who are citizens, long-time residents or diaspora from the nation they are representing.