Shah cultural game

Chapter one
The characteristic feature of shah cultural game

Historical origin of the game

The game of Shah cultural game was commonly used at Somali regional state and the
neighboring Dire Dawa and Oromia nationalities. The time and the place at which the
game was started in Ethiopia is not exactly known. But it is said that some Arabs around
the Fars Bay was playing a game of similar type that named Shatranz in Arabic and
Shatrant in Somali. Though no evidence was found about the transfer of the game either
from Fars to Ethiopia or from Ethiopia to Fars, it has a meaning in Amharic as a tabular
figured game.
Moreover the game is played by both sexes of all ages. These cultural games are played
for long at any available places such as under the tree, indoor or outdoor which is visible
to spectators.
The games are often common in eastern part of the country by farmers and pastoralists
and merchants after their agricultural or market activities during their spare time.
Different incentives and awards were given to the winner based on the culture of the area.
A winner for example around Jijgiga will be considered as a hero and he will be given the
daughter of a famous person in the area or leader of a tribe as his wife.
In the localities where there are nationalities of Somali and Oromo an object full of an
ash will be prepared before the game. After the game, the winner will paint the face of
the looser with the Ash. And if the winner losses the game in another round, he will also
face the same thing.
The game is now held in the national sport competitions by modifying some of its aspects
as it requires critical thinking. It will be a wonderful game at the national and
international level if it adds some sort of modernity.
Saha cultural game requires critical thinking and agility of the body like many other
indoor modern games. It initiates the nervous system of the body if it is coined with the
day to day physical exercises.

Rules and regulations of Shah Cultural

game
Rule One
Article 1: Definition/Meaning/
1.1 The game of Shah is a cultural game played by players of two teams by setting the
playing board at their middle while thinking critically on arranging the gravels in
three rows. A player picks the gravel of the opponent and prohibits him from
playing based on the rules of the game.

Rule Two
Article 2: Preparation and content of the playing materials
2.1 preparation of playing materials
2.1.1 The playing Board
The playing Board could be prepared from different materials found in the
environmental conditions. For example:-
From wood
From plastic
From a paper
From plastic and related objects
2.1.2 The playing Gravels
The playing gravels are made of materials found in the surroundings. For
example:-

From wood in a rectangular form

From plastics in a rectangular and flat form
From objects that are aluminum in nature in a rectangular and flat form
 2.1.3 Size and content of the playing Board
2.1.3.1 The length and width of the playing board is 40x40cm
2.1.3.2 The playing board has a form of the square divided in 3 squares from
big to small one
2.1.3.3 The length between each square is 5cm
2.1.3.4 The three squares should have different colors. These are:-
2.1.3.4.1 The first big square should have green color
2.1.3.4.2 The second and the middle square should have
yellow color
2.1.3.4.3 The third and the smallest square should have a red
color
2.1.3.4.4 The Playing board should have 8 vertical and 8
sidelines
2.1.3.4.5 There are three gravel storing stations at each
vertical and sidelines
2.1.3.4.6 All the lines should be colored with black colors
2.1.3.4.7 The storing of the gravels have stations

Figure 1: shah board

 2.1.4 Size and content of the playing gravels
2.1.4.1 The playing gravels of Saha has a width not more than
1cm
2.1.4.2 The playing gravels should have two different colors that
are easily visible for the two teams players and they should
not be similar with the playing board
2.1.4.3 The playing gravels should be 24 and additional 4x2
gravels with two different colors. And the gravels are
totally 32 in number.
Rule Three
The number of competing players and their dressing
3.1 The number of competing players
3.1.1 One team should only bring one player in the game
3.1.2 A player who starts the competition at once will go through the game up to
the end.
3.2 The dressing of the players
3.2.1 A player of the team should wear the cultural cloth of his/her locality during
the competition.

Rule Four
Article 4: Rules of the Game
4.1 The two players should sit parallel putting the playing board in between them.
4.2 The players will divide the playing gravels based on their colors
4.3 The two teams will start the game after the lottery chance of the referee. Lottery
will be held on the first and the third round
4.4 If a player gets a chance to put gravel, the other player will pick and take one
gravel.
4.5 A player who got a lottery first will put one gravel anywhere he needs and allows
his opponent to take his turn.
4.6 The players will put one gravel at each turn from the 12 gravels they have each
until the end.
4.7 The game will begin after each of the players put and arrange 3 gravels either
vertically or horizontally
4.8 The player who didn’t get the lottery chance will begin the game if the two
players are not able to put and arrange 3 gravels each with their technical
defensive plays.
4.9 The player who begins the game will pick one gravel from any place and the
second player will pick one gravel and gives the turn to the first player. And the
first player then pushes his own gravel into the free space.
4.10 It is possible for a player to pick up the gravel of an opponent player and score a
point if only it is possible to make a line with three gravels either vertically or
horizontally.
4.11 It is possible for a player to pick up the gravel of an opponent player with the
move of one gravel repeatedly
4.12 It is not possible for a player to make a move of gravel that couldn’t make a line
with three gravels either vertically or horizontally.
4.13 It is not possible for a player to pick up gravel if he forgets and continues his
move after making a line with three gravels either vertically or horizontally and
didn’t pick up the gravel of his opponent.
4.14 A player is forced to pick up a gravel of his opponent during the time that he
make a line with three gravels and found that he had blocked the opponent no to
make any move, he can pick one gravel of his opponent.
4.15 It is impossible to jump playing stations rather it is allowed to push gravels from
one station to the other.
4.16 A player is not allowed to change gravel after touching another gravel to make a
move.
4.17 The game of Saha is completed in three rounds. The winner will be the one who
scores more points on these three rounds.
4.18 A player will immediately be a winner if he/she picks two or more than two
gravels and blocks the opponent to take a move.
4.19 If the number of gravels of a player became below three, the game will be over
with the victory of the opponent.
4.20 During the game at which two or more gravels block each other and if a player is
not able to continue the game, the player who blocks the gravels movement picks
up one gravel of his opponent and the game will continue after that.
4.21 The time for thinking during the game is only 30 seconds
4.22 Five minutes break will be given after the end of each round

Rule Five

Article 5: point scoring and end of the game.

5.1 Point scoring
5.1.1 If a player wins one round, he will get two points.
5.1.2 If a player wins in all the given rounds, 2 points will be registered
for the winner.
5.1.3 A player will get two points if the opponent is absent for the
game
5.2 About End of the game
5.2.1 If there are no playing gravels remaining on the playing board after the
players has possessed on the gravels
5.2.2 If a player couldn’t come to the locality where the game will be held for
over 10 minutes, the player who is absent will lose the game.
5.2.3 If a player is suspended from the game on violating the rule/s/ of the game
5.2.4 If a player ceases playing with his will.
5.2.5 after the end of the three rounds of the game

Rule Six
Forbidden acts and the aligned penalties
6.1 Forbidden acts
6.1.1 Being violent on opponents’ players
6.1.2 Disgracing the referee and the decisions made by him/ her.
6.1.3 Not playing based on the rules of the game
6.1.4 Abusing, insulting, fighting or trying to fight with the referees
6.1.5 Abusing verbally or non-verbally the competitors, coaches, team leaders and
members of the committee. And fighting or trying to fight with them
6.2 Penalties
6.2.1 A player who violates the acts mentioned on the point 6.1.1 to 6.1.3 above
will be given an oral warning if he misconducts the acts for the first time
and will be given yellow card if he repeated that violation for the second
time. And if the player made that act again for the third time, he will be
given a red card and suspended from the game.
6.2.2 A player who violates the acts mentioned on the point 6.1.4 -6.1.5 will be
suspended from the game after given a red card.
6.2.3 A player who is directly suspended from the game may get penalties based
on the magnitude of his misconducts after his case is seen by the technical,
competition and protocol committee.

Rule Seven
Article 7: Duties and responsibilities of coaches, team leaders and
referees

7.1 Duties and responsibilities of Coaches

7.1.1 They should be present before 30 minutes to the game locality
7.1.2 When their players are needed, they should present them with their ID
7.1.3 They should attentively follow the games sitting with their players and
advise the players during the break time
7.1.4 They should advise and educate their players to play with the required sport
discipline during misconduct and problems.
7.1.5 They should obey and abide to the rules of the game
7.2 Duties and responsibilities of team leaders
 7.2.1 They should be present before 30 minutes to the game locality
7.2.2 They should advise the players to undertake competitions with the required
sport discipline
7.2.3 They should advise and educate their players to play with the required sport
discipline during misconduct and problems.
7.2.4 They are the first responsible bodies for any kind of disciplinary misconduct
7.2.5 They should obey and abide to the rules of the game

Rule Eight
Article 8: Duties and responsibilities of Referees
The referees of Saha cultural game are two in number, who serve as a
main referee and point scorer.
8.1 Duties and responsibilities of the main referee

8.1.1 The referee should be present before 30 minutes to the game locality
8.1.2 Controls the game
8.1.3 Checks and controls the appropriateness of the playing materials
8.1.4 Checks and controls the appropriateness of the names of players and their
playing card
8.1.5 Controls the symbols given to players by the coaches and their supporters
8.1.6 Controls the time given for thinking.
8.1.7 Performs different activities not listed in details.

8.2 Duties and responsibilities of the point scorer referee

8.2.1 The point scorer referee should be present before 30 minutes to the game
locality
8.2.2 Counts the playing gravels carefully
8.2.3 Registers the players by carefully looking at the competition cards and
carefully checking their names as to whether it is appropriate or not.
8.2.4 Lists the points in a bid to identify the winner. And signs and let the main
referee sign on the list.
 8.2.5 He replaces the main referee in a state of emergency and a point scorer will
be assigned for him in that case.
8.2.6 Conducts various activities that are not listed in detail
Rule Nine
Article 9: Don’t do’s of coaches, team leaders and referees and the
prevailing penalties
9.1 Don’t do’s for coaches and team leaders
9.1.1 If a team plays against a sport discipline, they should not go through
unnecessary dialogues and act violently rather he/she needs to report to the
responsible bodies.
9.1.2 Insulting or abusing and acting unethically with the referees
9.1.3 Aggravating the violent act of players instead of calming players who has
gone out of the sport discipline.
9.1.4 Verbally or non-verbally abusing the referees and members of the
committee. And fighting or trying to fight with them
9.1.5 Behaving and acting unethically.
9.2 Don’t do’s for referees
9.2.1 Showing impartiality to the decisions made between the teams.
9.2.2 Deciding in favor of a team after receiving bribes
9.2.3 Managing the game after using alcohols, Drugs and illegal stimulating
plants.
9.2.4 Talking without a manner to competitors, coaches, team leaders and other
officials and showing them disgrace
9.2.5 Showing disrespect to teams, team leaders and officials of the game
9.2.6 Deciding against the rules and regulations of the game
9.2.7 Abusing the competitors, coaches, team leaders and members of the
committee. And fighting or trying to fight with them
9.2.8 Behaving and acting unethically
9.3 Penalties
9.3.1 Penalties for coaches and team leaders
 9.3.1.1 A coach/team leader/ who violates the acts mentioned from 9.1.1
to 9.1.5 will get a penalty ranging from warning to suspension
from the game after seen by competition organizing committee.
9.3.2 Penalties for referees who are leading the game
9.3.2.1 A referee who violates the acts mentioned from 9.2.1 to 9.2.8 will
get a penalty ranging from warning to suspension from managing a
game after seen by competition and organizing committee
considering the national referee rules and regulations.
Rule Ten
Article 10: The End of the game
10.1 The end of the game
10.1.1 If the playing gravels are not able to move due a block by other gravels
10.1.2 If a player is suspended from the game on violating the rule/s/ of the game
10.1.3 If a player ceases playing with his will.
10.1.4 After the end of the three rounds, it will be the end of the game.
10.1.5 If the three gravels of a player couldn’t move and make a line either
vertically or horizontally the game will turn to an end.