Bub cultural game

Chapter Two
The characteristic feature of Bub cultural game
Historical origin of the game
The game of Bub 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 were not exactly known. But it is said that some Arabs
around the Fars Bay were 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 Bub is a cultural game 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, 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. 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.
Bub 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 Bub Cultural game

Rule One
Article 1: Definition/Meaning/

1.1 The game of Bub 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
a bid to score on the opponent player. A player let the gravel of the opponent to
come in between his/her gravel.

Rule Two
Playing materials
2.1 preparation of the playing materials
2.1.1 The playing Board
The playing Board could be prepared from different materials found in
the environment. For example:-
From wood
From plastic
From cupboard
From aluminum
From a paper
From objects like cartoon
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
From other materials for the production of gravels

2.1.3 Size and content of the playing Board

Figure 1: Bub cultural game board
 2.1.3.1 The length
and width of the playing board is 40x40cm
2.1.3.2 The playing board is divided in 16 squares of which 4 squares
arranged vertically and 4 squares horizontally
2.1.3.3 The height of the board is 8-10cm and its color is white and the
color of the lines are black
2.1.3.4 The board has 24 gravel stations and one station that will help to
start the game, that is, it has 25 stations
2.1.3.5 The station at the middle having a diamond form is a starting
station.
2.1.4 Size and content of the playing gravels
2.1.4.1 The playing gravels should be 24 and additional 8 gravels and the
gravels are totally 32 in number.
2.1.4.2 The playing gravels should have two different colors
2.1.4.3 The playing gravels can be prepared either in a circular or
rectangular form. When it is prepared in a circular form, it will
 have 2cm diameter whereas it will have a 2cm length and width as
well as a 1cm height when prepared in a rectangular form.

Rule Three
Article 3: The number of competing players and their dressing
3.1 The number of competing players
3.1.1 One team should only bring a 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 12 for each
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 rounds
4.4 A player who gets a chance first will start the game by putting two gravels around
the diamond in the board or anywhere he wants to.
4.5 The other player on the other hand continues the game by putting two gravels
around the diamond in the board or anywhere he wants to.
4.6 The players will put one gravel at each turn from the 12 gravels they have each
until the end.
4.7 It is not allowed to locate gravel at the free space in the diamond area in the board
4.8 The game will restart if one player puts four gravels inside the diamond form.
4.9 The winner will be the one that scores more points on the three rounds. If the two
players come out with an equalizer on a round game, the game will be over. But if
it is a knock out game, one additional round will be added. If the players still goes
 out with an equalizer, one of them will be identified as a winner with a lottery
chance.
4.10 A lottery chance will be held on the first and third rounds. During the additional
4th round, the player who gets a lottery chance will start the game.
4.11 A player who has got the lottery chance will move gravel to the area around the
diamond form.
4.12 It is possible for a player to pick his opponents gravel by putting it in between
his/her two gravels either.
4.13 It is only possible for a player to pick up gravel of the opponent that comes in
between his/her gravels during the process of the game.
4.14 If a player forgets to pick up a gravel of his opponent during the game and if the
other player continues the game, it is not possible to pick the gravel after
remembering.
4.15 It is impossible to move with gravel that a player uses to pick the gravel of the
opponent if he can. But if he can’t take a move, he will stop the game at that point
in time.
4.16 The player who starts the game will pick a gravel of his opponent at the time that
there is no room for the opponent to take a move. Then after, the player who gets
a space will take the next move after that.
4.17 A player is allowed to move from one station to the other outside the diamond
area. But he/she is not allowed to jump from one line to other or from one station
to the other station.
4.18 The time for thinking during the game is only 30 seconds
4.19 A player is not allowed to change gravel after touching another gravel to make a
move.
4.20 The game of Bub will be completed in three rounds.
4.21 The game will be over if the playing gravels of a player ends or he/she is not able
to take a move
4.22 Five minutes additional time is given and the game will be over after the
additional time if the two player’s takes come and forth their playing gravel not to
win each other through blocking one another.
4.23 During the game at which a player picks up two or more gravels and block the
opponent, the game will be over. But if a player picks up only one gravel, he will
then pick one gravel. At this point if the opponent player couldn’t take a move,
the game will be over with his/her loss.
4.24 Five minutes break will be given after the end of each round

Rule Five
Article 5: The End of the game
5.1 The end of the game
5.1.1 If the playing gravels of the player are all picked up from the playing board
by the opponent player.
5.1.2 If the playing gravels of only one player are remaining on the playing board.
5.1.3 If the playing gravels of a player are scattered and are not able to move
when they are blocked by the gravels of the opponent.
5.1.4 If a player ceases playing with his will.
5.1.5 If a player is suspended from the game on violating the rule/s/ of the game
5.1.6 If a player comes after 10 minutes of the game time in the locality of the
competition, the player who is present on time will be the winner.
5.2 Point scoring
5.2.1 If a player wins one round, he will get two points.
5.2.2 If the players come out with an equalizer in one round, the players will get
one point each.
5.2.3 If a player wins two of the three rounds, 2 points will be registered for the
winner.
5.2.4 A player will get two points if the opponent is absent for the game

Rule Six
Article 6: Forbidden acts and the aligned penalties
6.1 Forbidden acts
 6.1.1 Being violent on opponents’ players and abusing them
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. A player who is directly
suspended from the game with a red card 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 and team leaders
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 card.
7.1.3 They should 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 calm down 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
of their players
7.2.5 They should obey and abide to the rules of the game

Rule Eight
Article 8: Duties and responsibilities of Referees

8.1 Bub cultural game has two referees in number, who work as a main referee and a
point scorer.
8.2 Duties and responsibilities of the main referee
8.2.1 The referee should be present before 30 minutes to the game locality
8.2.2 Controls the game with a full authority.
8.2.3 Checks and controls the appropriateness of the playing materials
8.2.4 Checks and controls the appropriateness of the names of players and their
playing card
8.2.5 Manages the game based on the rules of the game
8.2.6 Starts the game in accordance with the rules of the game
8.2.7 Controls the time given for thinking.
8.2.8 Controls the sign communicated from coaches and spectators to the players
during the game
8.2.9 Performs different activities not listed in details.
8.3 Duties and responsibilities of the point scorer referee
8.1.1 The point scorer referee should be present before 30 minutes to the game
locality
8.1.2 Registers the players by carefully looking at their competition cards and
their names
8.1.3 Counts the playing gravels carefully
 8.1.4 Lists the points in a bid to identify the winner. And signs and let the main
referee sign on the list.
8.1.5 He replaces the main referee in a state of emergency and a point scorer will
be assigned for him in that case.
8.1.6 Conducts various activities that are not listed in detail
Rule Nine
Don’t do’s for 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 the 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.