Honestly, I stumbled onto Felicio Basketball last week when I was scrolling around online, feeling kinda bored with my usual routines. Saw the name and thought, “What the heck is this?” Looked simple enough from the pictures, just people throwing some kinda ball against a wall with markings. Figured it might be fun to learn while stuck indoors on a rainy day.
Step One: Cluelessness!
Started completely blind. Didn’t know the rules, didn’t know the equipment, nothing. Searched online with “Felicio Basketball beginner”. Found bits and pieces, mostly vague. Apparently it’s got roots in old playground games? Kinda like playing ping-pong but throwing a ball with your hands instead? Sounded weird, but simple. That hooked me.
What I needed:
- The Ball: Everyone called it a ‘Felicio ball’. Looks similar to a mini soccer ball – leather or rubber, about the size of a volleyball, maybe a bit smaller?
- The Wall: Any smooth wall works. Can draw lines with chalk or tape.
- The Court: Just need space in front of the wall. Lines mark zones for serving and scoring.
Took my old basketball, taped out lines on the garage door – the top tape for the serve line, the bottom one for the play line. Good enough for trying.
Step Two: Let’s Throw!
Okay, so the basic idea: you stand behind your back line and serve by throwing the ball against the wall so it bounces back past your front line towards the opponent. Simple, right?
First tries were terrible:
- Threw too hard: Ball rocket-launched off the wall, smacked the neighbor’s fence.
- Threw too soft: Barely kissed the wall, plopped down right near my feet.
- Completely missed the wall.
- Cat thought the bouncing ball was a new game and attacked my legs mid-throw.
Man, it feels super awkward at first. You’re throwing this ball straight at a wall with force, trying to make it bounce back just right. It’s not like basketball dribbling or passing. It’s more like… aiming a rebound precisely? Took me ages just to consistently hit the wall properly!
The Scoring Mess:
Got the basic serve down okay-ish. Now, rules. Best I could piece together from scattered stuff online:
- Serve hits the wall above the top tape, bounces back past your front line? Serve is good.
- Opponent catches the ball after one bounce? Point!
- Opponent fumbles? You score.
- Ball hits the ground before the front line? You lose the point.
- Ball lands outside the side tapes? Point lost.
Sounds straightforward on paper, but playing solo against a wall? Super confusing trying to simulate an opponent in my head! “Okay, that serve looked good, so if someone was there and dropped it… I guess I get the point?” Felt a bit silly talking to myself in the garage.
Step Three: Actually Kinda Fun!
After the initial frustration? Started to get into a rhythm. Found a nice middle ground with the throw – not a heave, not a lob. It’s like a firm, controlled push from your chest or shoulder. The focus needed is pretty intense. You’re completely zoned in on hitting that wall spot and watching the bounce.
It’s super accessible. Uses stuff you probably have. Minimal space needed. Doesn’t require crazy athleticism. Just focus and that satisfying thump when you hit the wall right.
Biggest Surprise? How much it drained me mentally! Playing against the wall for maybe 20 minutes straight, concentrating on every throw and bounce? More mentally exhausting than the gym! But kinda fun? Like solving a physical puzzle with every throw.
Why bother sharing? Seems like one of those things that fell through the cracks. Not widely known, easy to dismiss. Honestly, it was a good way to kill time without screens, got the blood moving, and kept my brain sharp. If you’re burnt out from work or need something simple to distract yourself, give Felicio Basketball a shot. Tape up a door, grab a ball that bounces well, and see how long you can keep a rally going against yourself. It’s harder than it looks, way more engaging than it has any right to be.
