In Istria (Croatia), the game was passed down from generation to generation and was mainly played by residents of rural areas while grazing their cattle, which is why it was called the shepherd’s game. IPS owns a “pljočka” which was found in Istria on an archaeological site from ancient times. The exact age has not been determined. The first written traces of pljočkanje in Istria were found in the records of the bishop of Poreč in the 16th century, where he described the game “pljočkanje” as a game and pastime of the village people practiced during festivals and special gatherings.
In 2022 pljočkanje was registered in the UNESCO Register of Good Practices as part of the world’s intangible cultural heritage.
What is a “pljočka”?
“Pljočka” is the basic prop after which the game has been called “plojčkanje”. “Pljočka” is a flat stone the size of a palm, several centimeters thick. The weight differs depending on whether it is played by adults or by children. Today competitions are performed using standardized aluminum pljočke.
What is “pljočkanje”?
It is a game in which the “plojčkar” tries to throw the “pljočka” as close as possible to a smaller round stone that we call “balin” and thus get a punat/point. Pljočkanje belongs to the kind of sport of “accurate throwing” and is characterized by strength, game strategy and mental preparation. It is played in different disciplines: one against one, two against two, three against three or as a team.