It is said that whenever people play catch, they are playing a game older than humanity, a game which dates to when their ancestors lived in trees. Others disagree, citing the many fundamental differences between Aipom catch and the human game. For instance, Aipom catch is typically played not with the hands, but with the tail; the hands being used more often to hold onto branches although occasionally lifted to catch a low throw. Aipom catch resembles dodgeball as much as catch, as the items thrown are not Flaaffyballs, but iron balls, king's rocks, and other heavy objects which can send an Aipom plunging to the ground.
The rules of the game are as follows: Players start on opposite trees at equal height. One Aipom throws the ball or rock at the opponent, who attempts to catch it. If they miss, the opponent is allowed to continue making throws until one is caught. Because the game is played in trees, multiple items are typically collected for use in this game, although some games require any Aipom who misses to retrieve the item and make a gentle toss back to the opponent. When a catch is made, play reverses, with the other Aipom being given the chance to throw until it is caught. The object of the game is not to make an easily caught throw, but to hit the opponent with one sufficiently fast enough to knock the other Aipom out of the tree. Players are allowed to grab onto branches when falling, but may not climb back up; whatever branch they land on is their perch until knocked down lower.
The first Aipom to hit the ground loses, and the other will do a victory dance to celebrate their triumph; the fun, however, is in simply playing the game.