Indigenous North American stickball, also known as Choctaw Stickball, is a team sport played on open fields where teams of players with two sticks each strive to control and propel a ball toward the opposing team’s goal. This ancient sport shares similarities with lacrosse and holds a significant place in the cultural traditions of various Native American tribes, including the Cherokee, Chickasaw, Choctaw, Muscogee, Seminole, and Yuchi.
In Choctaw Stickball, opposing teams employ handcrafted sticks, often referred to as “kabocca,” and a woven leather ball called “towa.” The primary objective is to advance the ball down the field toward the opposing team’s goalpost solely using sticks, without ever touching or throwing the ball with their hands. Players score points by skillfully hitting the opposing team’s goalpost with the ball.
Throughout history, stickball has been instrumental in settling disputes nonviolently among Native American tribes. While lacrosse is a tradition more commonly associated with tribes in the Northern United States and Canada, stickball has continued to flourish in Oklahoma and select regions of the Southeastern United States, where it originated.
While the first written records of stickball only emerged in the mid-18th century, there is substantial evidence to suggest that the game has ancient roots, with centuries of history preceding documented accounts.
Historical Significance:
Traditional stickball matches were elaborate affairs that often extended over several days. These games would draw participants ranging from 100 to a staggering 1,000 individuals from opposing villages or tribes. The matches unfolded in open plains situated between two communities, and the goals could vary greatly, from large rocks and trees to wooden posts. Remarkably, there were usually no out-of-bounds rules, and the ball could never be touched with bare hands. The duration of play stretched from sunrise to sunset.
The game began with a ceremonial toss of the ball into the air, inciting a frenzied scramble as players from both teams jostled to seize possession. Given the sheer number of participants, these games often resembled a wild mob, with players swarming the ball across the field. Passing the ball was considered a skillful maneuver, while evading opponents was seen as a courageous tactic.
Medicine men served as coaches, guiding the players, while women primarily fulfilled roles such as providing refreshments to the players and engaging in betting on the sidelines. Stickball played a vital role in not only resolving disputes and maintaining peace among tribes but also in training young warriors for combat, offering recreational enjoyment, and featuring prominently in tribal festivals.
In the mid-17th century, Jesuit missionary Jean de Brébeuf documented the Native American game after witnessing the Wyandot people engage in it. Although he expressed disapproval due to the game’s violence, it captivated many English colonists who soon adopted it.
In a notable historical event, the Ottawa tribe used a game of stickball in 1763 as a clever ruse to gain entry into Fort Mackinac. They invited soldiers from the fort to watch the game in honor of the king’s birthday. While the soldiers enjoyed the festivities, the Ottawa players seized the opportunity to rush the fort and engage in a brutal conflict.
The game of stickball also piqued the interest of Canadians after the Caughnawaga Indians demonstrated it in Montreal in 1834. Subsequently, William George Beers codified the aboriginal game into modern lacrosse in 1856.
It was only in the mid- to late-20th century that stickball experienced a revival across the southern region of North America. Simultaneously, it transformed into a street game in the Northeastern United States.
Tribal Teams:
While the size of stickball matches may have diminished over time, the essence of the game remains largely unchanged. Today, stickball continues to unite tribal communities on schoolyards and college campuses throughout the southern United States. Many southeastern tribes now witness a resurgence in stickball, with more games being played during tribal festivals and tournaments. Notably, several tribal tournaments are held annually across the nation, such as the Jim Thorpe Games and the Choctaw Labor Day Festival. The pinnacle of Indigenous stickball competition, the World Series, is hosted by the Mississippi Band of Choctaws in Philadelphia, Mississippi, and is widely regarded as one of the most fiercely contested Indigenous stickball events in the country.
In contemporary stickball matches, teams compete on fields measuring approximately one hundred yards in length, with tall cylindrical poles placed at each end, serving as the goals. Points are scored by accurately striking the poles with the ball or game sticks while holding the ball or running through the poles with it. Scoring is usually informally monitored, often by spectators or a few players.
Equipment:
The equipment used in stickball varies depending on the tribe and region. Players utilize one or two wooden sticks, fashioned from tree trunks or hardwood saplings like hickory. These sticks feature a loop at one end, created by thinning the wood and bending it around the handle. The loop is secured with leather or electrical tape, while leather strips stretched across the back form a netting for catching and holding the ball.
Distinct stick designs are employed in various stickball variations. For instance, in the St. Lawrence Valley, sticks with heads occupying two-thirds of the stick’s length were used. In the Southwestern United States, a double-stick version featured sticks approximately two and a half feet in length.
Players often adorn their sticks with animal hair, such as from horses or raccoons, in the hope of emulating desirable qualities of those animals, such as speed or agility. Some sticks boast intricate carvings intended to assist players in the game. These sticks held such significance that some players requested to be laid to rest with their sticks by their side.
The game ball is typically handcrafted, constructed from tightly wadded cloth and encased in leather strips. In earlier times, some stickball balls were crafted from wood, while others were made of deerskin filled with hair. These balls typically measured three inches in diameter.
Conclusion
Indigenous North American stickball stands as one of the oldest team sports on the continent, bridging the gap between land animals and birds, and playing an integral role in the cultural heritage of Native American tribes. This healing sport, passed down through generations, continues to bind communities, exemplifying the resilience and enduring traditions of indigenous peoples. Today, stickball not only thrives as a sport but also serves as a testament to the unbroken circle of Native American heritage, illustrating that it is a part of a never-ending sacred hoop.
Q: What is Indigenous North American stickball?
A: Indigenous North American stickball, also known as stickball, is a traditional game played by several Native American tribes. It is a sport that has played an active role in the Native American culture for centuries.
Q: What is a doodle?
A: A doodle refers to a temporary modification or visual presentation on the Google homepage. It is often used to celebrate specific events, people, or historic moments.
Q: What is the connection between stickball and doodle?
A: Stickball was featured in a Google Doodle created by artist Marlena Myles. The doodle celebrates the first day of Native American Heritage Month and highlights the significance of stickball in Native American culture.
Q: How do you play stickball?
A: Stickball is played on a field with two teams. The players use stickball sticks to hit and catch a small ball. The objective is to score goals by getting the ball into the opponent’s goal post.
Q: Which Native American tribes play stickball?
A: Stickball is played by several Native American tribes, including the Choctaw Nation. It is a traditional game that has been passed down through generations.
Q: Who is Marlena Myles?
A: Marlena Myles is an artist from Saint Paul-based and a member of the Spirit Lake tribe. She created the Google Doodle featuring stickball to commemorate the first day of Native American Heritage Month.
Q: How is stickball played?
A: Stickball is played by two teams using stickball sticks to hit and catch a small ball. The game starts with a ceremonial event and follows specific rules and traditions.
Q: What are stickball sticks?
A: Stickball sticks are specially designed sticks used in the game of stickball. They are traditionally made from wood and have a net or basket-like structure at one end to catch and throw the ball.
Q: Are there different versions of stickball?
A: Yes, there are different versions of stickball played by different Native American tribes. The rules and traditions may vary, but the essence of the game remains the same.
Q: How does the Google Doodle celebrate stickball?
A: The Google Doodle created by Marlena Myles celebrates stickball by featuring an interactive animation of stickball players and showcasing its significance in Native American culture.
