Have you ever heard of stickball? No, it’s not baseball. Stickball is an ancient game played by Native American tribes in North America. It’s a fast-paced sport that has been around for centuries and is still popular in indigenous communities today. If you’ve never seen or played stickball before, you’re in for a treat. Stickball is intense, athletic, and deeply connected to native culture. In this article, we’ll give you an inside look at the exciting world of stickball. You’ll learn how the game is played, what equipment is used, differences between tribes, and why stickball is culturally significant. We’ll also hear from players, past and present, about their experiences. By the end, you’ll be eager to grab a stick and join in the fun. Stickball is a unique sport, and now it’s your chance to discover why.

A Brief History of Native American Stickball

Stickball has been played by Native North Americans for centuries. Tribal elders organized games to resolve conflicts and foster community unity. The earliest accounts of stickball date back to the early 1700s when elders selected locations for games to settle disputes.

Different tribes had their own versions of stickball. For example, the Cherokee, Choctaw, Seminole, and other Southeastern tribes called it the “little brother of war” because it allowed young men to showcase their skills and bravery. On the Plains, the Lakota and other tribes played a similar game known as “kaposka” or “taposka.”

These games could stretch for days, involving hundreds of players and thousands of spectators. Players used sticks to pass and carry a ball between goals, which could be over 500 yards apart. The games were rough, with few rules, allowing tackling, wrestling, and tripping. Injuries, including broken bones, were common but seen as symbols of courage.

The field was marked by poles at each end, with teams trying to get the ball past the opponent to score. Women played significant roles too, preparing food, singing during the game, and awarding prizes to standout players.

Stickball transcended a mere game; it strengthened cultural bonds, encouraged cooperation, allowed young men to prove themselves, and nurtured tribal identity and solidarity. While stickball is less common today, it remains a vital part of Native cultural heritage. Understanding this ancient tradition offers insight into the values and resilience of Indigenous communities across generations.

How Stickball Is Played: Rules and Equipment

To play stickball, you’ll need a few essential pieces of equipment. The most critical item is the stick itself, traditionally hand-carved from tree branches. Today, you can find sticks made of plastic, wood, or aluminum. A typical stick is about 2 to 3 feet long and 1 to 2 inches in diameter.

You’ll also need a ball, which can be a rubber playground ball, tennis ball, or softball. The ball should be slightly larger than a baseball.

For bases, you can use existing features like trees, rocks, buildings, or parked cars. Space them about 60 to 100 feet apart, depending on your available space and players’ skill levels.

Teams usually consist of 5 to 10 players each. The primary objective is straightforward: your team aims to score more runs than the opposing team. Teams alternate between batting and fielding. When batting, stand opposite the fielding team, hit the ball into play, drop your stick, and run to first base. If the fielding team catches the ball in the air or gets it to a base before you, you’re out. Runners can advance as many bases as possible until the ball is back in the infield.

Some important rules to remember: no stealing bases, no bunting (you must hit the ball in the air), and foul balls or balls stuck in obstacles are considered outs. Teams typically get 3 outs per inning, with batters facing 3 strikes each.

Traditional games last for 9 innings, but you can adjust the number as you like. The most important part is to have fun and honor the history of this cherished Native American game.

The Cultural Significance of Stickball

Stickball held profound cultural and spiritual meaning for many Native American tribes.

Spiritual Connection: Some tribes believed stickball was a gift from the Creator, playing it to honor their spiritual beliefs. The Choctaw, for instance, fasted and purified themselves before games as a sign of respect. The Cherokee referred to stickball as “the little brother of war” and played to display courage and skill, believing it was a gift from the war gods.

The game was also considered to possess healing properties. The Choctaw played stickball to cure sickness, believing it could drive away evil spirits. Among the Cherokee, injured players received treatment from medicine men who incorporated stickball sticks into healing rituals.

Social Significance: Stickball games were major social events that brought tribes together. Entire communities turned out to watch, bet on, and celebrate games for days. Players enjoyed high status within their tribes. Chickasaw stickball players, for example, were regarded as tribal leaders and role models.

Stickball also forged bonds between neighboring tribes. They played competitive yet friendly matches, fostering alliances and trade partnerships. Accounts of games between the Chickasaw and Choctaw note that players rarely kept score, emphasizing cooperation and camaraderie over winning.

Preserving Tradition: Stickball served as a means of passing on cultural traditions to younger generations. Children began playing at a young age, learning skills and spiritual beliefs from their elders. The game connected them to their ancestors and helped maintain tribal identity.

Although stickball faced bans due to misconceptions about its violence, it is experiencing a revival as a way for tribes to reconnect with their heritage. Modern stickball tournaments serve as social events that unite Native Americans in celebrating cultural traditions that were almost lost. Stickball remains a vital part of cultural preservation and continuity between generations.

Prominent Stickball Tribes: Cherokee, Choctaw, Lakota, and More

Stickball was popular among many Native American tribes, each with its own rules and equipment. Here are some major tribes known for their stickball traditions:

• Cherokee: The Cherokee were avid stickball players, with games lasting for days. They used two sticks to catch and carry a small stone or ball. Teams could have up to 100 players each.
• Choctaw: The Choctaw called their version “kapucha.” They played on fields up to half a mile long, using handcrafted sticks to carry a small stone between two stakes.
• Lakota (Sioux): The Lakota called their game “tapa wanka yapi” or “ball hit with a stick.” They played with a buckskin ball and used sticks with a curved end to scoop and carry the ball.
• Ho-Chunk (Winnebago): They played a version known as “ma’k’oce’” or “ball game” using a carved wooden ball and lacrosse-like sticks. Their games, like those of other tribes, focused on showcasing skills and courage.
• Iroquois (Mohawk, Huron, Seneca): These tribes played a stickball-like game called “owahah” or “baggataway.” They used a deerskin ball and long wooden sticks with curved ends. Games involved up to 100 players and followed complex rules.

Stickball was a vital part of Native American culture, and while each tribe had unique names, rules, and equipment for the game, they shared similarities. Stickball was highly social, with long games, large teams, and deep connections to tribal identity and spirituality. Today, stickball lives on in lacrosse, inspired by Native American stickball games.

Notable Stickball Players and Champions

Some of the most famous stickball players emerged from the Cherokee, Choctaw, and Muscogee (Creek) Nations. These athletes helped popularize the sport and developed techniques still in use today.

Tom Long: A Cherokee stickball player renowned for his speed, agility, and long-distance scoring abilities. In the 1930s, Long transformed stickball from a recreational activity into a competitive sport. He advocated for protective gear like helmets and pads to reduce injuries and pushed for league play, schedules, and championship tournaments.

Chitto Harjo: A Muscogee Creek stickball player, dominant in the early 1900s for his strength, endurance, and ball-handling skills. Harjo is credited with developing techniques for catching, carrying, and passing the ball using the netted stick. These moves revolutionized the game, making it faster and higher-scoring.

Mary Musgrove: A Choctaw stickball champion during the 1920s and one of the first well-known female stickball players. In a time when stickball was traditionally male, Musgrove overcame significant obstacles to pursue her passion. She excelled at intercepting passes and became an inspiration for women in sports, symbolizing courage and determination against all odds.

These stickball legends brought innovation, artistry, and advocacy to the sport during a time when it struggled for recognition and respect. They laid the foundation for modern stickball and left a lasting legacy as some of the game’s most prominent athletes. Their influence on stickball will endure for generations.

The Decline of Stickball in the 20th Century

The early 20th century brought significant changes to North America, impacting indigenous stickball. Several factors contributed to its decline among Native American tribes during this period.

One major factor was the forced assimilation of Native Americans into Western culture. Children sent to boarding schools had their cultural traditions discouraged, disrupting the intergenerational transfer of stickball knowledge. Fewer youth learned to play the game, leading to decreased interest.

Territorial confinement to reservations also hindered tribes’ ability to travel for games. Stickball had long served as a means of social interaction between tribes, but now teams were isolated, making it challenging to organize full-scale games.

Modern sports like basketball, baseball, and football gained popularity on reservations, drawing the interest of Native youth. Stickball seemed outdated in comparison, and some tribes abandoned it in favor of contemporary sports.

The World Wars and other conflicts of the 20th century took a toll on Native American populations. As young men left their tribes to fight in wars, stickball teams lost players and struggled. Simultaneously, the loss of life in these conflicts meant fewer men were available to uphold stickball traditions upon their return.

While some tribes continue to play stickball today, the sport is not as widespread as in previous centuries. However, efforts are underway to revitalize stickball and other aspects of Native culture among new generations. With renewed pride in their heritage, many Native Americans are reclaiming these traditions, ensuring they endure for years to come. Stickball remains a crucial part of Native identity, and its modern resurgence is a sign of cultural resilience.

Stickball Today: Reviving a Lost Tradition

Although stickball nearly disappeared in the 20th century, efforts are underway to revive this tradition and pass it on to new generations.

Some tribes have organized youth stickball programs and camps to teach children the game. For example, the Choctaw Nation hosts an annual Youth Stickball Tournament to promote interest in this cultural tradition. The Cherokee Nation also offers youth stickball clinics and has competitive youth stickball teams.

Tribal festivals and cultural events often feature stickball exhibition matches. The annual Cherokee National Holiday includes a stickball demonstration, where players showcase techniques and skills. Some tribes also organize competitive stickball tournaments, such as the Labor Day Pow Wow Stickball Tournament hosted by the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians.

Museums and cultural centers play a role in educating the public about stickball. The Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian, for instance, has exhibits on stickball that explain its cultural significance and history. Some tribal museums also highlight stickball, including the Choctaw Cultural Center and the Tunica-Biloxi Cultural and Educational Resources Center.

Efforts are also being made to standardize the rules to make stickball more accessible as a competitive sport. The World Series of Stickball, initiated in 2015, brings together players from over a dozen tribes to compete for a championship title. Event organizers aim to establish stickball as an intertribal sport, similar to how lacrosse has become popular in some Native communities.

Reviving stickball is essential for passing on cultural traditions to new generations and strengthening community connections. Through youth programs, public events, and competitive leagues, tribes across North America are helping bring stickball back to life. Although stickball was nearly lost, it lives on today thanks to the dedicated efforts of players and communities striving to honor their ancestors’ game.

Experience Stickball for Yourself at These Events

If you want to truly experience stickball, attending one of the events dedicated to this historic game is a must. Several tournaments and cultural events feature stickball demonstrations and competitions you can watch or even participate in.

• The Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian: The museum in Washington, D.C., hosts an annual Native American Heritage Month Festival featuring stickball exhibitions. You can watch teams compete and learn about the cultural significance of the sport. The museum also offers stickball programs for kids to teach them the basics.
• The Choctaw Nation Labor Day Festival: The Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma’s annual Labor Day Festival includes an intertribal stickball tournament with teams from across Indian Country. It’s a chance to witness intense, fast-paced games and cheer on the athletes. The festival also includes traditional dancing, food, arts, and crafts.
• The Seminole Tribal Fair: The Seminole Tribe of Florida hosts an annual fair celebrating Seminole culture. A highlight is the stickball competition, with opposing teams dressed in traditional patchwork clothing. Before each match, medicine men bless the field and players. The fair also features alligator wrestling, storytelling, and tastings of frybread, sofkee (a corn-based stew), and Indian tacos.
• Annual World Series of Stickball: On the Navajo Nation reservation, the community of Shiprock, New Mexico, hosts the largest stickball tournament, with over 100 teams competing. The tournament has been held annually since 1933, attracting teams from not just the Navajo Nation but also other tribes like the Lakota, Apache, and Pima. The competition can last for several days and is a major community event.

Attending any of these cultural festivals and competitions offers you an opportunity to gain a deeper understanding and appreciation for the history and significance of stickball in North American tribal communities. Cheering on the athletes, tasting traditional foods, and experiencing the music and dance are the perfect ways to discover more about this iconic Native sport.

Indigenous North American Stickball FAQs

Indigenous North American stickball has a rich history, yet many aspects of the game remain a mystery. Here are some common questions and answers to help unravel the secrets of this ancient sport.

What are the basic rules of stickball?

The objective of stickball is to hit a small ball with a curved stick and run to the opposite end of the field before the other team can retrieve the ball. Teams try to run the ball over the opposite end line to score. Only the ball carrier can be tagged out, either with a stick, ball, or hand. Physical contact is limited, and teams get three outs per inning.

What equipment is used?

Players use a curved wooden stick, traditionally made of hickory, to hit and throw the ball. Two basic styles of sticks are used: a single-piece stick or a stick with a net on the end. A small stuffed leather ball is hit and thrown between players. Players do not wear protective gear, though some may wear padding on their shins, knees, or hands.

How is stickball similar to lacrosse?

Stickball and lacrosse are comparable as they both use a stick to hit and throw a ball. However, stickball tends to have more physical contact and fewer rules than the modern game of lacrosse. Stickball also uses a smaller playing field and ball. The objective of getting the ball over a goal line is similar, though in stickball, any part of the ball crossing the line scores, rather than needing to go into a goal.

Where did stickball originate?

Stickball originated among various Native American tribes, particularly in the Southeastern United States. Similar games were played by tribes from New York to Florida, though the Cherokee in North Carolina and the Choctaw, Chickasaw, and Creek in Mississippi were especially known for their stickball skills. These games date back as early as 900 AD.

Is stickball still played today?

Stickball is still enjoyed at a recreational level, though not as widely as in the past. Annual stickball tournaments are held, like the Cherokee Indian Fair Stickball Tournament and the Choctaw Indian Fair Stickball World Series. Some schools in Oklahoma, North Carolina, and Mississippi offer stickball as a physical education class or extracurricular activity to help preserve this aspect of Native American heritage.

In conclusion, indigenous North American stickball is a fascinating and culturally significant sport with a rich history. While it faced challenges in the 20th century, efforts are underway to revive and preserve this tradition. Attending stickball events and learning about its history can provide valuable insights into Native American culture and identity.