Learn More – Stickball – Native American Student Services

Stickball History

Stickball is an Indigenous game that was used for recreation, ceremony, and as an alternative to war. It is related to modern lacrosse. Many tribes throughout the Americas play the game, mainly in the Eastern Woodlands. Every tribe has their own style of playing the game. In the Northeast and Great Lakes regions, tribes typically use one larger stick, while in the Southeast, tribes typically use two smaller sticks. Today Stickball is mainly played for fun, ceremony, or sport.

Stickball is most famous for its role as a peaceful alternative to warfare. When conflict emerged between tribal communities and nations, Stickball games were set up to settle and decide the outcome of disputes. The players of a Stickball game were usually the warriors of that tribe/tribal town, creating strong connections between ball games and actual battle. Because of this, Stickball has several nicknames like “little war” or “little brother of war.”

Depiction of a Choctaw ball game, painted by George Catlin in 1834

Today Stickball is often played as sport, though it remains a prominent cultural event in many Native communities. Stickball events including tournaments and exhibitions are often organized by communities or tribal governments. For Southeastern tribes, the World Series of Stickball is the most popular Stickball event in each year. Hosted by the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians, the World Series takes place in Pearl River, MS as part of the annual Choctaw Indian Fair. Other tribal nations such as the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma, and Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma also host their own Stickball events throughout the year.

Stickball at the University of Arkansas

Cherokee Fish Game

During Native American Heritage Month, BJ Frogg, a frequent collaborator with NASA, comes to campus and guides the Fish Game event. The Fish Game is a social game played by many Cherokee communities in Eastern Oklahoma. Typically played in teams of men versus women, both sides compete to throw the ball at a fish sitting on the top of a tall pole. The men use their sticks to throw the ball, while the women do the same with their hands. The event is a fun and beginner-friendly way to engage the Native community on campus and further educate participants on Stickball and Native culture.

Stickball Exhibitions

Exhibition games provide the unique opportunity for Native people off campus to come and interact with the Native community on campus. Attendees of games get a low-stakes, beginner-friendly experience of the tournament style of Stickball.

Stickball Tournament

In the Spring semester, the Stickball tournament is held on campus and brings together many Native people from on and off campus. Based on the World Series style of play, co-ed teams face off in a double elimination bracket to determine a winner. Teams from all over Indian Country come to participate, some even traveling from Tennessee and Mississippi.