Stoolball is an early sport that originated in England, dating back to the 14th century. It is believed that milkmaids in Sussex and Kent played this game in their leisure time. The game was played on a field, and a stool was used as a target, similar to the wickets in cricket. The stool was placed on the ground, and the objective of the game was to hit it with a ball. The stool was defended by a batter who used a bittle or milking bowl (the game was also called bittleball) to strike the ball before it made contact with it.

Stoolball was traditionally played on Easter Monday, a day off for most people. It was an opportunity for people to gather and have fun. The game was trendy among women, but men also played. It was played in villages and towns and was a way for people to socialize and have fun. Tansy cakes, usually produced and consumed around Easter time, were the traditional prize for the winning team.

Stoolball was not just a game but also a fertility ritual. It was believed that hitting the stool with the ball would bring good luck and fertility to the land. The game was played in the spring, a time of renewal and growth. It was a way to celebrate the coming of spring and the new life it brought. In the comedy The Two Noble Kinsmen, written by Shakespeare and Fletcher, they use the word Stoolball as a euphemism for sexual behavior. This adds evidence that Stoolball's origins came from a pagan ritual for fertility.

Originally played only by women, men returning from WWI with severe injuries could also play the game because the barrier to entry was lower to play Stoolball instead of other traditional sports. Stoolball was a folk game; therefore, the rules often changed depending on who or where it was played. Some versions did not use the milking bowl, and the ball was struck with the hand, which may be evidence of a French connection with their ancient sport, Jeu de Palme, a handball-style game. Other versions had no baserunning, similar to batting practice for baseball. However, the bat and bases version seems to be the most popular.

Stoolball may be the ancestor of most bat-and-ball games. It is believed that the game inspired the sport of cricket, which, in turn, would go from townball to baseball in the United States. The basic concept of defending a stool (wicket) could have originated from Stoolball. The game evolved, and the stool was replaced with a wicket or a base. There is a good chance that Stoolball was the first bat-and-ball game played by the settlers arriving at Plymouth Rock. Stoolball is an excellent game when studying Medieval Europe or even as an Eastertime sports celebration!

Materials: 

·      A gym or sizeable outdoor play space

o   If you are outside, you will need something to mark the size of the playing area

·      A stool, chair, or target for the pitcher

o   I used a hula-hoop held upright by foam hoop holders

·      Pickleball paddle and ball

·      Jerseys and pinnies

Age: All Ages