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TAHLEQUAH, OK - A Stick-ball exhibition is scheduled during the 48th Cherokee National holiday at 1-2:30 p.m. Friday, Sept 3, 2000 at the Sequoyah High School, north of the football field.

Stick-ball is one of the most popular traditional games still played today, according to the Cherokee elders. In addition to providing recreation and enhancing physical fitness, the game traditional teaches unity and harmony.

Stick-ball is a version of the older East-West game which is somewhat similar to lacrosse in that two opposing goals are used, a the east or west ends of the field. East or West Stick-ball was used primarily as a war game for battle training. It also was a way of settling dispute between clans, tribes and towns.

Only men participated in the East-West games.

"The modern games played by Cherokee today isn't as rough as traditional Stick-ball due to the liabilities and courtesy rules," Victor Wildcat, last year’s coordinator said.

Today the social game of Stick-ball is always played with men and women on opposing sides. Points are scored by using a small ball to hit a target. Often a wooden fish, mounted on top of a trimmed cedar tree which can be scored by hitting the pole with the ball within three or four feet of the fish. Traditional rules require each man to use both wooden stick from two to four feet in length, each with a cup-shaped pocket at the end. The sticks are used to hold, catch and throw the ball. Women always use their hands.

Traditionally the ball was a round rock covered with deer or cow hair inside a sewn leather covering. For safety purposes, today’s players use a bean bag or hackey sack. There are a number of players on each team, which can consist of 20 to 60 people depending on the individual games. The playing field for the pole games must be large enough for a least 60 people and is larger than a regulation basketball court.

"Stick-ball is kept alive by traditional groups of Cherokee in the southern portion of the Cherokee Nation," Wildcat said. "Many versions of the Stick-ball games are played by the Creeks.”

For more information, contact Stick-ball Coordinator David Rabon at (918) 458-0671 (Ext 2808).