Unique Games and Sports Around the World: a Reference Guide

Unique Games and Sports Around the World: A Reference Guide Doris Corbett John Cheffers Eileen Crowley Sullivan Editors Greenwood Press Unique Games and Sports Around the World Unique Games and Sports Around the World A Reference Guide Edited by Doris Corbett, John Cheffers, and Eileen Crowley Sullivan Greenwood Press Westport, Connecticut • London Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Unique games and sports around the world : a reference guide / edited by Doris Corbett, John Cheffers, and Eileen Crowley Sullivan. p. cm. Includes bibliographical references and index. ISBN 0-313-29778-9 (alk. paper) 1. Games—Cross-cultural studies. 2. Sports—Cross-cultural studies. I. Corbett, Doris. II. Cheffers, John, 1936– III. Sullivan, Eileen Crowley. GV1201.38.U55 2001 790.1—dc21 00–033125 British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data is available. Copyright ©2001 by Doris Corbett, John Cheffers, and Eileen Crowley Sullivan All rights reserved. No portion of this book may be reproduced, by any process or technique, without the express written consent of the publisher. Library of Congress Catalog Card Number: 00-033125 ISBN: 0-313-29778-9 First published in 2001 Greenwood Press, 88 Post Road West, Westport, CT 06881 An imprint of Greenwood Publishing Group, Inc. www.greenwood.com Printed in the United States of America The paper used in this book complies with the Permanent Paper Standard issued by the National Information Standards Organization (Z39.48-1984) 10987654321 Every reasonable effort has been made to trace the owners of copyright materials in this book, but in some instances this has proven impossible. The author and publisher will be glad to receive information leading to more complete acknowledgments in subsequent printings of the book, and in the meantime extend their apologies for any omissions. To William, Barbara, Herman, and Homer DC To Margaret, Paul, Mark, Leigh, and Andrew JC To Billy, Brendan, and Cassie GCS Contents Acknowledgments ix Introduction xi Part I: Africa 1 Part II: The Americas 51 Part III: Asia 129 Part IV: Europe 193 Part V: The Middle East 259 Part VI: Oceania 293 Appendix A: The Place of Games in the Academy 381 Appendix B: The Role of Cooperative Games 386 in Movement Education References 393 Index of Games by Continent, Country, and Contributor 395 General Index 401 About the Editors and Contributors 405 Acknowledgments Mary C. Lydon has through her internet and typing expertise contributed strongly to the recruiting phase of this text. We thank her for very human reasons. The many contributors to this text are listed along with their games and deserve special praise for the quality of the unique games they have submitted. The editors thank them profusely. Four people have helped in the preparation of this manuscript, their efforts lying well beyond the call of duty: Elizabeth Hoeffner has worked on this text for over three years; Rachel O’Brien volunteered much of her time and has helped in the assembly of games from the sparser areas, as did Melissa Doyle; Margaret Beames worked tirelessly for three months on the typing and classification of the games submitted. These four people are especially praised because they were asked to transcribe, as well as type the games. The end result is a compliment to their transcription abilities. Further thanks is given to Janet Stankiewicz, Jessica Hochbaum, Tube Blower, Abishag, Little Jules, Michelle, Margaret, Donna, Diana, Katie, and Steve Ellenwood for their support in the final assembling of these pages. The editors would also like to thank Emily M. Birch of Greenwood Press who liaisoned with the editors throughout the conceptual and gathering processes. Introduction The purpose of this volume is to introduce students to the importance of games and sports to different cultures, examining games from both a sociological perspective as well as an anthropological one. Play is almost universally an important part of becoming an adult as well as an important part of leisure time activity among adults. Many of the games children and teenagers play in different cultures help them to develop the skills they will need to assimilate into the adult worlds of their cultures, whether these are decision-making skills, diplomatic skills, hunting skills, skills that teach coordination, or any number of other skills children might need once they reach adulthood. Many of the games adults play represent the challenges they may face in their day-to-day living, whether they be warfare, decision making, or the need to act quickly, among others. Since game playing is such a basic component of living and learning, studying the games of other cultures can help us understand these cultures. Examining games and sports while studying other aspects of different cultures as well pro- vides us with broader pictures of what is important to cultural members, and what they feel is necessary to survive. By comparing these games, we can note the differences and similarities among the maturing processes and leisure activities of cultures from all over the world. This volume profiles a variety of games and sports played around the world. Some of the games in this book represent real dangers and tests of bravery that members of certain societies have to face as adults. Others focus on other skills, such as coordination. Many different types of games have been presented in this volume to help us understand the many different cultures from which they have come. Some of the games are suitable for replication in the classroom or on the playground. Others are not due to the use of dangerous or impractical equipment, diagrams, or play areas, or due to the fact that purposely hurting other players is xii Introduction a necessary part of the game. Each entry indicates whether or not the game is suitable for replication in schools. This book is relatively unique in that it focuses on less familiar, rarer games and promotes many that represent the more far-flung cultures of the world. The book informs students, teachers, educators, coaches, program leaders, recreators, and parents of particular cultural games and activities for studying the various peoples these games emanate from. It is hoped that this book will lead to further investigations of the world’s rare and unique games. Educators introducing students to another culture can do no better than to begin playing the games of that culture. The editors have enjoyed collecting games from many parts of the world. Included in this volume is a lengthy and impressive contributors list. We have assembled the games by country within continents. Due to the fact that the focus in choosing these games and sports was on finding those that are rare and unique to their particular cultures, some countries are overrepresented, while others seem to be underrepresented. This reflects the fact that some cultures seem to have more unique games than others. However, all world regions are well represented here. An attempt has also been made to preserve the language styles of the contributors as these different protocols contribute to the uniqueness of the respective games. Yet for the purposes of this book, an essential universal routine has been established for the study of these games. The players are described first and in this text they are mostly secondary school students, college students, and adults. The object of the game gives meaning to the behaviors and helps all players understand what the goals are for winning, losing, and participating. Number of players is the next heading, followed by costume, apparel, and equipment required. The area, arena, field, or space where the game is played is important as roughhouse games must be confined to safe areas. The time length of the game is important as is a description of the rules of play and the plays themselves. The category symbolism attracted a variety of comments and interpretations from the contributors, which we have not tried to make uniform. This heading covers game symbolism of various ways of life and folklore within particular commu- nities yet sometimes gives meaning and historical perspective to the submitted games as well. Sometimes the symbolism is vague and sometimes it is very specific, but the editors felt this entry should be included in order to enhance the enjoyment and understanding of each game. The rules of play, which include scoring, rounds out the protocol for each game. Some games submitted have not been used and others arrived too late. An emphasis, especially with the American games, has been placed on integrative games involving both physical and classroom fare. Very few of the games played around the world can be attributed exclusively to one person or one tribe. Similar games are played in countries far away from one another under different names, but where we have been able to find a game not played elsewhere, we have displayed the contributor in the first part of this book. Where games are not attributed to one contributor, their practice is Introduction xiii widespread. Many games are played in many countries, especially popular games, and it behooves us to give universal recognition. Further, rule changes and adaptations, while providing great variety, also make the national designa- tion of that game at times difficult. The editors are confident, however, that games attributed to particular nations and people are accurate. Even the simplest of games requires interpretation and figuring things out, which combines cognitive and physical activity. Teachers who succeed in perfecting this combination are performing a great service for their students. It is this linkage between the games and important classroom subjects such as liter- acy, science, and math, which not only facilitates specific learning, but usually engages the student with positive emotion.

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