Double Ball: Native American Stick Toss Game
A game played by many Native American nations, mostly by women, in which two balls tied together are picked up and thrown only with sticks to send them through the other team's goal. It builds catching with an implement, passing and teamwork.
How to play
- Share the origin: many Plains and Western Native nations played double ball with curved sticks. Each double ball is two beanbags tied together with 16 inches of cord.
- Mark a 100 x 50 foot field with a 10-foot cone goal at each end. Make teams of 5 in pinnies; every player has a pole.
- Play starts with the double ball in the center. Players pick it up by hooking the cord with the pole and throw or pass it to a teammate with an upward sweeping motion.
- No one may touch the ball with hands or feet. With the ball on the pole, a player may take no more than 3 steps before passing.
- A team scores when the double ball is flung through the other team's goal from a pole. After a goal, the team that was scored on restarts from its own end.
- Play 3 halves of 5 minutes with 1 minute of rest, changing matchups each time. Beforehand, spend 5 minutes practicing pick-ups and passes in pairs 13 feet apart.
Rules
- Safety: poles stay below the waist, and no one hits another player's pole.
- If the ball is touched with a hand or foot, the other team restarts from that spot.
- Give the player with the ball on her pole 6 feet of space.
Variations
Easier
Players may catch a pass by hand but must drop it and pick it up with the pole.
Standard
Full rules: pole only and no more than 3 steps.
Harder
A goal only counts if three different players touched the ball during the play.
Adaptations
- Students with limited mobility: play in a 10-foot zone by the goal where they can receive and shoot without being guarded.
- Autism or shyness: start in a fixed goalie role, then move to the field with a buddy.
- Fitness level: students who tire quickly may sub in and out every 2 minutes with a teammate.
Learning goals
- Pick up, pass and receive an object using an implement.
- Work with the team to move toward the goal.
- Learn about a traditional Native American game and the values behind it.
Equipment for a class of 25
- double balls: 4
- poles: 20
- cones: 8
- pinnies: 10
Teacher tip
If you don't have beanbags, make double balls from socks filled with rice.
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