Near Tuskahoma in Pushmataha County, Oklahoma — The American South (West South Central)
Ishtaboli ⎯⎯⎯ Game of Stickball
Photographed by Jason Armstrong, August 21, 2022
1. Ishtaboli / Game of Stickball Marker
Inscription.
Ishtaboli, also, Game of Stickball. . , The Choctaw game of Ishtaboli, or Stickball, is regarded as the grandfather of all field sports in North America. The game took on the excitement of our present day "Olympics" or "Super Bowl." A bundle of sticks was used to count the number of days until the day of the appointed game. The teams would prepare by dancing and purifying their bodies with herbal purification drinks. Each team would utilize a medicine man to invoke an advantage by trying to place a hex on the other team to secure a victory for their team. The game began with a jump ball at the center of the field, and a pair of stickball sticks, or kapucha, was used to catch the ball and strike the pole for scoring. Each score counted as one point. A predetermined, winning score was agreed upon before the game began. A bundle of sticks was used to count the score, one stick per point. A significant point of interest in this method of scorekeeping is evident in the usage of tally marks today. , Defensive action permitted a player with the ball to be tackled in order to keep him from scoring. No specific number of players were needed to play on a team. Everyone participated, and there were no substitute players. The women were allowed to encourage the players by switching or whipping the players with a switch. In ancient times, women were allowed to wager material possessions against the opposing team. The women of the winning team would distribute the winnings among themselves. The uniform of the player consisted of a breechcloth, a beaded belt, a horses mane, and a horses tail to emulate the speed of the animal. Players' bodies were painted team colors resembling painted socks on their feet and decorative diamond designs on their arms and legs, thus the first uniform in team sports in North America. Shoes were not permitted to be worn. Offensive and defensive skills were important to secure a victory. The game of Ishtaboli was called the "Little Brother of War." The game was used to settle diplomatic decisions within the tribe and neighboring tribes, instead of going to war.
The Choctaw game of Ishtaboli, or Stickball, is regarded as the grandfather of all field sports in North America. The game took on the excitement of our present day "Olympics" or "Super Bowl." A bundle of sticks was used to count the number of days until the day of the appointed game. The teams would prepare by dancing and purifying their bodies with herbal purification drinks. Each team would utilize a medicine man to invoke an advantage by trying to place a hex on the other team to secure a victory for their team. The game began with a jump ball at the center of the field, and a pair of stickball sticks, or kapucha, was used to catch the ball and strike the pole for scoring. Each score counted as one point. A predetermined, winning score was agreed upon before the game began. A bundle of sticks was used to count the score, one stick per point. A significant point of
interest in this method of scorekeeping is evident in the usage of tally marks today.
Defensive action permitted a player with the ball to be tackled in order to keep him from scoring. No specific number of players were needed to play on a team. Everyone
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participated, and there were no substitute players. The women were allowed to encourage the players by switching or whipping the players with a switch. In ancient times, women were allowed to wager material possessions against the opposing team. The women of the winning team would distribute the winnings among themselves. The uniform of the player consisted of a breechcloth, a beaded belt, a horses mane, and a horses tail to emulate the speed of the animal. Players' bodies were painted team colors resembling painted socks on their feet and decorative diamond designs on their arms and legs, thus the first uniform in team sports in North America. Shoes were not permitted to be worn. Offensive and defensive skills were important to secure a victory.
The game of Ishtaboli was called the "Little Brother of War." The game was used to settle diplomatic decisions within the tribe and neighboring tribes, instead of going to war.
95° 16.68′ W. Marker is near Tuskahoma, Oklahoma, in Pushmataha County. It can be reached from North 4355 Road 1.2 miles north of U.S. 271. The marker is located on the grounds of the Choctaw Nation Capital along the walking trail. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 163663 N 4355 Rd, Tuskahoma OK 74574, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in Oklahoma’s Choctaw Nation. It is also in the American South, specifically in the Piney Woods, on the prairies, and on the Southern Plains. Globally, it is in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture and also the Louisiana Purchase.
Credits. This page was last revised on June 7, 2023. It was originally submitted on June 6, 2023, by Jason Armstrong of Talihina, Oklahoma. This page has been viewed 328 times since then and 27 times this year. Photos:1, 2. submitted on June 6, 2023, by Jason Armstrong of Talihina, Oklahoma. • J. Makali Bruton was the editor who published this page.
