Ball games have been a significant part of human culture for thousands of years, evolving from ancient rituals to modern sports that captivate millions worldwide.

This portion of our web guide explores the origins of ball games, their historical development, the categories of ballgames, and some of the most popular ball games globally and in the United States. Several online resources for ball games will be listed below.

One of the earliest known ball games is a Mesoamerican ballgame known as ōllamaliztliby the Aztecs and pitzby the Mayans. Believed to have originated with the Olmec civilization around 1600 BC, the game used a solid rubber ball, which could weigh up to ten pounds. Played by the elite, the game was associated with prestige and social standing. The Mayans added their cultural significance to the game, linking it to their mythology, where the game was viewed as a battle between humans and the lords of the underworld. The Aztecs continued the tradition, incorporating the game into their religious and social practices. Played in large stone courts, losing could result in human sacrifice.

Although the rules of the game are not known, it is believed that players used their hips to keep the ball in play, similar to modern volleyball or racquetball, the objective being to pass the ball through stone rings set high on the walls, but without using their hands.

Another ancient ball game, known as cuju, originated in China around 300 BC, and is considered a precursor to modern soccer.

Ball games have evolved significantly over the centuries, with many new games emerging and being modified. In ancient Greece, games like episkyros were played, which involved teams trying to throw a ball over the opponent's goal line. The Romans adapted this into harpastum, a game emphasizing physical endurance and strategy.

In medieval Europe, various forms of football emerged, eventually leading to the codification of soccer in England in 1863.

Native Americans played several forms of ball games. The most well-known of these is stickball. Considered an early form of lacrosse, stickball was played with wooden sticks with nets at the top to catch and throw a small ball. Known as "Little Brother of War," stickball was highly physical and could involve hundreds of players, often serving to settle disputes between tribes. Another Native American game, chunkey, involved rolling a stone disk and throwing spears to land as close to the stopped disk as possible.

A relatively modern invention, basketball was created in the United States by James Naismith in 1891. It quickly gained popularity and became a global sport. Similarly, cricket, which originated in England in the 16th century, has become a major sport in India, Australia, and South Africa.

American football, sometimes referred to as gridiron football, evolved from the sports of soccer and rugby. The first American football game was played on November 6, 1869, between Rutgers and Princeton, using rules based on soccer. Over time, the game incorporated more elements from rugby, leading to the distinct sport we know today.

Soccer, known as football in most countries, has ancient roots, although it was formalized in England in 1863. This version of football emphasized kicking the ball to score goals, distinguishing it from rugby football, which allowed handling the ball.

The term "soccer" originated in England as a slang abbreviation of "association football" to differentiate it from "rugby football," also called "rugger." The term "soccer" spread to other English-speaking countries, including the United States, where it became more commonly used to avoid confusion with American football.

Ball games can be categorized into several types: bat-and-ball games (cricket, baseball), invasion games (soccer and basketball), net and wall games (volleyball, tennis), racket sports (tennis, squash, badminton), throwing sports (dodgeball, bocce), cue sports (pool, snooker), and target sports (golf, bowling).

The twenty-five most popular ball games in the world today are, in order of popularity, soccer, basketball, cricket, tennis, volleyball, table tennis, baseball, rugby, American football, golf, handball, hockey, bowling, squash, water polo, beach volleyball, badminton, softball, lacrosse, polo, racquetball, sepak takraw, bocce, futsal, and netball.

In the United States, the ten most popular ball games are American football, basketball, baseball, soccer, tennis, golf, volleyball, softball, rugby, and bowling.

Ball games have a rich history and are a significant part of world cultures. From ancient rituals to modern sports, ball games have brought people together, promoted physical fitness, and provided entertainment.

Topics related to ball games are the focus of this part of our web guide, although Shopping & eCommerce is another category.

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