The History Of The Ball – How it Got Started
A ball is a small round object with many uses. It’s primarily used in ball games, in which the action of the game typically follows the motion of the ball when it’s casted, struck, or tossed by players. Other balls can also be utilized for easier activities, like juggling or catch. The game of soccer started out as a game of throw-up, and while that may not sound exciting, it grew into a much more gripping game because of its ball. No wonder why baseball players, too, use baseballs during the course of an at-bat.
As mentioned earlier, balls have been in existence for a long time. They were first discovered by the Egyptians, who used a spherical object as a ball, and they continued using spherical objects throughout ancient Rome and China. During the Middle Ages, football became an even more popular game, and it was during this time that ball games such as American football (a team game played with twelve players) and cricket (which involves a ball with two hollows on each side to allow for kicking) began.
While ball play was often viewed as nothing more than a waste of time during this time, it did find some form of recognition in early America. American teams used wooden spheres, known as ‘goats’ during this period, to try and trick the other teams into blocking them so that they could score more points. In fact, the very first recorded game of ball play took place on a New York City street sometime around 1800. Although the result of this game has often been disputed, no one can argue with the fact that ball plays a significant role in our sport today.
Early ball players used’spherical objects’ made of wood or bamboo to shoot their spades, or balls, at each other from a great distance. However, because of the long period of warfare in Europe, the weapon became much more sophisticated, and glass began to be used to create different shapes that would not be easily blocked by the goats that the European players used to wear. The first major change in the ball game occurred when a player began tossing peas toward a ball which had already been launched by another player. This was a great improvement on the ball play and resulted in the development of longer, heavier sticks and other materials that could be thrown farther with increased accuracy.
As time passed, better materials were introduced, and ball play became a more even game. Glass spheres, which could be weighted, were thrown further than ever before. Different materials, based on different densities, were also introduced, including brass, tin, steel, aluminum and wood. Today, there are innumerable toys and games on the market that combine strategy and skill with a ball that allows the players to move around the board and try to score points. Today’s players are challenged far more than they were in the past, and a wide variety of accessories make the ball playing experience even more fun.
As you can see, the history of the ball goes back a very long way indeed, and it is only getting better. More materials are being introduced, including the ever popular tennis ball, golf balls, soft balls used in baseball and softball, soccer balls, basketballs and cricket balls. In fact, if you are not playing a sport that involves a ball, then you are missing out! The game of ball is an incredibly fun one, and its importance will continue to grow as sports and hobbies become more involved and competitive.