{{Short description|Native American version of soccer}} {{One source|date=March 2022}} {{Italics title}} '''''Pasuckuakohowog''''' is a Native American game similar to soccer.
The term literally translates to "they gather to play ball with the foot" and was described by Roger Williams.<ref name="roberts">{{Cite book |last=Roberts, Mike |title=The same old game: the true story of the ancient origins of football |isbn=978-1-4610-9319-0 |location=Barcelona |chapter=Little Brothers of War Ball games in Pre-Colombian North America|date=13 April 2011 |oclc=1022073321}}</ref>
There are records that show it was played in the 17th century, 1620 likely earlier, especially among Powhatan and Algonquin groups. The game was played on beaches or clearings with goals about a half-mile wide and set one mile apart.{{citation needed|date=January 2021}} Up to 500 people usually played ''pasuckuakohowog'' at one time, while many games had up to 1,000 players.{{citation needed|date=January 2021}}
''Pasuckuakohowog'' was a dangerous game and was played almost like a war.{{citation needed|date=January 2021}} Players would often have to quit due to broken bones or other serious injuries.{{citation needed|date=January 2021}} This is because no rules existed to minimize physical contact as the game was played in a very aggressive and violent manner. ''Pasuckuakohowog'' players wore ornaments and war paint to disguise themselves from retaliation after the game.{{[https://www.kenaston.org/history/history-THE-AMERICAN-INDIANS.htm History of Football]}} The game would often last for hours and sometimes carry over to the next day.{{citation needed|date=January 2021}} After each match there would be a large celebratory feast, including both teams.{{citation needed|date=January 2021}}
The only equipment used in ''pasuckuakohowog'' was a tightly bound ball made of animal hides or leather.{{citation needed|date=December 2025}} The ball may have been representative of the sun god of fertility, celebrating life.
==See also== * Mesoamerican ballgame * Soccer in the United States
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== * http://www.footballnetwork.org/dev/historyoffootball/earlierhistory_1.asp {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101024135753/http://www.footballnetwork.org/dev/historyoffootball/earlierhistory_1.asp |date=2010-10-24 }} * http://www.expertfootball.com/history/soccer_history_america.php * http://national.soccerhall.org/history/origins.htm{{dead link|date=March 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} * http://www.jstor.org/stable/10.5749/j.ctt184qqnb.19 * https://prezi.com/yzyyzaptepat/history-of-native-american-sports/ * https://www.kenaston.org/history/history-THE-AMERICAN-INDIANS.htm * https://nativeamerican.proboards.com/thread/1257/beautiful-game-who-first-played Category:Ball games Category:Native American sports and games
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