Don't look back—something might be rolling on you.

September 28, 2016 12:31 PM

The Best Sport Of The Early 1900s Involved Pushing Around An Elephant-Sized Ball (Atlas Obscura)

Bonus: Pushball videos

posted by Johnny Wallflower (14 comments total)

Needs more Wayne Coyne.
posted by MiltonRandKalman at 12:40 PM on September 28, 2016 [1 favorite]

Hah. We had one of these in middle school (Bella Vista Elementary!). Not quite as big as that shown in the FPP. On rainy days we played giant pushball in the gymnasium instead of heading outside for regular PE. That thing could tweak a young neck in painful ways if it bopped you right.
posted by notyou at 12:42 PM on September 28, 2016

Looks like more fun than any ball game I've ever played.
posted by The Underpants Monster at 1:09 PM on September 28, 2016 [2 favorites]

We played this in phys ed at my high school in Pennsylvania in the '80s but it was called "caveman volleyball".
posted by lagomorphius at 1:12 PM on September 28, 2016 [1 favorite]

I did this a cub-scout in the late seventies and early eighties. I'd say it was far rougher than tackle football. Basically it is goal oriented stampeding. Also if everybody just runs away and leaves one person holding the ball up it is hilarious for everyone but that one person.
posted by srboisvert at 1:30 PM on September 28, 2016 [2 favorites]

Our high school had one, they called it and the game monster ball. You would occasionally get pressed up against the ball by the crowd and rolled up over top of it before being trampled. Good times. (Really.)
posted by fairmettle at 1:48 PM on September 28, 2016

I love that in the video in the original link everyone is playing it in their khakis and button-down shirts and sweaters. Ah, the lost days of the Gentleman Athlete!
posted by Saxon Kane at 1:59 PM on September 28, 2016

I remember these from my childhood, only we called it "earthball."
posted by Emperor SnooKloze at 3:15 PM on September 28, 2016 [4 favorites]

Here's a source for a 6-foot ball, if you're wanting to stage a pushball revival.
posted by jazon at 3:37 PM on September 28, 2016 [1 favorite]

People got hurt playing earthball at my middle school. Legend has it one kid's braces got caught in somebody's shoelaces and ripped out. Lots of other stories I don't know. We quit playing it by the time I was old enough.
posted by little onion at 3:54 PM on September 28, 2016

Ah, the lost days of the Gentleman Athlete!

“Harumpff!? SIR!? We prefer Elastic Spherical Enthusiasts. ”

_██_
ಠ_ృ
posted by Fizz at 4:12 PM on September 28, 2016 [1 favorite]

When I was growing up, we'd kick one of these around in the gym on rainy days while skittering about on the floor on our hands and feet with our butts facing down. We called it "Crab Soccer."
posted by 4ster at 5:34 PM on September 28, 2016 [1 favorite]

Looks like more fun than any ball game I've ever played.
posted by The Underpants Monster

Well, that's disappointing.
posted by flaterik at 7:41 PM on September 28, 2016 [1 favorite]

Another source for the more expensive earthball. At least you can also just rent one.
posted by TedW at 7:28 AM on September 29, 2016