Ball Games in America (2146)

Native American peoples played a variety of ball games including some that may be viewed as earlier forms of lacrosse. But today's ball games arose from children's bat-ball and football games that were brought to America by the first settlers that arrived from Europe in the 17^th century. These games were refashioned and elaborated in the course of the 19th century and eventually became the typical American sports of baseball, basketball and football. In their current forms these are the most popular sports in the United States. Of course, Americans engage in many other athletic activities as well, but these games still occupy a special place in the American sports scene.

In the U.S. of today, football is the most popular spectator sport. Baseball now is the second place among the sports, people most like to watch. Both baseball and football are, of course, American developments of sports played in England. Baseball and football have the reputation of being "typically American" team sports. This is not quite true. The most popular participant sports in the world today are indeed American in origin – basketball and volleyball.

The first basketball game was played in Massachusetts in 1891. Volleyball was also first played in Massachusetts in 1895. During the First and Second World Wars, American soldiers took volleyball with-them overseas and helped make it popular. Today, of course, both basketball and volleyball are played everywhere by men and women of all ages. They are especially popular as school sports.

So, football, baseball, basketball and volleyball are the four major sports. Their seasons now often overlap. Some football games are still being played in January in the snow and ice. Preseason baseball games start in warm sunny regions like Florida and Arizona about the same time. In the fall of the year, all four come together.

Americans like to play a friendly game of softball at family picnics, and "touch football" (no tackling!) games can get started on beaches and in parks whenever a few young people come together. "Shooting baskets" with friends is a favourite way to pass the time.

But as much as Americans like to engage in sports or to watch games being played, they seem to have fully as much fun reading and talking about sports. In almost any social gathering, people get around to talking about outstanding players and games of former years, the current prospects for teams in the season ahead, which team is going to win the championship, etc. The subject of sports is inexhaustible as the enthusiasm of its lovers.

Check your comprehension.

I. What is lacrosse? 2. How did bat-ball and football appear in America? 3. What are the most popular ball games? 4. What ball games were invented in America? 5. How did volleyball come to the United States? 6. What are the major American sports? 7. What is a favourable way of passing the time of many Americans? 8. What do Americans like to talk about?

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