Editing Stoolball (section)

{{Short description|Paddle sport from Sussex, England}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Infobox sport
| name       = Stoolball
| image      = King Georges Field, South Park, Reigate - geograph.org.uk - 1424804.jpg
| imagesize  = 180px
| caption    = Ladies Stoolball Team, 2009
| union      = [[Stoolball England]]<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.stoolball.org.uk/|title=Stoolball England|website=stoolball.org.uk|author= |date= |access-date=7 September 2022|publisher=Stoolball England|language=en}}</ref>
| nickname   = "cricket in the air"<br> "bittle-battle"
| first      = {{unbulleted list|{{Start date and age|df=yes|1500}}<br />[[Sussex, England]]|First rules established: {{Start date and age|df=yes|1867}}}}
| firstlabel =
| country/region = [[Sussex]], [[Kent]], [[Surrey]], [[English Midlands|Midlands]]
| registered = 
| clubs      = 
| contact    = 
| team       = 
| category   = Ladies-only or mixed
| equipment  =
| venue      = 
| IWGA       = No
}}
{{HistBaseball nav}}

'''Stoolball''' is a sport that dates back to at least the 15th century, originating in [[Sussex]], southern England. It is considered a "traditional striking and fielding sport"<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.sportingheritage.org.uk/content/what-we-do/projects/the-sporting-heritage-of-disability-and-womens-sports/stoolball-what-ball-history-of-the-traditional-rural-womens-sport|title=Stoolball: 'What Ball?' History of the traditional, rural women's sport.|website=sportingheritage.org.uk|author=Anita Broad|date=24 August 2020|access-date=14 September 2022|publisher=Sporting Heritage UK|language=en}}</ref> and may be an ancestor of [[cricket]]<ref>{{cite web |author=<!--Not stated--> |date=1940 |title=Ball Game Aka Stoolball Issue Title Is Believe It Or Not (1940) |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ekpXrfLJeG4 |access-date=4 July 2024 |website=youtube.com |publisher=[[British Pathé]] |language=en}}</ref> (a game it resembles in some respects), [[baseball]], [[softball]], and [[rounders]]. The sport has been called "cricket in the air". There is evidence to suggest that it was played as a tradition by [[milkmaid]]s who used their milking [[Stool (seat)|stool]]s as a "[[wicket]]" and the bittle, or milk bowl as a bat, hence its archaic name of ''bittle-battle.''<ref>History And Antiquities Of Horsham, Doreathea E. Hurst, Farncombe & Co, Lewes, Sussex 2nd Ed (1889) page 257</ref>

The sport of stoolball is strongly associated with Sussex and has been referred to as Sussex's [[national sport|'national' sport]]<ref>{{harvnb | Coates |2010 | p=79}}</ref> and a Sussex game<ref>{{harvnb|Gomme|1894| p=219}}</ref> or pastime.<ref name="Locke 2011 203">{{harvnb|Locke|2011| p=203}}</ref>  The [[National Stoolball Association]] was formed in 1979 to promote and expand stoolball.<ref name="SEng-Hist">{{cite web | url = http://www.stoolball.org.uk/about/history-of-stoolball-england/ | title = History of Stoolball England | publisher = Stoolball England | location = United Kingdom | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120503062033/http://www.stoolball.org.uk/about/history-of-stoolball-england/ | archive-date = 2012-05-03 | url-status = live | access-date = 2013-03-20 | quote = Stoolball England was formed as the National Stoolball Association on 3 October 1979. ... The aims laid down in the inaugural meeting of the National Stoolball Association in 1979 [included]: The promotion and expansion of stoolball; To seek to link together existing associations and to encourage the formation of others.}}</ref> The game was officially recognised as a sport by the [[Sports Council]] in early 2008.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/7322486.stm|title=Medieval game gets sport status|date=31 March 2008|work=[[BBC News]]|access-date=March 28, 2009}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/sports/2014/07/21/stoolball-predecessor-american-baseball/kec1T0JIfIQ2pOEppH2ujL/story.html|title=Meet baseball's ancestor: England's stoolball|date=22 July 2014|author=Kevin Paul Dupont|access-date=30 March 2022|work=[[The Boston Globe]]}}</ref> The National Stoolball Association changed its name to [[Stoolball England]] in 2010 on the advice of the Sports Council and was recognised as the national governing body for stoolball in England in 2011. The organisation is recognised by [[Sport England]].

The game's popularity has faded since the 1960s, but it continues to be played at a local league level in [[Sussex]], [[Kent]], [[Surrey]] and the [[English Midlands|Midlands]].  Some variants are played in some schools. Teams can be ladies only or mixed. There are ladies' leagues in Sussex, Surrey and Kent and mixed leagues in Sussex.