Bat
and Ball Games
In medieval times they used sticks similar to baseball bats,
in which a ball is thrown and the stick was to strike the
ball. The rules for this game would be made up on the spot
and no rules survive for these types of games.
Bowls
The bowls playing field is a bowling green, a smooth lawn
where competitors roll balls for points. The rules are to
roll grapefruit-size balls toward a target ball that is slightly
smaller than a tennis ball. Points are gained for how close
players can place their balls to the target ball without actually
striking the target ball. Players are also able to use their
ball to knock out an opponent’s ball if it is close
to the target ball.
Jousting
 Jousting
or as the traditional name is called tilt involves two mounted
knights facing each other with a blunt lance each, eighteen
to twenty feet in length. Those competing faced each other
at a distance of several hundred yards. In between the competitors
was a fence four to five feet in height. The fence was used
to ensure that the horses would not collide and to ensure
that the competitors’ lances were the only thing that
would reach the knights who competed. They would be given
a signal to start charging towards each other, each making
sure as to aim the lance toward the other mans shield. The
winner would be the knight that was struck squarely enough
to throw the opponent of his horse.
There
are many other forms of jousting that are considered less
exciting and less dangerous.
The
Palio Race
The Palio race was a horse race unlike any other horse race
through streets and cities. Each horse in the race was backed
by a local company, guild, neighborhood or owner.
The
object of race was to back the horse that crossed the finish
line first. There were no rules. You were able to unhorse
an opponent, kill an opponent, whatever it took to win the
race. The winning horse did not need a rider when it crossed
the line, if had a rider he did not need to be alive. The
palio itself was a bolt of the most expensive cloth that would
be presented to the owner or sponsor of the winning horse.
Wrestling
In wrestling there is no equipment necessary and no rules.
Competitors are able to throw, pin down any part of the body
on the ground, or unbalance the other competitor and forcing
him outside the boundary of a "ring", a circle four
to six feet in diameter drown on the ground.
There
are other variations that aren't as competitive, such as two
men carrying a man out on their shoulders. The object was
to send one's opponent falling to the ground.
Tug
of War
This was a traditional game played in medieval times. All
you need to play this game is two teams and a length of stout
rope. Competitors should wear gloves while they play this
game.
Traditionally
the game was played with a hazard such as a wall, a hedge,
a mud puddle, or s stream. On the signal each team starts
to try and pull the other team off balance and across or into
the hazard. The winner is the team who either pulls the other
team into the hazard or if the other team gives up due to
exhaustion.
Stone
Throwing
Stone throwing is were we get the Olympic sport of Shot Putting.
Stone throwing was done by throwing for distance and accuracy,
so if you used a small stone this was done at a target. Were
as with a larger stone it was how far you could throw the
stone.
Climbing
a Greased Pole
The reasoning behind this is that the competitors are to climb
to the top of a greased pole and claim a prize. The prize
could be a number of things and the prize may be attached
to the top of the pole or, a ribbon was placed at the top.
In other instances the winner was the first person to climb
high enough to lay the flat of his/her hand on the top of
the pole.
Catching
a Greased Pig
The traditional game of this was done by all the contestants
gathering around a fenced area. The referee would enter the
ring with the pig in a feed bag. When the referee reached
the center of the ring, the pig was released and the game
began. The game was won when one of the contestants could
successfully catch the pig, the winner could then take the
pig home to eat or to raise.
Blood
Sports
Bull and Bear Baiting is done by capturing a bear or a bull
that would be tied to a pole in the center of a large pit.
What was done then was a pack of hunting dogs was then turned
on the tied animal. They would then battle it out. The winner
would be declared when either the tied up animal has been
killed by the dogs or the tied up animal had killed all the
dogs.
Dog
and Cock Fights a pair of either dogs or roosters are released
into a ring were they have been trained to attack their own
kind until they are dead.
Quarterstaff
Quarterstaff contests are played by using eight foot long
poles that contestants used to "break the heads"
of their opponents.
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