Battledore and shuttlecock facts for kids
Battledore and shuttlecock is an old sport that is a lot like modern badminton. People play this game using small rackets, called battledores. These rackets were often made from parchment or animal gut stretched over wooden frames. Players also use a special feathered object called a shuttlecock. The shuttlecock has a light base, like cork, with feathers attached. The main goal of the game is to hit the shuttlecock back and forth as many times as possible. Players try to keep it from falling to the ground.
History of the Game
Games using a shuttlecock have been around for a very long time. We know they were played as far back as 2,000 years ago! These games were popular in many parts of the world. People enjoyed them in places like India, China, Japan, and Thailand.
Many North American indigenous peoples also played traditional shuttlecock games. Groups like the Kwakiutl, Pima, Salish, and Zuni had their own versions. They often used shuttles made from corn husks or small twigs with feathers. Sometimes, they even used wooden battledores.
In Europe, children have played battledore and shuttlecock for hundreds of years. Old drawings found in Greece seem to show people playing this game. Today, the most famous sport that grew from battledore and shuttlecock is badminton.
More to Explore
- Hanetsuki, a similar game played in Japan.
