Game: Hoops
(Detail from Brueghel's Painting)


Hoop Game

This game probably had it's origins when the wheel was first invented! The intent of the game is for each player to use an implement to propel a hoop on a designated course, and be the first to arrive at a designated finish line.

Only the propelling implement can be used - touching the hoop with a hand looses the game for a player. If the hoop is thrown off course by an obstacle on the course, recovery can only be made using the propelling implement. The propelling implement could be a piece of wood or metal as illustrated in the painting.

While the rim of a wheel could be used for this game, by Brueghel's time and for a few centuries after that, children were using barrel hoops for this purpose. In the 1960s these gave way to plastic hoops - the Hula Hoop. Because of their light weight, in addition to racing Hula Hoops, a number of gymnastic feats became the dominant mode of hoop use.


Last update February 9, 2010