Sewer Ball

General Information about Item:

• Customary Folklore: Sports Custom
• Language: English
• Country of Origin: United States
• Informant: Collin Rutherford
• Date Collected: May 20, 2020

Informant Data:

Collin Rutherford was born in Buffalo, New York and has lived there his entire life. He is 22 years old and is of Scottish and French descent. Collin has played hockey for 19 years, including three years of varsity hockey at Dartmouth. He also played golf, tennis and baseball before coming to Dartmouth. In college, he is a member of the Varsity Hockey team, a member of Chi Heorot fraternity and an entrepreneur.

Contextual Data:

Social Context:

When Collin played in his first game at Dartmouth’s Thompson Arena, he taped his hockey stick and then went to the concourse. Many of his teammates were beginning to warm up, some stretching, others stickhandling, and the rest playing some sort of game with a soccer ball. He joined in and quickly learned the rules of the competitive game. Over the years, Collin has participated in the game before every home and away hockey game. He explained that the game consists of the same group of players every time, and thus, has become a way to bond with certain players on the team.

Cultural Context:

Hockey players often arrive at the rink an hour or more before their game (the Dartmouth team arrives two hours before the game). During this time, players prepare their equipment, listen to music and warm-up before getting dressed. The warm-up can consist of stretching, cardio, or some casual form of a sport.

Item:

Certain players of the Dartmouth hockey team play a soccer game called “sewer ball” before each home and away game. Players stand in a circle and attempt to juggle the soccer ball between players without letting it touch the ground. If the ball is touched by or hits a player and then hits the ground, that player is eliminated. The game continues until only one player is left remaining, and they are considered the champion.

Collector: Jack Mascali