Objective of the Game

Apart from Shinny and Dene Baseball, Football was the only field team sport played traditionally. It was similar to the game of Soccer. Two goals were set up at opposite ends of a playing field. The teams attempted to shoot the ball into the opposing team's goal, for a score of one point. In earlier days, the players were allowed to use their hands in addition to their feet, but this is not done today.

An early story about the game can be found in a journal kept by the Hudson's Bay trader at Fort Yukon. During a game played on Christmas Day 1848, one player injured one of his toes so severely that he had to leave the field!

Equipment

1. Goal posts, made from any kind of tree, about 1.5 m high and 3-5 cm thick.
2. A ball made from mooseskin, diameter about 25-30 cm. The ball is filled with moose hair or wet moss. It is made from two pieces of moose skin which are sewn together except for one seam. The ball is then turned inside out so that the stitches are on the inside. This gives the outer covering of the ball a smooth appearance.

Playing Area

• A wide open, flat space. The goals are set up at opposite ends of the playing area. The goal posts are about 4-6 m apart. The length of the playing field has not been docu­mented.
• Gwich'in on the Alaskan side playing the game in the Fort Yukon area used only one goal.

Teams and Players

• Each team consists of 12 to 14 players. Some stories indicate that more people could participate as long as each team fielded the same number of players. Players may join or drop out at any time.
• Everybody can take part, men, women and children, but teams should be evenly matched. It is not known whether a goal keeper was used traditionally.

How to Play

Preparation

• The two goals are set up at opposite ends of the playing field.

Starting Position and Movement

• Play begins when the ball is kicked from the centre of the field. The ball can also simply be thrown onto the ground, and everybody begins to chase it.
• The players attempt to kick the ball through the opponent's goal.
• The ball can be picked up and kicked, but a player is not allowed to hold it in his hands and run with it.
• Spectators or onlookers who wish to enter the game, can do so at any moment. Players can drop out or rejoin the team at any time, as long as both teams have approximately the same number of players on the field.

Duration and End of Competition

• Traditionally, no time limit was set. The game would continue until every­body was tired out. Or, teams agree to stop play after a set period of time. The team with the higher score wins the game.
• In another variation of the game, the first team to score three goals wins the competition.

Safety Considerations

Tackling is not permitted, and contact should be avoided. Players should be mindful of each other’s position to avoid contact and potential injury.