The authors survey the development of ball games over five centuries, tracing ancient ball-play and legends through medieval folk customs, Roman-influenced hand- and foot-play, and local boundary and festival practices. They examine how moral and religious attitudes once suppressed popular games, then how organized forms emerged in schools where rules and environments shaped distinct codes. The book compares regional variations and customs, chronicles the codification of rules in educational institutions, and concludes by describing the modern revival and standardization of the sport.