History of Gateball
Gateball was invented in Japan by Suzuki Kazunobu in 1947. At the time there was a severe shortage of rubber needed to make the balls used in many sports. Suzuki, then working in the lumber industry, realised there was a ready supply of the wood used to make croquet balls and mallets. He revised the rules of croquet and created gateball as a game for young people.
Gateball first became more widespread in the late 1950s when introduced to women’s societies and senior citizens’ clubs.
Governance
Representatives from Belgium, England, Germany and Switzerland form the steering committee of the Gateball League.
Click here to learn more about them.
Rules of Gateball
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The rules are detailed and must be studied by players wishing to act as referee. For a summary of the more practical issues facing a player, click here:
You learn about the tactics by playing with experienced players, but for an introduction, click here:
For the latest, complete rules of Gateball published in English by the World Gateball Union, click the button here:
TEAMS
Süd-Eifel
This club in the Eifel region of Rheinland-Pfalz was started in 2015.
We play outdoors on the soccer training pitch at Gransdorf and, in winter, in the village hall.
​​Wolfsburg
This was the first Gateball club started in Germany, following a tour of Germany in 2006 by the World Gateball Union.
We play outdoors on the artificial grass courts of the sports club "VfR Eintracht Nord", and indoors at the sport centre of the school at Kreuzheider.
Switzerland
Gateball players in Switzerland play near Geneva at the CERN Croquet Club.
Belgium
Gateball players in Belgium play on the lawns in front of the hotel Chateau du Lac, at Genval, just South of Brussels.
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A new club is starting in the German-speaking Eastern part of Belgium, near Eupen
Hamburg
The Hamburger Gateball Freunde play at the private courts for croquet and Gateball at the home of a player in Quickborn, to the North of Hamburg
Beaune Franche-Comté
This club in the heart of Burgundy is recognised by the French Ministry as a centre of excellence
St Cannat
This new clun near Aix-en-Provence is supported by "Sport en milieu rural"
