International Sports Information

Cricket is a team sport played by two competing sides usually formed of 11 players each. Both teams take turns batting and fielding. Players on the batting side bat in pairs, with one situated at each end of the wicket. Wicket can refer to either the 22 yards between the stumps, the stumps themselves (with bails included) or a batsman’s dismissal from the game. Stumps are comprised of three upright wooden posts placed side by side in the ground, with two smaller sticks laid horizontally on top of the posts called bails to form the wicket. Players on the batting side score runs by running between the wickets.

Cricket was brought to North America by English colonists during the 17th century, with the earliest known written record of the game being played dating back to a May 6, 1709 diary entry by Virginian planter William Byrd. 

Handball is a team sport in which two teams of seven players each (six out court players and a goalkeeper) pass a ball using their hands with the aim of throwing it into the goal of the opposing team. After receiving the ball, players can pass, keep possession, or shoot the ball. Players are not allowed to touch the ball with their feet. The goalkeeper is the only player allowed to use their feet, but only within the goal area. If possessing the ball, players must dribble (comparable to a basketball dribble), or can take up to three steps for up to three seconds at a time without dribbling.

American handball was brought to the United States by Irish immigrants in the 1840s to 1880s with the first official courts appearing by 1873 in San Francisco and 1886 in Brooklyn.

Rugby is unique in that play is continuous even after players are tackled on the field. Kicking is the only method by which both teams may move the ball forward. Two teams of 15 players have 80 minutes to advance the ball past their opponents' side of the field (pitch) and touch it to the ground for a score worth 5 points (try). Participants may only pass the ball backwards or sideways with no blocking allowed; using a variety of phases such as line outs, mauls, rucks and scrums to retain possession during play. 

USA Rugby was founded in 1975. USA Rugby is the national governing body for the sport of rugby in America.