This expansive text is the most comprehensive resource on sport history, providing coverage of sport by historical periods, from the indigenous tribes of pre-modern America, through colonial societies, to the era of sport in the United States today.Unlike previous sport history texts, this book examines how women, minorities and ethnic and religious groups have influenced U.S. sporting culture. This gives students a broader knowledge of the complexities of sport, health and play in the American experience and how historical factors, such as gender, ethnicity, race and religion, provide a more complete understanding of sports in American history.The easy-to-follow material is divided into nine chronological chapters starting with sporting practices in colonial America and ending with globalised sport today, making it ideal for a semester long course.Each chapter includes objectives, an introduction, a summary of the points covered and discussion questions to help students easily identify and remember the key concepts presented.This book is unique in its level of detail, broad time frame and focus on sports and the evolving definitions of physical activity and games. In addition, excerpts from primary documents provide firsthand accounts that will not only inform and fascinate readers but also provide a well-rounded perspective on the historical development of American sport.With sidebars offering an international viewpoint, this book will help students understand how historical events have shaped sport differently in the United States than in other parts of the world.