A Little Burmese Game… Why Don’t We Play Chinlone Too?!

Last Updated on July 21, 2025

You know what I think should be played everywhere in the world? A game I first saw on the streets and sidewalks of Yangon called chinlone (or cane ball)! Everywhere in Burma we saw groups of boys and men playing this game and it looked like fun every time.

What Is Cane Ball?

Cane ball is where there are about five people kicking and using their heads to toss a hard, woven ball around to each other. The ball is usually about 6 inches in diameter and the main point of the game is to make sure the ball doesn’t hit the ground.

What It’s Like Watching It in Burma

In some rural areas of Burma, I guess the guys are just more open because they would always have their longyis up their butt cracks! Longyis are long cloths, like skirts, and so if they didn’t, they wouldn’t be able to kick the ball or move around.

It was hilarious the first time I saw it, because I would have never guessed full-grown men would do that—not even in rural Burma.

What Chinlone Is Like Compared to U.S. Games

I think that in America, the closest thing we have to chinlone is volleyball—except you use your hands to play volleyball, and you want to hit the ball and make sure it hits the ground on the other side of the net.

In some cases, that’s what chinlone is like. Sometimes, there is a net and you have to get it over the other side of the net and make it hit the ground on the other team.

Except, it seems so impossible because you can’t use your hands, just your head and your feet.

Trying It Myself

I was so fascinated by this game that before going back to Thailand, I got myself a cane ball so that I could try to play it and it is SO HARD. I can’t even hit the ball. The only thing I can really do is hit it once with my foot or head and then it goes out of my area to where I can’t catch it again.

I think I’ll keep practicing because it will be so fun to play this game with my friends back home this summer, and play it at the park. I want to bring this game to the United States, if only I can actually learn do it! 🙂

Would you want to play this game if you had the chance?!

From the Grown-Up Who Was There: What Chinlone Is (If You’re Wondering)

Also called cane ball, chinlone is a traditional sport in Myanmar that blends dance, teamwork, and serious foot-eye coordination. It’s often played casually in the streets with a rattan ball, though there are formal, no-net versions performed more like a cooperative art than a competition.

We saw it played everywhere—from temple courtyards to quiet neighborhood alleys—and my niece was completely fascinated. She brought one home and tried to master the moves (spoiler: it’s way harder than it looks).

If you ever visit Myanmar, keep an eye out—you might spot a circle of barefoot players, ball flying, longyis hitched, and laughter echoing through the street.

Where to Buy a Chinlone (Cane Ball)

If you’re looking to try chinlone yourself, here’s what to search for:

• Search terms that work best on Amazon:
  “rattan cane ball,” “chinlone ball,” or “sepak takraw ball” (a similar sport from Southeast Asia that uses a nearly identical ball)
• What to look for:
  • Size: Around 5–6 inches in diameter (kid- and park-friendly)
  • Material: Traditional ones are handwoven rattan or plastic rattan
  • Price range: Usually under $15 for plastic ones, and $20-$30 for rattan ones
• Quick link to a classic version: At $20, this rattan ball is your best option for one like ours from Myanmar.