MILWAUKEE — The Hmong community is excited to see the construction of the first permanent courts in Milwaukee for a game that has been played in their culture for thousands of years.
Milwaukee Recreation is building three new Tuj Lub (pronounced too-loo) courts at Carmen Playfield.
While they are being built, Tuj Lub player Kou Lee spends his time practicing the game at Clovernook Playground with others in the Hmong community.
The object of the game is to have your team knock down as many white tops as possible.
Lee explained that as the match progresses, the tops get further away and each team member gets one shot to hit them.
“If all of them fail or not win on the first level, that means your team is done right here, and then the other team comes back to play,” said Lee.
Lee and others in the Hmong community have been playing this game since the 2000s and each time they play, they have put together their own court in Milwaukee.
“You see many soccer fields, many baseballs, many basketball fields were built, but not this sport. And everybody is excited that this actual [Tuj Lub] court is going to be built,” said Lee.
Shannon Arms is the project supervisor for Milwaukee Recreation.
She said their department wanted to build these Tuj Lub courts at Carmen Playfield to bring more recreational amenities that reflect the different cultures in the city.
“Coming out to Carmen and realizing that there was a community there that was really excited and really looking forward to a new playfield amenity, and also connecting with the Tuj Lub players… it’s really a great opportunity for us to support the Hmong community here in Milwaukee,” said Arms.
Lee said he believes that when the courts are finished, it will also allow the game to grow in Wisconsin.
“We would like to teach this sport so that in the future, it will grow to different states and more kids would like to play,” said Lee.
The courts aren’t expected to be ready until 2023.
For now, Lee and others in the Hmong community will play at Clovernook Playground and are also excited to share their game with others.