Hocker is a team sport developed in Fairfield, Connecticut, by attorney John Henry Norton.
He built a dedicated field on his property and hosted a weekly game there with his family and often a small crowd of participants and onlookers.
Additionally, the sport came to be played in school systems in Connecticut, California, and Florida, and appeared as an intramural sport or clinic at several colleges, including the University of Bridgeport, Southern Connecticut State, and Miami-Dade Junior College.
[3] Norton, the father of 14 children (including five who were adopted), wanted to create a sport they could all play together, both boys and girls, despite their various ages, sizes, and skill levels.
Three of Horton's children sought careers in professional tennis, including Beth Norton, who performed notably at the 1976 US Open.