As Americans, we have a very specific idea about what makes a “sport.” We have a handful of popular, mainstream sports that we play and follow in out country, and not much more. Sure, we know that curling and rugby are a thing elsewhere, but here in the good ol’ U.S. of A, football, baseball, and basketball pretty much reign supreme. Despite our intransigence on this issue, however, we are loathe to admit that there is more out there in the world than our limited sports experience has shown.
All over the world, people have created unique and surprising sports that reflect their culture, environment, and sense of adventure. In this article, we will introduce our readers to some of the world’s most unusual sports. You might have heard of some of these, but we’re willing to be at least a couple of them will surprise you! that you might never have heard of. So, grab your kids and get ready for a world tour of cool activities that challenge the limits of competition, creativity, and fun Whether you’re looking to try something new or just learn about different cultures, come on in and take a look!
Cheese Rolling (England)
At the beginning of the cheese-making process, cheesemakers form their milk, rennet, curds, and whey into enormous wheels that then get shipped off, wedged out, and sliced up. Cheese rolling is a sport that utilizes these original cheeses in a very interesting way. Every year, competitors gather at Cooper’s Hill in Gloucestershire, England, to chase a wheel of cheese down a steep hill. That’s right, they take some cheese, roll it down a hill, and chase it. The cheese is rolled from the top of the hill, while contestants race after it. The result is often a tumbling, stumbling, sliding descent down the hill in hot pursuit of cold cheese!
How It Works
The first person to cross the finish line or to catch the cheese-something of an impossible task, according to some-wins the round and claims the prize. What’s the prize, you may ask? Why, the valuable cheese they fought so hard to reach! This sport can be quite rough and a little dangerous, as the steep hill leads to a lot of tumbles and falls, but it’s all part of the fun.
Why It’s Cool
Cheese rolling might sound silly or even a little odd, but it’s a beloved tradition that’s been around for centuries. The event is so popular that it even draws in spectators and participants from all over the world! Who knew that something as simple cheese could bring people together.
Sepak Takraw (Southeast Asia)
Imagine a game that combines all the best aspects of soccer, volleyball, and acrobatics into one amazing sport! We are speaking, of course, of the game of sepak takraw, a popular sport in countries like Thailand, Malaysia, and Indonesia. Sepak takraw is played by teams of three that kick a small ball made of rattan or plastic over a net. It’s sort of like volleyball in that the aim is to keep the ball off the ground. The trick is, they have to do this without using their hands. The result is a whirling display of spectacular jumps, spins, and kicks that make every match thrilling to watch.
How It Works
As we said, players can use their feet, knees, chest, and head to pass the ball back and forth over the net, just not their hands. Sepak takrow matches are fast-paced, and the athleticism required to perform aerial kicks is quite impressive to behold. The three players on each team work together to score points by making the ball land on the opposing team’s side.
Why It’s Cool
We shouldn’t have to tell you why sepak takraw is cool…the mere idea of it sounds astonishing! This is a sport that requires an amazing amount of strength, unparalleled agility, and impressive coordination, which easily makes it one of the most athletic sports out there. Think it it like you’re watching an intense volleyball game, but with players performing martial arts-style moves to keep the ball in play!
Bossaball (Spain and Brazil)
In Spain and Portugal they play an interesting and wholly unique sport called Bossaball. This sport is an energetic mix of volleyball, soccer, gymnastics, and capoeira, a Brazilian martial art. Bossaball isn’t played on a clay court or a field, it’s played on an inflatable court with trampolines. As a result, bossaball is more about the high-flying action of play than achieving a victory. Players jump, spin, and flip as they try to hit the ball over the net and score points.
How It Works
The goal of bossaball is to land the ball on the opponent’s side using any part of your body. At the same time, players are awarded extra points for incorporating more challenging techniques, like kicks into their play style. Each team has three to five players, and the trampolines allow for amazing acrobatic stunts and maneuvers.
Why It’s Cool
Bossaball is an incredibly creative and exciting sport that brings competition to new heights by introducing a host of trampoline-assisted moves. This makes Bossaball stand out from other unique sports like sepak takrow and traditional (really boring by comparison) volleyball. Plus, the inclusion of capoeira-style kicks makes the sport feel almost like a performance in and of itself.
Kabaddi (South Asia)
Kabaddi is a contact sport with a highly unique twist that involves some players holding their breath as they play. The game hugely popular in South Asia, especially in countries like India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh. This sport is sort of a combination of tag and wrestling, and contains elements of both. Unlike wrestling, however, kabaddi is actually all about teamwork, speed, and strategy. It might look simple to the uninitiated, but it requires tremendous stamina and agility in order to play it well.
How It Works
The rules are easy to get down but difficult to master. Two teams take turns sending a “raider” into the opponent’s side of the court. The raider then tries to tag as many opponents as possible and return to their side without himself being tackled by his remaining opponents. To make the game that much harder, all of this is done while raiding players hold their breath and chant “kabaddi, kabaddi” to prove they’re not inhaling.
Why It’s Cool
As you can probably imagine, kabaddi is a very fast-paced, intense, and suspenseful game. The added twist of players holding their breath during raids makes it a real test of mental and physical endurance. As a result, it’s easy to get caught up in the thrill of each exciting new raid.
Zorbing (New Zealand)
From rolling a wheel of cheese down a hill to rolling yourself, zorbing is a newlly-popular sport that breaks all the rules! If you’ve ever wanted to roll down a hill in a giant inflatable, transparent ball, then zorbing might be for you! This sport was invented in 1994 in New Zealand and involves players climbing inside large, transparent plastic balls and rolling down a hill, either alone or with friends. More of an adventure activity than a competitive sport, zorbing has been altered at times to involve racing and obstacle elements to create an extra layer of challenge.
How It Works
Zorbing participants are strapped into the titular “zorbs,” large inflatable balls that players need to compete, and are then simply released down a sloping track. Some courses include zigzags and ramps to make the ride more exciting, but zorbing can be done just about anywhere, even on the water! That’s right readers, zorbs float!
Why It’s Cool
Zorbing has often been billed as the ultimate thrill ride. It combines all the elements of fun: speed and laughter. Players roll and bounce your way down a hill in a moderately safe and fun way, which makes it’s popular for parties and events. Some describe the experience as giving the sensation of free-falling.
Underwater Hockey (UK)
Hockey can be played on a field, in a roller rink, on the ice, and even underwater! Underwater hockey, also known as Octopush, works exactly as you might think it does. This is hockey played at the bottom of a pool. Instead of ice or a field, players dive underwater wearing fins, a mask, and a snorkel and push a puck along the pool floor using a small stick.
How It Works
Octopush usually has to be played on a pretty large playing field, as it generally involves two teams of six players. Each team aims to score by pushing the puck into their opponent’s goal, which are located at the pool’s end. Given that the sport takes place underwater, ctopush matches are pretty fast-paced, and players must come up for air frequently. This adds a mix of speed and strategy to an already physically-taxing sport.
Why It’s Cool
Underwater hockey is cool because it’s..,underwater hockey! This amazing twist on a classic sport combines elements of diving and team play. It’s a game that requires its players to think quickly, stay calm under pressure, and communicate well with teammates, even when such a thing is highly difficult. It’s also a fun and challenging way to test your swimming skills!
Quidditch (Worldwide)
Originally inspired by the main wizarding sport played in J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter series, Quidditch’s original rules see teams of six players flying on magical brooms and protecting hoops from magically-animated balls of different sizes. It’s a cool idea, if not an entirely fantastical one, but the formerly fake game of quidditch has since become a real-world sport played by teams all over the globe. Though, it has since been renamed Quadball because of some controversy with the book’s original author. There’s no flying in the real world game, of course, but players run with broomsticks between their legs, playing a game that is at once a mix of rugby, dodgeball, and handball.
How It Works
Each team has three “chasers” who score points by throwing a ball (called the quaffle) through hoops. Two “beaters” throw dodgeballs (bludgers) at the opposing team, and a “seeker” tries to catch the “snitch” (a neutral player with a tennis ball in a sock). The quidditch game has ended over when the snitch is caught, no matter how long it has gone and no matter how many points have been gained along the way. This adds an extra layer of excitement to an otherwise entirtely whimsical enterprise.
Why It’s Cool
Quidditch is fantasy made into reality. It combines the physicality of rugby with the strategy of handball and dodgeball, all while keeping the spirit of the original magical game alive. It’s one of the most unique team sports in the world and it brings book and movie fans together in a fun, competitive way. More importantly, many peewee quidditch leagues are popping up around the world these days, so kids can even get into the fun!
Wife Carrying (Finland)
Wife carrying is not exactly a sport that kids can get involved in, but neither are a few of the choices on this list. The point is that it’s unique, challenging, cooperative, and competitive. Originating in Finland, wife carrying is a sport that has since spread to the four corners of the world. worldwide. It works like this, male competitors carry their partners (usually their wives but occasionally just a lighter partner) through an obstacle course. The goal is to finish the course in the shortest time possible.
How It Works
There are certain caveats to the sport. First, the “wife” must weigh at least 108 pounds, and the second is that the course is approximately 253.5 meters (831.7 feet) long. It is commonly filled with obstacles like mud and water to make it more difficult to complete. The couple with the fastest time wins, and the prize is traditionally the wife’s weight in beer!
Why It’s Cool
Wife carrying requires teamwork, strength, and a good sense of humor. It’s not a sport for couples who don’t get along, but it’s more about the fun of the activity than the competition. In fact, it might work as a lighthearted means of couples’ therapy as a way to challenge a couple’s teamwork and communication skills!
Cultured Athlete Says…
We had some fun today discussing these unusual sports from around the world. These sports show us that athleticism and competition can take many forms, and that fun seems to be the main component behind why people engage in such athletic pursuits. Each of these sports offers a unique challenge, a dash of cultural history, and plenty of enjoyment for all!
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