The long summer holidays are here at last! With the days ahead stretching out ahead, it would be a shame to waste the seemingly endless sunshine. Why not grab a friend or 2 and take the chance to try something new? If you’re stuck for ideas, here are a selection of 7 unusual sports that are well worth giving a go!
- Underwater Hockey
- Footvolley
- Sepak Takraw
- Disc Golf
- Quidditch / Quadball
- Cycleball
- Kabaddi
Underwater Hockey
Invented in the UK in 1954, this sport is exactly what is sounds like – it’s hockey, but underwater! Also known as Octopush, the sport was quickly welcomed in other countries such as South Africa in 1957. There are 10 players on each team, with 6 in play at a time. Players hold their breath and push the puck at the bottom of the swimming pool to try and score a goal. The goals are weighted down to the bottom of the pool at each end of the playing area, and consist of a shallow slope leading to a trough for the puck to be pushed or flicked into.
Check out the British Octopush Association website for more info.
Image Source: Pexels
Footvolley
The UK Footvolley Association describes their sport as “beach volleyball with football rules.” Having evolved from the age old fun of Keepy-Uppy, footvolley is now played on all 5 continents and so enjoys a number of large tournaments, including a World Cup. For any youngsters who are keen on on football, the move into footvolley is a relatively easy one which many famous footballers have made. Ronaldinho, David Beckham and Christiano Ronaldo are all lovers of the sport apparently! Needing only a ball, low net and a bit of space, footvolley is fairly easy to try. As a result, it’s popularity is continuing to grow.
Image Source: Pexels
Sepak Takraw
Keeping along the lines of volleyball variations, sepak takraw is also reffered to as Kick Volleyball. “Takraw” is the Thai word for the original ball used for the sport, which was made traditionally of hand woven rattan.
As the nickname of Kick Volleyball implies, players may not use their hands. Instead, they must use their feet, head, knees and chest to try and entice the opposing team to make a fault, thereby earning themselves a point. Teams are made up of three players each, and the first team to make it to 21 points wins the match. It’s a “best out of three” situation, with the overall winning team reaching 21 first in at least 2 matches.
For more details on how and where to play the game, visit the English Sepak Takraw Association website.
Image Source: Pixabay
Disc Golf
This is one of the more well-known sports to make our list. You may know it as Frisbee Golf, a name which accurately describes the two sports that this one combines. Played on a course of 9 or 18 holes, participants throw a disc from a tee pad towards a target, known as a basket. The baskets are usually made of wire and/or metal and have hanging chains designed to catch the frisbees. Players count how many throws it takes to reach the basket from the tee pad to get their score. Each hole has a par, or number of strokes it would take in expert player to complete it.
Visit the Disc Golf UK website to find your nearest course.
Image Source: Pixabay
Quidditch / Quadball
Yes, it is an actual, real sport! Originally conceived by author JK Rowling for the Harry Potter book series, it became a reality in 2005.
Players have one of several roles, including a Keeper, Seeker, Chasers and Beaters, but they all run around holding poles like broomsticks. We’re not kidding. The aim is to score the most number of points, with Chasers scoring goals in three uneven hoops set on opposite ends of the playing field. An impartial player called the Snitch is dressed in yellow and runs around the vicinity of the playing area, trying not to be caught by each team’s Seeker. They can run anywhere, into the crowd for example! When they are caught, the Seeker who completed the catch earns their team 30 points.
There are more rules, depending on which level you play the sport at, such as timing handicaps for the Snitch for example. The Quidditch UK website has loads of information for prospective players. To be honest, watching the videos on Youtube is pretty entertaining as well.
Image Source: Pixabay
Cycleball
Another unexpected sport with a World Cup, cycleball involves players scoring goals in teams of two. However, players cannot actually touch the ball they are using. The ball can only be moved using bicycles, which the players are riding. At no point may a players foot touch the ground, requiring some pretty impressive balancing skills. One of the most watched cycleball competitions is even held as part of the annual UCI World Indoor Cycling Championships.
If you fancy competing in the World Championships in Glasgow 2023, have a read of the Home of British Cycleball website.
Image Source: Pexels
Kabaddi
By far the most popular sport on our list, this relatively unknown game in the UK is the national sport of Bangladesh. Each team consists of 7 players, with one player at a time acting as the “raider” who enters the opposing team’s side attempts to touch out as many of the defenders as possible and return to their side… all in one breath! Apart from a playing area and teammates, Kabaddi doesn’t need anything else to play. As a contact sport, Kabaddi does have a higher injury level than most of the other sports we have mentioned, so we suggest taking care if you try this one out.
The England Kabaddi Association is affiliated with World Kabaddi and its website is a great resource.
Image Source: Pexels
Have you tried any of these unusual sports?
Let us know if you give any of these unusual sports a go this summer. Tag us on our socials @wiseupteam.
If unusual sports are not your thing – that’s okay!
For other ideas of things to do this summer, check out our blog post from 2018 listing 5 easy Micro Adventure ideas. Above all, enjoy whatever it is you are up to!
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