10 Lesser-Known Sports
We all dream of the perfect healthy body. But attaining these body and health goals through regular workouts is close to impossible. Most of us would rather stay in the club for hours or hang out with friends than go to the gym. So how about combining both; having fun and exercising the body? There are several sports that are really fun and leave you trained. We are here to suggest 10 of the most interesting sports you have never heard of to try with your friends.
1. Wife Carrying
Just as the name suggests, this sports is about a group of men carrying a female co-player and running across the race tracks while jumping and swerving obstacles. Here, a group of men line-up on a race track and carry their female teammates over their shoulders. On the word go, they race towards the finished line. Sometimes, it’s a clear track, other times there are hurdles and obstacles to jump over or dodge. All we can say is better not drop your wife during the race or you will be sleeping on the couch for a week. On the brighter side, that will be a lot of calories burnt through the running and the lifting.
2. Swamp Soccer
With all the defense, running and kicking, scoring on an AstroTurf or natural soccer pitch is hard as is. Now imagine that same amount of action on a swampy field. Swamp soccer combines the fun of running and playing in mud with a soccer ball, with all the rules being maintained. If you think about it, it’s almost like getting a free mud massage.
3. Zorbing
Ever wanted to roll around downhill like a ball similar to what they do in cartoons with losing a tooth? Well Zorbing is the right sport for you. This sport involves rolling around in a soft circular ball; usually see-through and can either be done on a gentle slope, flat surface or on water. The ball, usually referred to as the orb is big enough to accommodate flips, walking and running. Just a word of advice, don’t go zorbing right after a heavy meal.
4. Underwater Hockey
Who wants to just go swimming when they can play hockey under the pool?! Underwater hockey is a sport where two teams play each other with the hopes of pushing a hockey puck into their opponent’s pole. With the puck in the center of the pool, a team of six players dives into the bottom of the pool waiting for the referee’s signal. At the sound of the signal, the players are allowed to swim in all directions in the play area in order to move the puck in their opponent’s pole. To play underwater hockey, you need to know how to swim, have hockey sticks, and diving, snorkel mask, and a puck.
5. Extreme Ironing
Extreme ironing is a sport that takes multitasking to a whole new different level. We have carried our ‘wives’ while running, let us ski and iron now. Extreme ironing combines the act of ironing and a dangerous sport like skydiving or deep diving. Who wouldn’t want to have a stack of well-ironed clothes as a plus after a sporting activity? There have been several extreme ironing performances at the wildest location; on top of huge statues, in a canoe, on tall mountains and even in the air while parachuting.
6. Kabaddi
Kabaddi literally translates to holding hands. It is originated from the Tamil word ‘kai’ and ‘pidi’. Kabaddi is a type of sports that necessitates bodily contact among players. It is played between two opposing teams, usually seven on each side.
The plot of the game is for a single player reoffered to as a ‘raider’ to run into the opposing team’s side of the court and tag as many of their team players as possible. The raider then has to return to his side of the court without being tackled by the defenders of the opposing team.
The raider earns a score for each tagged player in the opposing team whiles the opposing team earns scores for stopping the raider. Kabaddi can suffice as the human version of fast and furious.
7. Curling
Curling is a type of sport that tests the correlation between your eyes and your hands. It requires attention and focus. Curling is also a team sport, where two opposing teams (with 4 team players) compete against each other. The concept of the game is quite similar to that of Bullseye. Players in each team are expected to throw polished granite stones called rocks towards circular targets. The closer the rock gets to the target the higher the score. Curling is played on ice and has add-ons that make it more interesting.
Curling requires a great level of strategy and planning to determine which path the rock should be made to travel along. The team that accumulates the highest scores wins at the end of the game.
8. Fencing
Fencing is a contact sport that requires hand and legs correlation, focus and seamless moving ability. It is played between two people. Both persons dress in the costume of the game (costume consists of gloves, knee-high socks, and mask and chest protector). Each player scores points by touching their opponent with a sword. The goal is to move and attack as swiftly as possible so your opponent doesn’t touch you with the sword while you focus on touching them.
9. Kick Volleyball
Unlike regular volleyball, kick volleyball players can only touch the balls with their knees, chest, feet, and head. Each team consists of 3 players, aiming to kick a rattan ball across their opponent’s net. Their nets are mostly about 1.5 meters high.
10. Water Polo
Most water sports are highly entertaining as they combine swimming with something equally fun to do. The goal is two have two opposing teams play each other in an attempt to score the other. Most involve a lot of swimming, throwing and smashing. At the end of the game, the team with the highest score emerges as the winner.
