Sports You've Never Heard Of
We know you've heard of baseball, basketball, and football in America, but have you ever wondered what other countries love and play? Let's wander around the world today to explore some amazing sports we'd guess you've never heard of before. Maybe it's time to try something new! Here are just five to get you interested.
1) Bandy (Sweden and Russia)
If you love hockey, we know you'll appreciate bandy, a similarly fast-paced ice sport played with skates, sticks, and a small ball on a large rink. Eleven players go up at a time for each team, and matches emphasize long passing and positioning. It has a devoted following in parts of Northern and Eastern Europe, with organized national competitions.
2) Sepak Takraw (Thailand and Malaysia)
Though it may be difficult to pronounce, sepak takraw is a beloved game in certain Asian countries. It's played with a woven ball and features athletes using feet, knees, chest, and head to keep the ball in play over a net. The sport is known for impressive jumping and precise control, all while hands are not permitted. Just imagine volleyball with no hands!
dbgg1979 from Cebu City, Philippines on Wikimedia
3) Kabaddi (India and Bangladesh)
An incredibly physical game, kabaddi is a contact team sport where a raider enters the opposing half to tag defenders and return safely in a single breath.
Players often chant continuously during a raid to demonstrate breath control, which adds a formal rule-checking element to the action. It's certainly unique, but will have you holding your own breath in anticipation.
4) Hurling (Ireland)
No, there's no typo here and we're not talking about curling. Hurling is a traditional Irish field sport played with a wooden stick (a hurley) and a small ball (a sliotar). The game is a mix of quick striking, catching, and tactical movement, with scoring achieved by sending the ball between posts or into a net.
5) Bossaball (Spain and the Netherlands)
Blending elements of volleyball with music and an inflatable court, bossaball is definitely a sport we can get behind. Teams aim to ground the ball on the opponent’s side, and the trampolines allow for notably high jumps and athletic finishes. It is played in various countries, often at festivals and organized events, and it tends to attract cheerful crowds.
