thelesterlee
We all know and love sports like football, basketball, and baseball, and playing them can be a lot of fun what with all of the team bonding and competitive spirit as well as the obvious fitness benefits.
But there is more to the sporting world than the big hitters and by trying out some of the lesser-known sports out there, you might just hit on a new favorite or discover an even better way of conditioning your body.
With that in mind, here are what we think are some of the best lesser-known sports to have a go at today.
1. Wife-carrying
If you are looking for a sport that is truly out theorem but which will also enable you to spend some quality time with your spouse, then wife-carrying could be just the thing you need.
What is it? As the name suggests, it is a sport in which men are tasked with carrying a female partner (it does not necessarily have to be your wife) as they run a race that is laced with various obstacles. First over the finish line wins. You’ll burn a lot of calories, but your spouse might not.
2. Pickleball
Pickleball is a lesser-known sport, but one that is gaining popularity more and more in the US. What is it? It is a game similar to a hybrid of tennis and table tennis whereby players use paddleboards to hit a polymer ball over a net with between 26 and 40 round holes. The great thing about pickleball is that you need very little other than a paddle and one of these pickleball bags and you can bun a lot of calories as you play and pick up speed. It combines the discipline of tennis with the fast-paced fun of table tennis and it is great.
3. Extreme ironing
Ironing your clothing is about as boring as it gets, but many people are finding the gun in what is a menial task by participating in the unusual sport of extreme ironing What is it? Well, it’s basically ironing but in new and exotic locations like on the side of a cliff or while skydiving. No, we’re not kidding, it really is a thing.
4. Swap soccer
What could be more fun than kicking a ball around in a game of soccer with your best buds? Playing soccer in a muddy swap that’s what.
Swamp soccer may sound strange but it is a lot of fun, and because swampy field conditions make the game more perilous, you never really know what is going to happen. Yes, your laundry bills are likely to skyrocket, but you will be having so much fun playing that you really will not care too much.
5. Underwater hockey
If you’re more of a hockey person than a soccer player, you can make what is already a pretty exciting game, even more exciting by playing it underwater. Yes, underwater hockey is a real thing and it is ideal for people who want to play hockey in a new and thrilling way.
How does it work? Players use a snorkel to enable them to move the puck around at the bottom of a pool, swimming instead of skating or running, Other than that, it’s pretty much the same game of hockey you know and love.
6. Fencing
Fencing used to be very popular but it is not played so much anymore. You will probably know that fencing is the art of sword fighting. The idea is to improve your sword skills and bodily agility so you can avoid being stricken by your opponent’s sword while also landing as many blows in them as possible It might sound violent but if you have the right kit, it is as safe as any other sport, and actually a lot safer than things like hockey and football where injuries are not uncommon.
7. Kick volleyball
Volleyball is fun but kick volleyball, which is somehow not as popular, is even more fun, As you might have guessed, it’s a sport where you use your feet to pass a volleyball over a high net, trying your best not to let it hit the ground. If you’ve played volleyball, you should be able to pick the rules up quickly but mastering the art of using your feet will probably take a bit more time. It is not nearly as easy as it seems.
As you can see, there are so many interesting sports that have not quite made it mainstream that it is definitely worth checking them out and seeing if you might just find your new favorite way of having fun.
