Exotic Sports You’ve Never Heard Of

Written by: Sitara Nair

We’ve all heard of basketball, soccer, and baseball, but have you ever heard of bossaball or quidditch (yes, from Harry Potter)? Well, these are real sports, and can get pretty competitive in their respective cultures and among dedicated players. Though these games might sound unfamiliar to you, they are pretty influential in other cultures, so let’s learn about them, and maybe you’ll find a sport you really want to play!

Bossaball

Bossaball is the combination of a couple of well-known sports: soccer (or football), volleyball, gymnastics, and capoeira. This exotic sport was created in 2004 by Filip Eyckmans and is played on an inflatable court with trampolines and a net along the center. Eyckmans is Belgian and was inspired by the atmosphere and liveliness of soccer games and beach volleyball in places like Brazil. He coined the term bossaball using the Portuguese word “bossa” meaning style or flair, with “ball” like most other sports. Players are given a ball and aim to get into the opponent’s side, working together with up to five other players on their team. Every time a player gets their ball over the net onto the opponent's side, they are awarded a point. If you hit the trampoline section, players get more points (3 for volleyball touches, 5 for soccer touches), in comparison to the points awarded for other in-bounds areas (1 for volleyball touches, 3 for soccer touches). Finally, Eyckmans emphasizes that music is a vital part of bossaball, as it is what creates the festive and lively environment for players and spectators that he hoped to achieve with the game. 

Sepak Takraw – The “Kick Volleyball”

Sepak Takraw is a traditional Southeast Asian sport that is very similar to volleyball but is played with a rattan ball and using only feet, chests, or their heads to get balls over nets in comparison to volleyball’s use of hands. Originating in Southeast Asia, specifically Thailand, the first set of modern rules were created in 1929! What makes this game particularly interesting is the rattan ball, a hollow, woven sphere made from rattan —the thin, light stems of a palm. In the game, teams try to score points by kicking, heading, or hitting the ball over the net and into the opponent’s courts. Players are forbidden from using their hands, and play to a set point total, with a two-point led required to win a set. The first team to win two sets wins the entire match! Players who participate in Sepak Takraw showcase impressive athleticism, thanks to the agility, coordination, flexibility, and balance the game requires. Not only does playing this exciting sport enhance these skills, but it also helps strengthen their core muscles, making it a fantastic full-body workout!

Bo-taoshi

Have you ever heard of the Japanese sport Bo-taoshi? Bo-taoshi is a sport wre two teams of seventy-five people compete to topple the opposite team’s pole. The main goal is to bring down the opposing team’s pole by knocking it past a 30-degree angle from horizontal! A team will win if they successfully defend their pole for the whole match. You might’ve thought 75 people is far too much, but that’s just on the attacking side of a team! Each team actually has 150 players, 75 attackers (who wear the team’s colors) and 75 defenders who wear white. Defenders work to keep the pole upright, and there are three especially important defensive positions. The “Ninja” player is one who is positioned at the top of teh pole to provide directions and defend. Additionally, there is the “Scrum” position, where defenders form a wall or base for attackers to use as a springboard. On the otherhand, attackers attempt to take down the opposing pole by climbing over defenders and using their teammates as springboards! Lasting two minutes, each match is often incredibly chaotic and can even get dangerous as players sometimes end up grabbing, pushing, or climbing on other people, making it incredibly intriguing to watch!

Quidditch

You might think that Quidditch cant be a real sport, especially because it involves flying brooms in the Harry Potter franchise. While people aren’t literally flying when they play quidditch, the game has evolved into becoming a full-contact sport and is known more as Quadball ever since 2022. Teams have 7 players and run with a sort of “broom” (or a PVC pipe) between their legs. The objective is to score by throwing a ball called the “quaffle” through the opponent’s hoops. The sport is actually governed by an organization called the International Quadball Association, and other national organizations, making it a widely loved sport!

These unusual sports show how creative and diverse games can be around the world!! From bossaball to quidditch, each one offers something exciting and different, so, do you like any of these sports? Would you play any?