7 New and Exciting Sports That Are Growing in Popularity
Since the dawn of humanity, people have looked for exciting ways to pass the time. Sports have always been a popular choice, and soccer, basketball, and golf have spread from their native countries to become worldwide favorites.
If you’re looking for something a little different, consider the following emerging sports that people are flocking to for recreation.
- Pickleball
Pickleball takes components of tennis, badminton, and table tennis and offers a similar game the whole family can play. Though the sport’s popularity has exploded internationally during the last decade, people have been playing it for more than 50 years.
Getting started is easy to do and only requires picking up a few pickleball paddles and balls and heading to a traditional tennis court. The rules eliminate the serve and volley advantage common in tennis, which slows the game down for all ages and activity levels and extends rallies for more fun. Check out details about how to play on the USA Pickleball Association’s website.
- Disc Golf
Disc golf has nearly a century of play and has become a common activity on college campuses and public parks. The game is easy to learn but challenging to master.
Similar to traditional golf, players aim to move their discs to holes on a course in the fewest throws (or “strokes”) possible. Maneuvering around or over obstacles requires learning to use discs of different weights and aerodynamics. The sport now has a professional association, leagues, tours, and world championships for serious competitors.
- FootGolf
FootGolf is another sport that adapts the principles of golf to make it more accessible to everyday folk. Players use a size 5 soccer ball and markers to advance their ball to the hole in the fewest kicks.
An advantage to this sport over regular golf is you have less likelihood of losing a soccer ball in the woods or the water in comparison to a tiny golf ball. Players enjoy the sport in dozens of countries, and hundreds of courses now offer willing participants a chance to give this game a try.
- Drone Racing
Drones are now more accessible, and like every other vehicle, people figured out that it’s fun to race them. The Drone Racing League oversees professional competition, and racers use first-person view goggles for a virtual experience.
The league has multiple online courses and videos to help newcomers master the basics. People who love technology and want a sport with virtual elements will dig drone racing.
- Kabaddi
Kabbadi offers a rough-and-tumble alternative for folks who want something different than rugby or American football. To Western cultures, the game resembles an extreme form of tag.
An offensive player called a raider runs onto the opposing side’s half of the court and has 30 seconds to tag opponents to get them out. All the while, the raider must avoid defenders who can tackle. Tagging opponents out earns a point, and points allow a team to bring players who are out back onto the court.
Kabaddi has a rich history and stems from the Ayar peoples of Asia. Asian countries continue to play the game and sponsor international competitions.
- Snowskating
If you love winter sports and slicing through the snow, consider learning how to snowskate. The board is a hybrid of a snowboard and skateboard that allows riders to move through urban terrain. Snowskaters build up skills to master unique tricks and impress others.
- Lacrosse
Lacrosse originated with the Native American Iroquois and has become another popular physical contest among university students. After its reintroduction in the late 1990s, people now take part in the sport around the world.
Men’s lacrosse is not for the fainthearted. Competition is usually full contact as players use a stick with a loose mesh end to carry, pass, catch, and shoot a small rubber ball into the opponent’s goal. However, variations of the sport exist that minimize and penalize harsh physical contact.
If you’re looking for something new to add fun to your routine, numerous emerging sports are available. Grab the family or your friends and try one of these options this weekend!