Bocce

Bocce is a sport belonging to the boules sport family with a common ancestry from the ancient games played in Roman Empire. However, it has developed into its present form in Italy and is known as bocce there. The popularity of this game has skyrocketed to such an extent that it is played in many overseas countries as well but goes by different names.

 

Bocce is traditionally played on an oyster shell court but can be played on decomposed granite or soil of about 20-27 in length and 2.5-4 in breadth. The bowls are spherical in shape and they are made of metal, wood, or plastic. The game can be played between two players or two teams of two, three, or four players.

 

The court match is started by a randomly chosen side, and they are given the opportunity to throw a smaller ball called the jack from one end of the court to about five metres away. If they miss twice, then the opposing team is given the opportunity to place anywhere within the given zone. The team that attempts to put the jack into play gets to roll the first ball.

 

Once the first bowl has taken place, then the other side bowls. From then on, the side that does not have the jack close gets to bowl until the four balls are used up by one of the sides. During this time, the other side bowls their remaining balls. The team having balls closest to the jack scores the maximum. This way, the scoring team earns one point from each of their balls.

 

The length of the game varies but is usually played to 11, 12, or 13 points. The players have to throw the ball using an underarm action. This knocks the jack or any other ball away to some other favourable position. When players are quite accurate at bowling, then the game may get complex.

 

No doubt, this game is very much a skills-based sport and is considered to be a very interesting activity. Its unique combination of skill, patience, and fun make it extremely popular with people young and old.

Ultimate Frisbee

Ultimate Frisbee is a sport played with a 175 gm-flying disc and holds a very similar outline to American football and rugby. However, nowadays, it is only known by the name ‘Ultimate’ as it is distinguished by its sportsmanship, joy of the game, and its fair play.

 

Ultimate Frisbee is played between two teams that each has seven players. However, in a major tournament, about 20 players are allowed just for the sake of substitutions. The game is played outdoors on grass and the boundaries are marked by chalk lines and cones. It is played on a field of 70 yards by 40 yards and the end zones are about 19.5-25 yards deep, according to different rules.

 

To start the game, the disc is flipped in the same way that one would flip a coin. The winner gets to decide whether to be on the offensive or defensive side. After this has been chosen, the players line up on their respective end zones and the defensive team throws the disc to the offensive team and the game begins.

 

The disc is moved in any direction and, when a player catches the disc, it is required to come to stop as fast as possible and then only is the player allowed to move their non-pivot foot. The player can also throw the disc to the opponent just before stopping and the thrower may only catch their own throw if another player touches the disc in the air.

 

Thus, in this way, the game goes on and may be stopped due to many reasons like weather, substitutions, time-outs and half times, or injuries. It is a very fun-loving game and can be played at the beach and even indoors. It is played in college teams and also in schools because Ultimate Frisbee is very popular among youngsters.

Extreme Croquet

The game of extreme croquet is played with coloured balls, mallets, and wickets. Some of its basic rules are very easy to understand for the beginners and its convoluted laws can satisfy the more enthusiastic players. The wickets are setup normally, according to the well-known British figure eight standard, and the game proceeds with the normal croquet rules. Sometimes, there are alterations in the game’s rules to overcome the circumstances that differ from the garden format.

 

Some variations of the game are as follows. When a ball is stroked by another ball, the striker gets the chance to choose and continue to play whilst it is considered the strikee’s ball. If a player passes through the wicket’s second story, then he gets an extra stroke. When each player reaches the starting point by clearing every wicket, then he must declare himself as a poison to the other players. Moreover, a poison player can be eliminated by the non-poison one by sending him through a wicket. The ball is sent back to the previous post as a punishment for not passing through the wickets in order. Also, a player may play the ball from where it lies even if the balls placement is disturbed by dogs or small children.

 

Many developments have been made over the course of time and numerous techniques have been adopted to strengthen the balls, wickets, and mallets. With every passing day, this game is gaining a reputation and the day may not be too far away when the game well and truly gains popularity.

Mud Wrestling

There are numerous games that are played all around the globe, but mud wrestling holds a very special position that has carved out its own niche in the field of wrestling. Though the word, wrestling, might sound a bit terrifying, this form of wrestling is played only for fun and enjoyment. The emphasis is on providing an enjoyable spectacle rather than debilitating or physically injuring the opponent.

 

Basically, mud wrestling is a physical confrontation between two people that usually occurs in a mud pit or mud. In the modern interpretation of the game, participants wear minimal clothes and go bare foot inside the wrestling arena. Moreover, the competition venue is chosen in such a manner that the social nature of the game is not hampered and where both man and women can equally participate and enjoy the game. Though the game is played just like a competition, it is conducted purely in a semi-competitive manner where enjoyment is considered more important than winning or losing.

 

Furthermore, numerous variations are involved in this form of the game, but the most common form is the usage of gelatine instead of mud, which is popularly called jelly wrestling in Great Britain and Jell-o wrestling in the US. Apart from gelatine, other substances are also used instead of mud, including oil and mashed potato.

 

Given all this, there can be no denying the fact that this form of wrestling is very fascinating and, at times, completely and utterly hilarious. The way mud wrestlers enjoy their time out there in the wrestling arena is really amazing and is a real treat for the eyes.

Cooee Championship

Have you never heard of a cooee? As a unique way to communicate in the Australian bush, the humble cooee has been likened to a cross between a banshee’s scream and a kookaburra’s laugh. Over time, cooee competitions have developed something of a cult following. Numerous enthusiasts from different parts of the world flock to Australia just to participate. The main reason for this kind of popularity is that the basic format of the game is very easy; it is fun and unique; and you need not be an expert to have a shot.

 

The trick that is involved in doing the perfect ‘cooee’ is holding the ‘coo’ for a longer period of time and simultaneously keeping the extra amount of breathe in reserve so that you can finish off with a stronger ‘ee.’ To gain more points, it is very important to put the stress on the second syllable. However, it is not just the volume that counts; rather the clarity and authenticity of the call also play a very important part in deciding the winner.

 

Moreover, the history of this game dates back to the legendary 1915 Cooee March. When the first lists of casualty were published, after the Gallipoli disaster, there was a decline in the enlistment of Australian men. To change the trend, 35 men started a recruitment drive, calling cooee on their way, and, when they reached Sydney, their number amounted to 277. To commemorate this famous march, competitions are held every year throughout the length and breadth of the country.

 

Now, this game is not only concentrated to Australia, but it has also reached into neighbouring counties as well as to some of the European countries. This game is just not any game. This game preserves, celebrates, and showcases Australia’s unique history in a very special way.

Hurling

Hurling is a popular sport in Ireland. It is a very old sport and its origin can be traced back to the ancient Gaelic period. This sport is one of the fastest in terms of the game ploy, and the speed with which this game is played is immense. The game is played with a stick-like object, which is also known as a hurley and a ball-like object called a sliotar. The main objective in this game is to push the ball into the opponent’s goal post with the hurley. It can be done over the crossbar or under the crossbar with an allotment of one and three points for the former and latter.

 

The goalpost is guarded by a goalkeeper who tries his very best to save the ball from being netted. The ball can be held by hands only for the duration of four steps after which it has to be struck with the stick. The shot can be aerial or along the ground, depending on the choice of the player. Body contact to manoeuvre the balls direction is illegal although shoulder tapping is allowed. Accidental body contact is allowed and is not regarded as an offence.

 

In this game, the players do not wear any protective clothing except a plastic helmet. This is necessary to prevent head and other facial injuries during the course of play. Each hurling team has a total of fifteen players. The playing pitch is approximately 140 meters long and 85 meters wide and is made of thick grass. Nowadays, Astroturf is also used to prepare the pitch for this sport. Professional inter-county hurling matches last for 70 minutes and all other matches are allotted 60 minutes. The acceptable forms of tackling in this game are hook, side pull, and block. The entire match is supervised by eight officials.

Picnic Games

Picnic games are generally different from normal sporting activities like football or tennis. These games are more about having a good belly laugh than winning. The challenges are not serious but pure fun, and the participants enjoy playing such games. There are various games like the gunny race, the egg-spoon race, the one-legged race, and passing the ball, which are commonly played during picnics.

 

The gunny race is very popular amongst kids. The challenge during a gunny race is to run a given distance whilst being fully inside a gunny bag. Only the head is kept out of the gunny bag to prevent suffocation. Whoever completes the distance first is the winner of the race. The entire concept is clumsy but, no doubt, it is very enjoyable.

 

In the egg and spoon race, the participants have to put a spoon inside their mouth and place an egg over it. Then, they have to walk in this manner until they reach the finishing point. If the egg falls from the spoon, then the person is disqualified from the race.

 

The one-legged race is an event in which the young and old can take part alike. The rules are simple. The participants have to complete a race on one foot. If both the feet are on the ground at any point of the race, then that person is disqualified. The concept is very funny indeed, but care should be taken to avoid injuries. A picnic without games will be disliked by all, so games should always be included.

Todd River Regatta

Regatta is a very popular sport and probably is one of the oldest sports in the history of mankind. During historic times, similar sporting events were followed with great interest. Boat races were held and the rulers used to bet a lot of money on those races. The winners were rewarded by the organisers.

 

Todd River Regatta is held in Alice Springs, Central Australia. It is such a popular sporting event that it attracts people from all spheres of life to participate in the event. The participants team up as pirates and Vikings to engage in mock battles. They use water cannons to emulate the use of cannons by the pirates. This event was first held in 1962 and was organised by Reg Smith and his associates. The event was held between Oxford and Cambridge University along the famous Thames River. Though the place is far off from a large water body, the event was organised with ease.

 

The local Rotary Club of Alice Springs helped in organising the event and extended full support to the organisers. Watching the entire race is a true treat for the eyes. It is great fun to watch the participants racing through the course sand of Todd River. The event attracts a lot of spectators and is covered live on television. The results are followed with great interest by the fans of this sport.

 

The event is organised on a voluntary basis by the Rotary Clubs of Alice Springs. A lot of revenue is generated from this event due to the sponsorships from leading corporate organisations. Each year, the turnover is more than a million Australian dollars, which is allotted for local and regional humanitarian projects. This sport is truly a novel idea for raising money for humanitarian projects and is thoroughly enjoyed by all.