Sports Kaleidoscope

New Sports

New sports are distinct from other sports familiar to the public. Judging from the trend of the development of new sports in recent years, we see that they share common features, such as being non-mainstream, covering a wide variety of sports, internationally popular, as well as with a low threshold for entry and a history of development less than a decade in Hong Kong. If you have yet to come across favourite sports, you may be eager to give the following new sports a try.

Dodgeball

Let’s start with dodgeball, a new sport in Asia. A long time ago, dodgeball was very well-liked by students. Since it was then mostly played with self-made rules, dodgeball has simply been viewed as a game. Subsequent to its introduction into Japan and refinements, the game evolved into single-ball dodgeball, proving a big hit in Asia. The dodgeball field measures 20m by 30m. The area within the boundaries is called the infield, which is separated by the midline, and each team occupies an infield court. All areas beyond the boundaries are called the outfield. The game is played with eight or ten players from each team in infield and outfield positions, and at least one of them has to be in the outfield. When the game starts, the player from the attacking side in possession of the ball will throw a soft ball from their own court at the opponents in the infield. The players from the defensive side may either dodge or try to catch the soft ball with hands. Anyone hit by the soft ball will be considered “out” at once and has to move to the outfield. They will nevertheless be given chances to be “revived” during the game, either when they successfully hit their opponents with the ball from the outfield to get them “out”, or when a teammate in the infield catches an incoming ball. The game is played in two rounds of five minutes each. When the whistle blows at the end of each round, the referee will count the numbers of players in the infield for both teams. The team with more players in the infield for both rounds combined wins.

While it may seem simple to play dodgeball, this new sport is actually easy for beginners but difficult to become an expert in. The fun of the sport lies in its intense rhythm and quick pace, as well as players’ precision in throwing balls, agility and teamwork. Given very limited physical contact, dodgeball may be played as a perfect mixed gender sport for use in the context of corporate training. Since the establishment of the Hong Kong Dodgeball Association in 2005, the Association has strived to promote dodgeball in Hong Kong by means of various activities, training programmes and official competitions, making the sport well-received by members of the public in recent years.

Floor Curling

The history of curling can be traced back to an ancient time when it was extensively played in the icy regions of the western world. Since curling could only be played on icy surfaces, a variant sport called “floor curling” was therefore developed, essentially meaning curling over a smooth surface. Its prototype first emerged in Canada as early as 1980, which was then introduced into the UK and other countries for further development. Floor curling eventually reached Hong Kong in 2014.

The game is played with four players on each team, with each of whom throwing a total of two curling stones. Curlers need to throw the curling stones towards the target (house), as close to the centre of the tee as possible. When all the stones have been thrown, those with the stones closest to the centre of the tee will become the winner. The team with the highest accumulated total score upon completion of six rounds wins. Floor curling does not demand too much of players’ physical strength and power. With emphasis on strategy and teamwork, floor curling is regarded as a sport for people of all ages and genders.

Bubble Soccer

First emerging on a Norwegian TV show, bubble soccer was subsequently promoted rapidly across the UK via crowd funding, eventually gaining huge popularity in countries such as the US and New Zealand. During the game, players in protective gear will be wrapped inside a space ball bubble. A game lasts 30 minutes, with two halves of 15 minutes each. A maximum of five players are allowed to play on each of the teams, with the objective of scoring points by kicking the soccer ball into the opposing team’s goal. The team scoring the most points within the allotted period will win. Players are allowed to knock down their opponents during the game, but are not allowed to hit them from behind or diagonally. When players are knocked down and unable to stand back up, they may yell to teammates or marshals for help.

As bubble suits are rarely seen in everyday life, bubble soccer, with its simple rules, has managed to attract a group of avid fans in Hong Kong who participate in the sport on a regular basis. This team sport requires a spirit of teamwork and cooperation from teammates, who will have great fun together.