Sports Then and Now

Sure, you’ve heard of rugby, ultimate frisbee and maybe even quidditch, but what about cheese-rolling? Odds are you don’t know what this is, nor have you tried this sport yourself. If you were never any good at soccer or wrestling or other traditional sports, why not try a more obscure one? You might just find you have a knack for it. 

While the following options may be bizarre, you must admit they’re interesting — at least in theory.

1. Sepak Takraw 

Sepak Takraw is popular in many parts of Southeast Asia and is like volleyball without using your hands. Instead, players their feet, head, knees, shoulders and other body parts to get the ball over the net. Traditionally, the ball is made of rattan or dried palm leaves. 

While the sport originated in Malaysia about 500 years ago, it didn’t gain traction in the U.S. until 1996. Still, there is only one official USA Sepak Takraw organization, and it’s based in California. Therefore, if you’d like to get involved, you should first begin practicing on your own. Then, connect with others interested in the sport and possibly join the organization, which competes in Asia for the King’s Cup each year.