Sports like hockey: A list of hockey-like sports in the world currently

Hockey is one of the most famous sports in the world, especially in the United States and Canada. Over the past few decades, its popularity has skyrocketed, and it has gained a massive following across the globe. Many sports like hockey have emerged with similar thrilling speed, intense physicality, and strategic gameplay.

The main difference between hockey-like sports is the surface of their fields and the instruments used. The surfaces and instruments include ice, wheels, and feet, such as field hockey. The diverse range of similar games reveals a rich tapestry of cultural significance and intense athletic competition.

A list of the top 10 sports like hockey

As most fans wonder what sport is most like hockey, Sports Brief explores the wide range of hockey-like games played in different fields, from icy arenas to grassy fields. According to analysis from various online sources such as Topend Sports Network, here is a list of the top 10 sports like hockey.

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10. Ball hockey

• Founded: 1960s
• Origin: Canada
• Team members: 6 to 9
• Venue: Indoor and outdoor

Ball hockey is one of the most popular sports that are like hockey. It is a variation of the game played on non-ice surfaces using a ball instead of a puck. Ball hockey players use sticks to control the ball and score goals in nets at either end of the playing field.

Players wear inline skates or shoes to help them move. The game is a popular leisure activity in urban neighbourhoods, schoolyards, and community centres in several countries.

9. Inline hockey

• Founded in: Late 19th Century
• Origin: England
• Team members: 5
• Venue: Indoor or outdoor

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Inline hockey can be played on any surface, including pavement or indoor rinks. It is one of the popular sports that are like hockey, providing fans with thrill and enthusiasm. The game attracts players of every age. It involves two teams of five players, including a goaltender.

8. Ringette

• Founded in: 1963
• Origin: Canada
• Team members: 6
• Venue: Indoor or outdoor

One of the most unique ice sports like hockey is ringette. According to Hockey World, ringette has a maximum of six skaters and one goaltender per team on the rink. Teams can remove their goalkeeper from the rink and replace them with another skater. When that happens, the team designates one skater to act as goalie.

7. Floorball

• Founded in: 1970s
• Origin: Sweden
• Team members: 6
• Venue: Indoor or outdoor

Floorball combines the thrilling elements of the renowned stick game and soccer. It is also known as indoor and floor hockey. In this team sport, five skaters and a goalie use their deft handling of lightweight sticks to propel a plastic ball around the rink and score goals.

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Each floorball match consists of three 20-minute halves, characterised by fast-paced action and an emphasis on accurate passing and shooting. The game is popular in the United States and parts of Europe.

6. Bandy

• Founded in: 1890s
• Origin: England
• Team members: 11 players
• Venue: Indoor or outdoor

Playing behind goals is not permitted in Bandy. A "stroke off" starts the game, and both teams are then limited to playing on their respective halves of the ice. Players use a ball rather than a flat puck. A bandy game consists of two teams of eight to eleven skaters who use curved sticks to whack the ball in an attempt to score.

5. Ice hockey

• Founded in: 18th and 19th century
• Origin: Canada, USA
• Team members: 6
• Venue: Indoor

Ice hockey is among the world's popular sports that are similar to hockey. Skaters on opposing sides use sticks to guide a puck around an enormous ice rink to score goals. Millions of people across the globe enjoy ice hockey for its rapid speed, brutal hits, and deft stick handling.

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The game involves teams of six players (a goalkeeper and five skaters) on ice skates. Ice hockey is also one of the most followed Olympic sports, attracting millions of viewers.

4. Underwater hockey

• Founded in: 1954
• Origin: England
• Team members: 6 players
• Venue: Underwater

Underwater hockey, or octopush, is a unique sport that combines the excitement of the renowned stick game with the thrill of snorkelling. According to Sportsmatik, underwater hockey is a contact sport played between two teams with ten players, where only six players participate.

The teams of swimmers engage in a thrilling aquatic game by navigating a puck across the pool floor. They aim to score points by shooting the puck into submerged nets. Players use snorkels, masks, fins, and specialised sticks known as pushers. It challenges their strategic thinking, technical skills, and ability to manage their breathing.

3. Shinny

• Founded in: 1870s
• Origin: Canada
• Team members: No strict limit on the number of players
• Venue: Outdoor

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Shinny is often played in casual settings such as frozen lakes, ponds, or homemade rinks. Unlike those in official leagues, matches in shinny tend to be friendly events with straightforward rules and minimal equipment. Players of all ages and abilities come together to enjoy the simple pleasure of skating, passing, and shooting in the cold winter air.

2. Broomball

• Founded in: Early 1900s
• Origin: Canada, USA
• Team members: No strict limit on the number of players
• Venue: Indoor or outdoor

Broomball is a recreational ice game similar to the NHL. Instead of a puck and sticks, players use a ball and broomsticks. They play matches on ice rinks or frozen lakes, skilfully manoeuvring brooms to score goals strategically.

Each official game consists of two 20-minute halves. Players use shoes instead of skates. The scoring system varies by gender. Women are awarded 2 points for a goal, while men receive only 1 point. Broomball is popular in North America, particularly in regions where ice hockey is prominent.

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1. Rinkball

• Founded in: 1960s
• Origin: Sweden
• Team members: 17 or 20 players
• Venue: Indoor

Rinkball tops the list of sports similar to ice hockey. According to Hockeygods, it is a thrilling indoor activity combining roller skating and hockey. Every team's official roster is limited to a maximum of seven players, which includes the goaltender.

The games are played in a three-on-three format, with a minimum requirement of four players and a goalie. Teams can employ an extra attacker when they do not have a goaltender. Every team must have at least three players to participate in the game.

Frequently asked questions

Although it is not as popular as other sports, such as football, hockey is still a highly intriguing game. It does have its supporters, and the majority of them have many questions about the game. Here are some frequently asked questions about hockey-like games.

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What sport is like hockey but bigger?

Bandy is similar to hockey but played in larger fields, about the same size as a football pitch and considerably larger than an ice hockey rink.

What sport is harder than hockey?

Compared to the renowned stick game, boxing is considered one of the most difficult sports because of its physical exposure to athletes. Swimming and gymnastics are also considered harder because of their physical needs.

Why is hockey different from other sports?

Unlike other popular games, there is no wait time between plays. Additionally, the ice provides a unique dimension of velocity. Everything from shooting and passing to breakaways and huge saves is fun.

Final word

Sports like hockey have risen in popularity and are now favourites to most sports enthusiasts worldwide. The speed, skill, and exhilaration of these sports, whether played on grass, ice, or indoor surfaces, captivate spectators and showcase the universal allure of the hockey spirit.

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