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Broomball doesn’t give a puck

11/27/2013

Acclaimed comedian and actor Robin Williams once raved over the origin of golf, explaining: “Ya whack a ball into a gopher hole, and you put the hole hundreds of yards away.” In the sport of horse-racing, Jerry Seinfeld once quipped, from the animal’s point of view: “That was the longest possible route you could take. Why didn’t we just stay here? We would have been first!” Both musings highlight how the hypothetical can be so much more entertaining than the truth.

So what about broomball?

Where there is sport, there is competition, but at least with broomball it’s always a good time.

Where there is sport, there is competition, but at least with broomball it’s always a good time.

“Anyone who has run through their house in socks to slide on the hardwood or linoleum knows how fun the basic part of this sport is,” said broomball enthusiast Tony Hansen. “Most of this game is trying to get from point A to point B as fast as possible without falling down along the way. You are playing in shoes on ice, so you lose count of how many times you are sliding one way while the ball is going another.”

It may come as a shock to some folks but many are not terribly fond of perpetually stumbling, falling or gliding across the ice on an inch-thick razor that seems to double as a shark to the vertically challenged, always coming far to close for comfort. So comparing this game to hockey is a waste of time. While broomball can be competitive, it’s not to be taken nearly as seriously. That is, it’s not worth the experience of swallowing your own front tooth with a stream of fresh blood.

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“Things can get as competitive, but for the most part, you can’t help but laugh at yourself,” Hansen said.

As for the origin? The USA Broomball website credits the Canadians, but isn’t it more fun to imagine a drunken hockey player showing up to a pick-up game without any equipment, and still demanding to play?

Regardless of the origin, it’s a fun sport that’s gaining popularity, and it’s a game for everyone who has got somewhat of a level equilibrium, doesn’t mind a little jog and who can swing a broom… all while on ice. The only equipment required is a broom and a helmet (which are available to rent at Brenton Skating Plaza).

“Though the game itself is fairly simple and geared toward having fun, it is still a competitive sport where one team is trying to win over another,” Hansen advised. “However, it is a game where you can have a great time and joke around with players on the other team, as well as your own team.” CV

David Rowley is an Iowa native with a bachelor’s degree in journalism from the University of Iowa and a master’s in film journalism from the University of Glasgow in Scotland.

 

Broomball League
WHERE: Brenton Skating Plaza
DATE: Begins on Sunday, Dec. 1 at 8:30 p.m.
REGISTRATION: Individual or team registration forms can be downloaded at http://brentonplaza.com/broomball.
COST: $80 per player, $850 per team (12-player limit per team, saves $10 per player), includes a T-shirt.
FOR MORE INFO: Call 284-1000
 

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