If only P.E had been this interesting, we would all have been rushing to school.
We all remember those P.E. days spent bating the legs off each other with hurleys or desperately trying to stuff a ball in some form of net after running a few laps to warm up, but now, with Google in hand, we know were deprived of a much richer experience.
Taking a look at what's out there, here are some of the best sports that could have changed our athletic experiences for the better and ten activities we would like to see on the curriculum.
Bog Snorkling
Wading through a water-filled trench cut from a peat bog as quick as possible is a lot like how some of us spent our time away from school, but add a snorkle mask and a timer and it could have been a professional sport.
Who knew we were this close to being good at something.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lowe6QnT5v8
Roller Derby
Again something we would've been semi professional at if we had only been more organised. Rollar derby is a contact speed sport on skates where teams score points by electing a jammer who attempts to lap the other team who play offense and defense, hindering the opposite team jammer.
Basically you skate around as fast as you can, dodging everyone else who tries to get in your way.
Great craic.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5y5Y82gcIoc
Underwater Hockey
If you were lucky as a child you might have got a few swimming lessons down the local pool, but nothing like this.
Underwater Hockey requires a great deal of skill, physical fitness and a decent set of lungs.
The aim of the game is to get the puck in the other team's goal, but the real challenge is ducking and diving in and out of the water for air.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WUpMReB47mk
Bo-Taoshi
A Japanese game, made up of teams of 150 individuals. The aim of the game is to pull down the pole that is being fiercely guarded by the opposite team. A win is achieved by lowering the pole to a thirty degree angle. It's a risky little business but one that gets the adrenaline going.
Good luck finding 300 people for a quick game, and don't forget a ref.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D4OV-2uTFeg
Bossaball
Originally from Spain, this looks like a lot of fun. A combination of trampolining, football and volleyball, Bossaball takes place on an inflatable court with trampolines. Players strategically pass the ball around their players, including one bouncing up and down waiting to hit a shakedown shot from a height.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ODw4MzO4teE
Bubble Ball
Bubble ball is played by wearing a large inflatable bubble around each player while engaging in a game of football. It looks like a lot of fun and is completely safe thanks to your bubble wrapping.
Perfect for kids, even better for adults.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hKZoCjWnmVk
Trampoline Basketball
This sport is exactly what it sounds like; basketball played on trampolines. Instead of the ball bouncing, players bounce up and down the court with the main aim of slam-dunking the opposition's basket.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kgwtIp38HoI
Quidditch
Stemming from the infamous Harry Potter books the fictional game of Quidditch has become a reality in some American schools. Although you don't fly around on a broomstick and the balls don't have a mind of their own, it is still a new form of exercise that is becoming a phenomenon for a lot of people.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GPnnxc1Dfm0
Snooker
A classic sport we all know and love. If only we had gotten some training at a younger age we could have been the next Ronnie O'Sullivan.
Or at least able to hold our own down the pub, oh the shame.
Golf
There are a lot of reasons why it's not taught in schools, the need for an 18 hole golf course being one, but it would have saved us learning as adults.
Damn ball, too good for it's home.
