Football is the largest team sport in the world, played in every country in every nook and corner. With such incredible popularity, we are bound to see people innovate in terms of how the game is played. At the end of the day, it’s all about having fun.
Check out 10 crazy ways in which football is played across the world:
1. Robot Soccer (RoboCup) -
This was initially founded in 1997 as a way to encourage research in robotics and artificial intelligence (AI). The objective of the tournament, proclaimed by its organizers, is to develop a team of fully humanoid robot soccer players by mid 21st century who would take on the most recent FIFA World Cup winners (human, of course).
The teams are fully autonomous, except for input from a human referee.
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There are also several leagues involved, based on the size of the robots and technological aspects. A World Cup is held every year, since 1997, with the most recent one set to be held in the Netherlands. The 2012 edition saw 381 teams from a record 42 countries feature in the event.
Check out a video of a practice session of theses robot soccer players:
2. Bubble football - A hilarious version of football reportedly invented by Henrik Elvestad and Johan Golden in 2011. It features human players with the top half of their bodies enclosed in a giant inflated balls with only their legs free to run around.
Foul play just adds to the fun nature of the game, as with the inflated balls wrapped around them, the players just bounce off the field! One of the safest way to play soccer it would seem.
Check out the video of a game of bubble football in Estonia, where its called paf-ball.
3. Water football
No, it’s not football played in the swimming pool, but on a water bed. So, if you have a few friends over, and have a water bed lying around, then this is the game for you.
The soft, spongy surface of the water bed ensures that players lose their balance from time to time, thus making for a well-matched, funny game of football.
4. Subbuteo -
Subbutteo is a version of table football in which playing figures on weighted bases are flicked towards the ball by human players. Each player attempts to flick the figures towards the ball and then shoot at goal. The goalkeepers are controlled through a movable rod protruding from the back of the net.
Subbuteo figures have become popular as they are available decked in kits of actual international football teams like Barcelona, Argentina, etc. Several accessories like new balls, floodlights, ball boys, etc are also available with the game.
5. Blow football -
The main objective of blow football is to blow air through a pipe or straw to move a ball into the opposing goal. It can be played on a table or even cloth, with raised boundaries and the basic equipment necessary – plastic straws, goalposts and ball. Games may or may not feature goalkeepers on sticks for players to control.
Sophisticated gaming machines are also available wherein the players have to score by merely directing the air coming automatically from beneath the table, by pressing on buttons attached to the sides. Check out the video below of one such game:
6. Penny football -
Penny football or coin football is another table top version of football wherein a player who wins the toss shakes three coins in his hands and then rolls it on the table (like rolling dices). The objective is to score a goal by flicking a coin through the goal. However, the only way to move up and down the table is by flicking one coin through the other two.
If the coin fails to pass through the other two, or falls off the table, the other player gets the turn. The player can choose to flick any of the coins through the other two, and must also take the final shot (flick) at the goal only in a particular manner.
7. Coin football -
Similar to penny football, it is also a table top game that involves flicking a coin through goalposts built at each end of the table. However, the coin has to be flicked through the middle of the table, which has several barriers. The coin has to be flicked through this maze of barriers and then the player can shoot at goal. However, if the coin touches any of the barriers, the opponent gets the turn.
8. Crab football -
A version of football played both indoors and outdoors. An inflated beach ball is usually used and players try score by kicking it into the net. However, the unique thing about the sport is that players use both their hands and feet to move around while lying on their back with their face positioned upwards, giving them the look of crabs.
It is mostly played by children rather than adults.
9. Ice football -
Like the name suggests, this type of football is played on an ice-rink generally used for skating and ice-hockey matches. But if you think ice football is simply fun and games, then you would be mistaken.
This is a serious, competitive version of football slated for professional franchise status. And instead of a ball, the players use a specially made boot that they kick around.
Be wary though, serious injuries await those who are brave enough to try their hand, or leg, at this.
10. Electro-shock football
For some people, normal football isn’t good enough. Hence, electro-shock football. Because nothing sets the pulse racing than an electric shock to your leg, while you are attempting a shot at goal.
The players have special equipment attached to their legs, controlled from those sitting in the stands nearby. And remotely, a tiny, harmless but effective electric shock is sent to the unsuspecting player in possession. What it leads to is hilarity!
11. SUV football
This is something that we want to see happen. How awesome would it be if playing football while driving an SUV was made professional? Think about it. It’s bumping carts meets football. How can it NOT be brilliant?
Here’s a sneak peek into what we believe will be the next crazy way to play football.
You can find interesting football games like the above here.
