25 Unconventional (and Bizarre) Sports & Games

By: Madison Kraus | madison.kraus@activecities.com
& Emily Smith | emily.smith@activecities.com

In the never ending world of sports, people get very creative with how they compete and play games. Some take a traditional activity and put a clever spin on it, while others invent an entirely new sport. However unique or fun they may be, this list features odd sports which are definitely unconventional and in some cases straight up bizarre.

1. CHESS BOXING

4-minute rounds of chess, alternating with 3-minute rounds of boxing. Who thought of this one, the angry chess player or the studious boxer?

2. CYCLE BALL

Cycling and soccer combined. Get the ball to the goal without using your hands, unless you’re playing goalie.

3. WIFE CARRYING

So she doesn’t actually have to be your wife. Just get her to the finish line first… and don’t fall!

4. OUTHOUSE RACING

Nothing better than a team of your best friends, a dressed up toilet and some human powered street racing, right?

5. QUIDDITCH

Wow. The world of Harry Potter is no longer fictional. Quidditch is a young, but growing sport. Score more points than the other team before the snitch is caught.

6. DOG BOARDING

People train their dogs to compete on surfboards, bodyboards, skimboards, even windsurf boards! As you may know, water sports aren’t the only thing people train their four legged friends to do, there are many different ways to have fun with your dog.

7. CHEESE ROLLING

A 9 lb round of cheese is rolled down a hill, and competitors run after it. To the victor go the spoils; first person to the bottom takes home the cheese.

8. UNDERWATER HOCKEY

You guessed it, play the game of hockey… underwater.

9. JOGGLING

Juggling while running. Like rubbing your belly and patting your head at the same time. Easy, right?

10. PIG WRESTLING

No words.

11. SHIN KICKING

What better way to get some exercise than by kicking the hell out of each other’s bony legs. The winner is determined by most points scored, or by an opponent falling to the ground.

12. BOSSABALL

(Mostly) the same rules as volleyball apply. Just take out the part about using your hands and get your feet involved instead.

13. BELLY FLOPPING

Just like the kiddies at the public pools or popular swimming spots. Championship competitions and everything. Who knew?

14. UNICYCLE HOCKEY

As if unicycles or hockey weren’t hard enough by themselves. Wonder what the checking rules are?

15. FREEDIVING

Strap on a pair of giant swimming fins and see how far down under the surface you go. Sounds fun, right?

16. WATERCROSS

Snowmobiles. Racing. On Water. How did this idea come about?

17. NUDE SPORTS

No picture needed for this one. Go ahead and use your imagination… You get the idea.

18. DOG SLEDDING

Dog sledding has been around for hundreds of years as a means of survival. Now, people engage in competitions, including the world famous Iditarod Sled Race.