On my first journey to the Great White North, the prime things I vividly remember are its breathtaking beauty and the dedicated and quite aggressive way of playing sports by people.
Canada is a country with many popular team sports like soccer, baseball, basketball, and sporting events like the Canadian Football League. Apart from these popular games, Canada has two widely popular sports – ice hockey, the national sport for winter, and lacrosse, the national sport for summer. I had always loved playing ice hockey, but the aggressiveness you see on the field here is enough to scare me into watching the game from the bench. So, on this note, let’s get to exploring more about these games!
Navigate the Dynamic Gameplay of Lacrosse
Canada’s summer sport, Lacrosse is a very active team sport which is played with a stick, to which a net is attached to one end and players have to catch the rubber ball into the net. I must tell you that you have to shoot the ball into a goalpost that is 6 feet tall and 6 feet wide. In sports like football, the playing field is split up into a defensive area, an attack area, and a wing area.
Lacrosse is a very competitive sport and requires lasting stamina in players because it requires a lot of running. You need to take care of your safety. Usually, players have to wear protective gear such as helmets, face guards, gloves, and pads to avoid any fatal injury.
The Cultural Essence of Ice Hockey
I tried a hand at ice hockey in Canada, and let me tell you, it is not as easy as it seems. The local players are faster and much more aggressive on the field. Ice hockey is a game played on the ice, where players skate on the ice field while wearing ice skates.
If you are a bit confused about how is it played; I’ll tell you that. There are two teams with hockey sticks that have to shoot a rubber puck into the opposing team’s goal or net. The puck is passed between players from different teams, and each team’s task is to score goals and prevent the opposing team from scoring goals. The match is played in three periods of 20 minutes, and at the end of the match, the team with the most goals wins.
Other Must-Try Popular Sports in Canada
Though lacrosse and ice hockey are prominent, the popularity of sports in Canada is not limited to these two sports. Several other popular sports are played in Canada on the international level, and Canada’s national teams have done well in these sports.
1. Baseball
Baseball in Canada dates back to the 19th century and various levels of competition used to be played on national and domestic levels, it is generally considered an American sport, but Canadians also love it. Attending a baseball game is a very traditional holiday for Canadians, so if you are planning to visit during the festive season, get ready for some excitement!
2. Basketball
Another fun and interesting sport, basketball, is a game played between two teams, each consisting of five players. The goal is to throw the ball into the net rings at both ends of the field to score a goal. Invented in 1891 by James Naismith of Canada while teaching at the YMCA in Springfield, basketball is among the top popular sports in the world today. Although, you need to have a good aim at scoring if you want to win.
3. Football
The current sport of Canadian football is very similar to American football, with a few important differences that I noticed. For example, the Canadian field is much larger (9m longer, 6m wider, and with a deeper end area of 13 m). Another notable point is that the receiving team must toss the ball back, with no option of calling the dead ball a “fair catch”; any member of the court after the attack can move before the ball falls. Other minor differences exist; for example, a 1-meter limited area between the offensive and defensive lines exists. Supporters of the Canadian version argue that it is more interesting and unpredictable than American football.
EndNote
No book or the internet can tell you what the real-life experience is like, you must try your hand at these games yourself. So, team up with the locals for a fun evening and try out different sports to elevate your travel experience even more!
Last Updated on April 7, 2024 by Pragya Chakrapani
