There are lots of brooms sports that have been played throughout history. The first sports came around almost as soon as brooms became fast and able to turn well. Many of the sports we will talk about today are no longer played or have evolved since their inventions.

The first one I want to talk about today is a game called Creaothceann! This game is by far the most dangerous broom game ever played. The game is no longer played nowadays for that reason. The game is played by dropping large rocks from the sky and players must fly around with cauldrons on their head and try to catch them. Many many people have died from it and it was outlawed in 1762. The game was so dangerous that it was considered a “test of manliness”.

The next game is actually an annual broom race. It’s held in Sweden over a distance of 300 miles. The course is very dangerous and even flies over a dragon reserve! It’s an incredibly tough race! Another game is called Shuntbumps. The goal of the game is simply to knock the other player off their broom. The last person who was still on their broom was the winner. It was particularly popular and Devon, England.

The next game is called Swivenhodge! In this game players throw a ball between them and attempt to hit it with the back of their brooms. If the ball is dropped by a player, the other team gets a point. It is still played today but is played mainly by children.


Play-Along Activity: Questions
In what year was Creaothceann outlawed?
In Creaothceann what falls from the sky?
What do Creaothceann players wear on their heads?
What is the most dangerous broom game ever invented?
How long is the annual broom race?
Where is the annual broom race held?
Where was Shuntbumps most popular?
What is the goal of the game in Shuntbumps?
What do the players hit the ball with in Swivenhodge?
What happens if a player drops the ball in Swivenhodge?