History of Broomball
From USA Broomball
- Broomball as we know it was first played in Canada in the early 1900's by street car workers using a small soccer ball and corn brooms.
- The sport evolved and was brought to the United States.
- The first games were reportedly played in Minnesota, the birthplace of USA Broomball, beginning in the 1930's.
- Leagues, however, did not blossom until the 1960's.
- Broomball in the United States started out with 10 players on the ice per team (one goalie, three defensemen, three mid-linesmen and three forwards). By 1967, the number of players was reduced to eight players per team.
- By 1980, the rules changed to six players per team, as the game is played today.
- From Minnesota, the sport expanded to other states, including New York, Ohio, Wisconsin, North Dakota, Iowa and Nebraska.
Racing down the ice, evading the defense, only the goalie stands in your way.
While it might sound like a typical hockey game – there is neither a skate nor a puck in sight. It’s broomball, a team sport played in ice arenas and community parks around the country.
Similar to hockey in its formation and rules, the sport also incorporates some soccer strategies. Serious players wear spongy-soled broomball shoes but athletic shoes and, even, boots can also be spotted on broomball players.
Phil Cheesebrough, vice president of the Dayton Broomball Association, was hooked from the time he fielded an intramural team at the University of Minnesota.
“I had played on an intramural basketball team and we were totally awful,” Cheesebrough said with a smile. “I thought we should try something else. We were much better at broomball.”
At 55, Cheesebrough is now frequently the oldest guy on the ice but he doesn’t mind a bit.
“I love the competitive nature of the game but I also really enjoy the camaraderie,” he said. “It really is a very social sport.”
Ready to try your hand at broomball? You are in luck as the Dayton Broomball Association runs leagues at Riverscape MetroPark, South Metro Sports and the Kettering Recreation Center.
“You can almost play year-round now,” Cheesebrough said. “And many people do.”
Broomball basics
The game is played on a hockey rink with two teams consisting of six players on each side – a goalie, two defensemen and three forwards. Similar to hockey and soccer, the object of the game is to score more goals than the opposing team.
While the game historically was played with frozen brooms, players now use a stick – a shaft with a molded broom-shaped head – to maneuver a six-inch diameter ball up and down the ice. Instead of skates, players wear spongy-soled shoes to gain traction when running on the slippery surface.
A game consists of two 18-minute halves. Those familiar with hockey will recognize some terms like icing – when any player of a defending team shoots or intentionally deflects the ball from behind their defending zone blue line and across the goal line of the opposing team – or high brooms – called when the ball makes contact with the player’s stick above shoulder level.
Getting started
Players participating in DBA-sponsored leagues are provided with equipment including helmets and sticks. There are sometimes even broomball shoes to try out.
While a majority of the players are in their 20s and 30s, others, like Cheesebrough, continue to take to the ice well into their 40s and 50s and whole families occasionally field teams.
Don’t have an entire team or want to go solo? There are free-agent sign-ups and the association can also connect interested players with other likeminded broomball enthusiasts. Check out the Dayton Broomball Association Facebook page for more information.
Not sure if Broomball is for you? You can always watch a game and see for yourself. The Riverscape league gets under way in January.
“It’s very beginner friendly,” Cheesebrough said. “And it’s a whole lot of fun.”
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