When the standard ice, strict rules, and predictable puck get boring, new formats emerged where sports revealed itself in a new way. The most unusual types of hockey prove that it’s not the surface that defines the game, but passion, skill, and imagination.
Bandy is not just a variation, but a full-fledged hockey world. This type originated in England but developed in Scandinavia and Russia, where Russian hockey became a national pride. Instead of a puck, there’s an orange ball. Instead of traditional ice, a field the size of a football field. The rink stretches up to 110 meters in length and 65 meters in width. There are 11 players on each side. A stick with a curved hook and a light ball that reaches high speeds are used.
The rules of bandy include two halves of 45 minutes each, offside like in soccer, and the need for strategic positioning. The goalkeeper is without a stick but in massive defense. The main key — the most unusual types of hockey — are showcased here through a synthesis of soccer tactics and the dynamics of the classic version.
This type originated in colonial India and gained popularity in Commonwealth countries such as Australia, the Netherlands, and Germany. Players use thin curved sticks and a hard plastic ball. The field is 91.4 by 55 meters, with artificial turf. There are 11 participants in a team, including a goalkeeper. The game rules limit contact, prohibit lifting the stick above the shoulders.
Its Olympic status gives the discipline authority. A period consists of four 15-minute segments, and the match requires endurance, agility, and strategic thinking.
When cold is out of fashion and summer lasts all year round, indoor hockey steps onto the arena. Included in the list as one of the most unusual types of hockey. This format adapts the grass game to indoor spaces. The field is 40×20 meters, with boards being mandatory. Six players per team. Key features include no high shots and increased importance of dribbling. Game rules require using only the outer side of the stick. The field is smaller, but the pace is faster. A scored goal is the result of precise coordination and instant reaction.
A format involving balls and even… brooms? Definitely. The ball version is widely practiced in Russia and Sweden, especially in amateur leagues. But the real attention is drawn to the broom version (broomball). Recognized by Canada and the USA. Instead of a stick, a shortened broom is used. Instead of a puck, a rubber ball. The game is played in sneakers on ice. The main key — the most unusual types of hockey — finds embodiment in this variation, which simultaneously entertains and trains coordination.
Sledge hockey promotes the concept of inclusivity. Athletes sit in special sleds with two blades and use shortened sticks with spikes to actively push and maneuver on the ice. Players demonstrate amazing physical fitness and tactical thinking. The goalkeeper also uses sleds and two short shields instead of traditional gear. The size of the rink and game rules correspond to the classic version.
Since 1994, it has been part of the Paralympic Games program. Leading countries include Canada, the USA, and Norway.
Underwater hockey was born in the UK in the 1950s. The field — the bottom of a 25×15-meter pool. The puck — a lead disk weighing up to 1.5 kg. Players use masks, fins, snorkels, and short sticks. The field is conditionally limited by the bottom, goals are placed on the walls. A period consists of two 10- or 15-minute segments.
Communication is impossible, but strategy, endurance, and breath control play a crucial role. The most unusual types of hockey without an underwater counterpart lose part of their charm.
Cities with hot climates popularized roller hockey. These variations gained popularity in the USA, France, Italy, and Argentina. Players wear roller skates, the field is asphalt or smooth parquet. The difference — no offside and less aggression. The number of players — four field players and one goalkeeper. The field is bordered, the puck is lightweight.
Inline hockey features in FIRS and World Games competitions. The most unusual types go beyond and confidently embrace urban spaces.
The game variations differ not only in the delivery form but also in strict rule architecture. Each format forms its own game ecosystem — from equipment to geographical origin.
Comparative overview:
This variability proves that unconventional hockey disciplines are not exotic but independent formats with logic, tradition, and their audience.
The most unusual types of hockey offer a new perspective on the game. Formats where hockey has adapted to grass, water, air, and even roller skates. Bandy combines speed and strategy, sledge hockey offers equal opportunities, and the underwater variant involves breath and silence. Indoor hockey and roller hockey have conquered cities, broomball has become a celebration, and the field version is an Olympic sport. These variations do not compete but complement the classic, preserving the spirit of the game.
Teams are born on the ice arena, but not every team will make it to greatness. Only those that overcome adversity, create a unique game and leave an indelible mark in the hearts of their fans will be immortalised. Titles, matches that have become classics and players who have become legends are the true measure …
Hockey is more than a game, it is a story on the ice, where legends did not just pave their way to victories, but wrote a chronicle that lives on to this day. Championships, duels, undefeated teams and moments that take your breath away. From the USSR to the NHL, players wrote the history of …
en 
ru 
de 
ar 
es 
hi 
fr 
nl 
it 
pt 
el