Top 10 quirky sports for you to try

Everyone loves talking about quirky sports. Reactions to new sports or those played in a few countries only range from curiosity to amusement. But have you ever thought about giving one a go? It's time for us to reveal our selection of the most original of sports.

As its name suggests, chessboxing is a combination of chess and boxing. I know, right? It takes strategy to win a game of chessboxing. The fun kicks off with a three-minute game of chess. If there's no winner, which is highly likely with such a short game time, the two opponents face off in the ring in another three-minute bout. If there's still no winner it's back to the chess board for another three minutes. Matches last a maximum of 11 rounds: six rounds of chess and five of boxing.

Created in Quebec, Canada, Kin-Ball is a team sport with a difference,
played by three teams of four players each. A ball measuring 1.22 metres in diameter is placed in the centre of the court. 
The aim of the game is relatively straightforward, with players using any part of their body to prevent the ball from touching the ground.

Also known as Octopush, this is a sport played by two teams of six under the water. The aim is to move a puck weighing between 1kg and 1.5kg across the bottom of a swimming pool and into the opposition goal. Games last between eight and 15 minutes. Players wear equipment such as mask, snorkel, stick, gloves, flippers and caps and there's also a puck.
If you can, watch some world championship matches! They're pretty amazing!

It's not clear how this sport came into being, though there is evidence to suggest it was invented in Scotland in the 1740. A variation of golf, it has no specific rules as such. You change them to suit your game. It's nothing more than a game of golf played in an urban environment. It's all about having fun with friends and not taking it too seriously.
So get out there and explore your local neighbourhood.

Kabaddi is the pride of India and is the Tamil word for "holding hands". Matches are played by two teams of 12 players, with teams taking turns to attack. The aim is to touch as many opposing players as possible and to get back to your zone. You score a point for each player you touch, who are eliminated. You can use your hands and feet to touch opposition players, without hurting them obviously. The aim is to avoid being touched while touching as many of the opposition team as you can.
It's a bit like British Bulldog.It's an all-round sport that's great for letting off steam.Just don't forget to take your water bottle with you when you play.

Slamball was created in the USA in the 2000s. It's a fully fledged sport that's part American football, part basketball and part gymnastics. The court is divided into nine areas. Trampolines are positioned in front of each net and the centre is a neutral zone. Matches are played by two teams of four players, with each player occupying a specific position: one playmaker, one defender and two attackers. Matches last 16 minutes. That might not seem very long but it's a pretty physical sport. The team in possession has 15 seconds in which to score a basket using the trampolines. The team scoring the most baskets wins.
And if the trampolines are the only reason you want to play, we won't judge.

Played mainly in the countries of south-east Asia, it's essentially a version of volleyball. So what are the rules? It's played by two teams of three players with a rattan ball that's 15cm in diameter and a net that's 1.5m high. You can use any part of your body to touch the ball, except your arms. The ball has to bounce off the body, not just skid off it. Teams score a point when the ball hits the floor on the opposition's side of the court. The first team to 21 points wins the set.

This Dutch sport is a mix of long jump and pole vaulting. The very first fierljeppen competition took place in 1771. The poles are between eight and 13 metres long and have a flat round plate on the bottom. Competitors sprint towards the pole, which is placed upright in a river, canal or dyke, jump and grab it before climbing up it and launching themselves over to the other side of the watercourse. Competitors are allowed two minutes to prepare for their jump and can make three attempts in all.The sport's record jump stands at 22.21 metres.

Fancy trying yoga in a hammock suspended from the ceiling? That's what fly yoga (or aerial yoga) is, an activity that anyone can try. It's a fun way of working on your proprioception, flexibility and, as you might expect of yoga, your breathing. The hammock helps you achieve typical yoga positions. And if you're doing a pilates session, you might find yourself swinging around too. It's quite a change from traditional yoga.

Here's a team sport that we all think we know. But there's more to it than you think. It's played on a grass pitch that's about 100 metres long and 37 metres wide, but you can also play it indoors. And if you're expecting a sport with no rules, then you're in for a surprise. Outdoor matches are contested by two teams of seven players. Indoors it's two teams of five players. The rules of the game? Got a flying disc in hand? Right, then you've got ten seconds to get it into the opposition goal. This isn't a contact sport, so there's no kicking. All your team has to do is score 17 points to win the game.

Impress your friends by telling them the unusual story of how ultimate flying disc came into being. It all began when students at a US university began messing around with aluminium cake tins from "Frisbie Pie Company", a neighbouring bakery and official supplier to the university. From that humble beginning, the flying disc grew between the 1940s and 60s and became a competitive sport.