Could Broomball become the next competitive everyperson's sport?

Maybe it's the typical dream to reach the playoff finals that is attracting Broomball players to Cincinnati, Ohio's downtown Fountain Square ice arena. Everyone wants to play in the finals...of any sport.

What is Broomball? Has anyone ever heard of it as a league sport? How is it played? Who plays it?

Bill Donabedian, Fountain Square's managing director, introduced the sport to Cincinnati with league sign up teams as part of that city's downtown $42 million revitalization program. Donabedian says he played Broomball as an intramural sport at Miami (of Ohio) University, where it was a popular, but mostly unnoticed activity.

Can Broomball catch on as a country-wide league sport in the United States?

Anyone can play. And the new league at Cincy quickly brought flocks of team players, dormant-living people who just wanted to get out and go. City officials are already thinking about expanding the number of leagues for next season.

Broomball is simply played. Six-member teams wearing helmets and gym shoes kick, or smack a blue ball the size of a grapefruit across the ice with broom-like sticks. The game objective is much like hockey. Teams jettison the blue ball into the opposing teams's goal as many times as possible. And if you are the defensive goalie, "Use your body, baby!" advises Katie Laubach, a 27-year-old first time player.

Far from "your typical rec league," says Joe Hansbauer, 31, of Newport, Kentucky, who travels to the Queen City to play Broomball.

The first ever Broomball finals are scheduled for Feb. 23 in Cincinnati's Fountain Square, complete with zoom-in video board play-by-plays. The board is "definitely cool," says Tim Wiley, 27, another Miami graduate helping to pump up Broomball's popularity.

Images pulsating off the 24x42-feet video board are capable of delivering a person's fifteen minutes of fame via his stick and kick skills. Sports agents, get in line. NHL, the Super Bowl, and recognized outdoor sports, please move aside.

Players of Broomball quest for final glory in February's "Contusion Bowl". Will the world be watching?

Learn more about this author, Barbaraanne Helberg.
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