L-R Marcos Junior, from Wellington, and Jack Needes, from Central Futsal Hawkes Bay. Photo / Paul Taylor
L-R Marcos Junior, from Wellington, and Jack Needes, from Central Futsal Hawkes Bay. Photo / Paul Taylor
Traditionally, winter sports involved running around in mud and pouring rain. But you don’t have to go outdoors to stay fit and have fun during the chilly months. Sarah Ell investigates other options for young and old, with balls, racquets or skates and sticks
Futsal
From its origins in Brazil in the 1930s, futsal has become one of the world's biggest growing indoor sports. It is quickly gaining a foothold in New Zealand. Futsal - a contraction of the Portuguese futebol de salao, literally meaning indoor football - is a fast-paced, five-a-side game which appeals to both kids and adults.
Auckland Futsal CEO Craig Empson says that players come into contact with the ball eight times more often than when playing outdoor football -- a function of the smaller court and the intensity of the game.
"It's a very fast game - much faster than outdoor football," Empson says. "And because it's indoors, games never get cancelled."
Auckland Futsal runs leagues in central and east Auckland and on the North Shore, with junior games during the week and adult leagues on Saturday afternoons. As well as serious competitive and age-group competitions, social leagues are popular, and there is a growing women's league.
Empson says the rules are easy to pick up but those used to regular soccer have to learn a few new skills: coping with the speed and intensity of the indoor game, where all players play attack and defence, and learning to use different parts of the foot, especially the sole, to control the lower-bounce ball.
Another plus for parents whose kids are keen to get involved is that trained referees and coaches are supplied -- there's no being roped in and having to teach yourself the rules by watching YouTube. "That means the parents get to enjoy the game and actually watch their kids play," Empson says.
Handball
2015 Palmerston North Handball Tournament. Photo / Supplied
On a cold Tuesday night, the gym at AUT's Akoranga campus is loud with pounding feet, whoops and cheers, and the odd sideline call, frequently in French. Social league handball is in progress -- sort of a combination of indoor netball and basketball with elements of touch rugby.
Massively popular in Europe and Scandinavia, handball is still a bit of a niche sport in New Zealand. Auckland Region Handball president Gaston Fuso says many players in New Zealand have originally played the sport in their home countries overseas, but its popularity with locals is growing.
Fuso says the game is well suited to young people, with its emphasis on running and quick thinking.
"Kids love it, because there is a lot of running and as soon as you know how to throw and catch the ball you can play," says Fuso.
Auckland has three men's and two women's teams, with mixed teams playing on social night. The female teams are keen to attract more Kiwi women, to combat the high turnover of international au pairs who play for the few months they are in New Zealand.
There is a fair bit of argy-bargy -- handball is considered a contact sport -- but Fuso says they go easy on beginners, who are welcome on social game nights.
Kiwi Jim Hunter is one of the game's stalwarts, having got involved around 12 years ago. "You need such a great combination of skills -- it's a really nice blend of speed and hand-eye co-ordination and working as a team. It's just fun! And it's great to try something entirely different, using your skills and learning new ones."
Ice hockey
It's not often that we get freezing temperatures in the north, but around 500 Aucklanders are spending time on ice each week. Active ice hockey leagues catering for kids as young as 5 are operating at the city's two ice rinks, Paradice Botany and Avondale.
Auckland Ice Hockey Association president Dan Biggs says it's easy for young people to get involved in the sport through its learn-to-play programme, using hired gear at a reasonable cost.
"We want to make it as easy as possible for kids to play," Biggs says. "As long as they can stay on their feet and skate around, they can start to play. It's very safe -- we have them padded up like armadillos."
Biggs says there are two major misconceptions about the sport: that it's expensive, and that it's rough. While ice hockey is a contact sport, Biggs says that ACC stats show it's much safer than playing soccer. Contact is strictly monitored by the referees and there's none of the histrionics of TV's NHL, Biggs says.
Biggs also says it's a great sport to watch: "It's fast and fairly quick to pick up on in terms of the rules."
Adult league games include members of the Ice Blacks and talented international players, often from Europe, playing down under in their off season.
"And you know if you come and watch you're not going to get rained on. But it is going to be four degrees," Biggs says.
Badminton
Christopher Steeghs. Photo / Nick Reed
Badminton is one of the world's oldest sports, having its origins in ancient Greece and an earlier version being popular in Britain since the 1500s.
Today around 20,000 Aucklanders are involved in the sport, from kids playing in school programmes to adults competing regularly or just having a hit around.
Daniel Waugh of the Auckland Badminton Association says the game's weather-proof nature is one of the big attractions: "You can avoid the rain, snow and sun -- if you get sunburnt easily - plus is a healthy way to socialise. A game requires a partner, so it is harder to find an excuse not to turn up and get some physical activity."
Waugh also says badminton is the world's fastest racquet sport, with a shuttlecock being recorded travelling at 332km/h - faster than a Formula 1 car. "It's amazing how fast a piece of cork and 16 goose feathers can travel."
Auckland Badminton has its own 12-court facility in Gillies Ave, Newmarket, open to the public, and there are 24 affiliated clubs around the region. The organisation runs a popular "Just Smash It" after-school programme around the city, and regular kids' coaching and holiday programmes.
For adults keen to have a go, Auckland Badminton runs a casual club Wednesdays and Fridays from 12pm-2pm.
"All you need to do is just turn up and we will pair you up with a partner to take part in some quick rotation games - it's great for a lunchtime and only $5."
Handball: You can go along and watch the sport in action at a regional tournament at AUT Sport and Fitness, Akoranga Drive, Saturday August 1. aucklandregionhandball.org.nz
Ice hockey: Botany Storm playing at Paradice Botany, July 25 and 26 vs Dunedin Thunder; August 8 and 9 vs West Auckland Admirals. aiha.org.nz
