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There are a number of other team sports that can be played in the
UK.
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Among the most important are the following, all of which are
"stick and ball" games played with a medium sized ball:
the baseball family (including rounders and softball) played with a thin
bat; lacrosse played with a stick with a net on its end; and polo, a
game played on horseback with a long mallet.
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More detailed
information on each of these games, and others such as wargaming and
paintball, can be obtained from the specialist organisations
listed below.
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Competitions usually play an important part in the local sport.
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British Softball Federation & Baseball Softball UK www.baseballsoftballuk.com/
British Baseball Federation www.bbf.org/
English Lacrosse Association www.englishlacrosse.co.uk/
Hurlingham Polo Association www.hpa-polo.co.uk/
National Rounders Association www.nra-rounders.co.uk
English Unihoc Association www.englishunihoc.cjb.net/
The Lyneham Wargames Club www.austinpowers.free-online.co.uk/
The Paintball Emporium www.geocities.com/Colosseum/Loge/4039/
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Lacrosse Talk
Cartier International Polo Magazine
Paintball Games International |
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Find a local group
or club for the game that interests you (see organisations above).
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See if there are
introductory sessions at your local club or sports
centre.
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Consult books or magazines
on different types of team games.
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Check in your local library/paper
or sports centre for more information.
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Skills and people
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All these games are normally played by single sex
teams, with lacrosse being more of a game for women in the UK. They
can be played by a wide range of age groups; polo in particular is a
game in which skill as well as physical ability is important.
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Most of these games can only be played and even practiced with a group
of other people. Most players join a group or club of some kind and
the social aspect of club life can be important.
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It is generally better if the people you play with are of roughly
the same standard as yourself. They will not always be of the same age.
Equipment or clothing
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Lacrosse requires the normal kind of sports shorts and tops while there
is special formal clothing for baseball games. Polo players wear a variant of riding gear.
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The serious player of all
these sport needs special footwear, and the stick or bat plus some
protective wear.
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All players may require special strip for competitions which may be
provided by the club.
A place or facilities
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All three groups of other team sports require special pitches or
grounds.
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There may be facilities for baseball type games and
lacrosse attached to schools or sports centres, as well as local clubs.
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Polo is very much a minority sport and facilities are mainly available at
clubs.
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