Intramural Broomball Takes ND By Storm
By Matt Formica '12,
Scholastic Magazine

A sport played with brooms has captivated Notre Dame students in recent years—and this one has nothing to do with Harry Potter. Broomball’s popularity has skyrocketed in the past decade and is a fixture at Notre Dame and countless other colleges.

There is evidence that broomball originated in Iceland during the 10th century, when games frequently involved entire villages and lasted for up to 14 days. In fact, an occasional death while playing was not uncommon. In other words, ancient broomball resembled a battle more than a sport.

Since that time, broomball has undergone numerous changes, but its popularity continues to grow. Broomball as we know it today likely originated in Canada and quickly spread to Minnesota.

The rules of intramural broomball at ND are relatively simple. Played in the JACC, each team has six players on the ice at all times, and the games consist of two 10-minute halves. RecSports provides necessary equipment like brooms and helmets, and rather than wearing skates, players use standard athletic shoes. The games are self-officiated, and any intentional contact is illegal.

Now that we’ve covered the basics, it’s time to address the real question: Why has a seemingly obscure sport caught fire lately, particularly among college students? The most striking explanation is that broomball excludes absolutely nobody — everyone can play, regardless of athletic ability or competitive drive.

“Broomball is really easy to pick up, and both guys and girls play, so I don’t think anybody is really apprehensive to just give it a shot,” senior Danny Rosas-Alvarez says, who plays on a team with some of his friends from the marching band.

Freshman Danny Zebrowski enjoys the option to be either as intense or as laid back as he wants. “Some people get really into it, but others like to be more mellow during games. It’s really all about having a good time,” he says.

Additionally, playing broomball is a good way to blow off some steam. “It’s actually a great study break and gives me some time to relax while also boosting my adrenaline a little bit,” Rosas-Alvarez says.

Although broomball can be conducive to a friendly and laid-back environment, some strategy is involved. We all remember the days of tirelessly chasing after the soccer ball in kindergarten, and it seems as though some students revert to this tactic when they play broomball for the first time. “I think people forget that you can’t just run after the ball, and it’s actually important to pass and work together, just like in other team sports,” Zebrowski says. Ultimately, however, most players realize the importance of maintaining at least a basic formation while playing. “Having a background in team sports is definitely an advantage,” Zebrowski says.

With many former athletes participating in the broomball league, the competition can at times become fierce. Although intentional contact is illegal, it is not uncommon for a player to sprawl across the ice in an attempt to win the ball, knocking down a few competitors in the process.

“Some players definitely shy away from contact, but others really approach each play with reckless abandon,” Rosas-Alvarez says. In fact, RecSports provides a medical staff for each game in the event that an injury does occur. Maybe modern-day broomball isn’t as different from the bloody 10th-century version as one might think.