5 of the Best Winter Indoor Sports to Play in Newcastle

by Dean on July 4, 2013

The best way to keep your self entertained and fit this winter is to dive into some sport. You can go to the gym and to push-ups and 50kg reps until your red in the face, but the satisfaction of destroying the opposing team wins every time. The only problem about most sports is that they are usually outdoors and therefore their season usually falls in summer. So the urban Insider has found some the best winter-friendly indoor sports that you can use to keep your competitive side alive during this chilly season.

Floorball

Floorball is a mixture of ice-hocky and indoor soccer. The game consists of two 5 player teams and a goalie trying to score points by getting the small hocky ball into the opposing teams net using just there hocky sticks. The game is fast-paced and high energy and the player in goals must be quick and flexible to stop the small ball getting past them. The heat from the indoor atmosphere means that this game can get intense and competitive quickly, and with three 20min periods to play per game, tensions can often get high. But this not-so-well-known game is all about having fun and is a great way to keep fit, so throw a couple of friends together, make your own team and jump in.

Where: Games are currently played at Gateshead Indoor Sports World

For more info: gates head indoor sports

Futsal

Futsal can be compared to indoor soccer, but it remains an individual sport in its own right. The game is played inside with 5 players to a team including the goalkeeper. The game has different rules from normal and indoor soccer in that there is no offside rule, no slide tackling and the throw-in has been replaced with a kick-in. This differing in rules has been deemed to make the game ‘safer’ and puts less stress on the player’s ankles and knees, so this game can still be played by soccer players who have had past injuries. The game is fast-paced and lots of fun, it’s a great way to increase your fitness levels during the cold winter and is a fantastic way for soccer players to work on their skills.

Where: Newcastle’s Howzat gym has a state-of-the-art futsal area complete with built-in regulation goals and floor markings. However, the other indoor sports centres such as Gateshead Indoor Sports and Charlestown Indoor sports (warners bay) are well equipped with similar facilities.

For more info: charlestown indoor sports, howzat newcastle

Indoor Netball

Indoor netball is a great way to keep in-shape and in-tune with your skills while the outdoor season is over. The game can be played over four 12min quarters or two 20min halves and is played with similar rules to that of outdoor netball. The indoor sport is played at a faster pace than outdoor netball due to the netting that surrounds the court, which prevents the ball from going out and causing stoppages.

Where: Games can be played in any indoor centre that has the required facilities, local places in Newcastle include Howzat gym and Charlestown Indoor Sports

For more info: Howzat & Charlestown

Gymnastics

If you would rather improve your own fitness and skills instead of working as a team, then maybe some gymnastics is what need to keep warm in these wintery times. Gymnastics is so much more than doing the splits and jumping over boxes, you can learn the proper techniques and control to pull-off awesome back-flips and corkscrews and head into summer and show off! The possibilities are endless if you are willing to pick a goal and work towards it.

Where: The Hunter Sports Centre has a world-class gymnastics facility

For more info: hsc.org

Indoor Soccer

Indoor soccer is one of the best ways to keep fit over the winter. You can gather up 6 of your friends and play in an all boys, all girls or a mixed league. The game uses pretty much the same rules at regular soccer, with the exception of the throw-in. A regulation size 5 football is used and you can use any shoes you want. (With the exception of actual football boots) The best thing about this winter sport is that all you need is a football, a team and gym hall, which are available all over Newcastle.

Where: there are many places in Newcastle that host indoor soccer games such as Howzat, Charlestown Indoor Sports and Gateshead.

Now that you’ve had a look at out top local winter games, get on the phone and start trowing your team together!