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November 21, 2008

New Winter Sport Comes to Town Center

By Leslie Perales Observer Staff Writer

Though the sport of broomball started in Canada more than 100 years ago, it arrived in Reston Town Center for the first time on Monday night. Broomball is similar to ice hockey except skating skills are not required because the game is played in shoes, not skates.

"We wanted to add some entertainment value to the skating pavilion this year," said Jim Littlejohn, marketing director for Rink Management Services, Inc., which manages ice rinks across the country. "It's a break from the traditional seasonal rinks." Littlejohn said management selected broomball because the game is "something anyone can do" and is a great way to make friends.

On Monday evening, members of the Baltimore Broomball Club traveled to Reston to teach free lessons to anyone interested in game. While only a few people initially participated, the game soon drew a crowd of about 20 onlookers, some of whom Littlejohn recruited as players.

Halfway through the tutorial, about 15 people were on the ice. Beth Vanderhoff of the Baltimore Broomball Club said many club-level players take the game more seriously, but broomball can be played by adults of any skill level.

"It's great, it's a lot of fun," Vanderhoff said. "If you haven't played it, everybody falls in love with it pretty immediately." While she never played any true team sports when she was younger, Vanderhoff said she, like many people, became instantly addicted to broomball.

"It also is really accessible," Vanderhoff said. Broomball expenses tend to be lower than ice hockey and the lower cost has attracted recreational fans to the sport, Littlejohn said.

Two 18-minute halves make up a broomball game, and each team has a goalie and five players on the ice, including three forwards and two defensemen. Checking is not allowed in the recreational version of the game. USA Broomball is the official governing body of the sport in the United States and holds tournaments and national championships each year.

Players use a ball that is slightly smaller than a soccer ball and sticks can be made out of wood or aluminum. Serious players wear broomball shoes, and it is recommended that all players wear elbow pads, kneepads and helmets, Vanderhoff said. Though Monday night's lesson was fairly tame, people inevitably took some spills while playing, she said.

Lindsay Zivney and her fiancŽ had gone to Reston Town Center for dinner on Monday and happened to pass by the rink when Littlejohn caught up with them. The couple donned helmets and sticks and tried out the game for the first time. "It was really fun," Zivney said. "It was a good time and a good workout." She said they plan to return for another lesson and the couple agreed that they would highly recommend broomball to anyone, no matter their skill level.

Another broomball lesson will take place at 7 p.m. Monday at the Reston Town Center ice skating pavilion. The lesson is free and is open to anyone older than 18. Beginning in December, Reston Town Center will hold open broomball games at 7 p.m. Monday nights where players can drop in for a fee of $15 per person.

Littlejohn said they hope to have enough people interested by January, so they can start league games for $100 per person for the season. The rink will have sticks and helmets available for players, but Vanderhoff recommends that people who join the league should purchase their own equipment. Call 703-709-6300.