Broomball is a sport relatively new on the world scene. It can be described in many ways, from being a variant of ice hockey to being field hockey on ice, but the fact is that broomball is a unique and exciting sport of its own.

The basics of what you need to know for a game of broomball:

+ It's played on ice
+ Players run on the ice wearing shoes - they DO NOT skate (more on this later)
+ A small rubber ball about half the size of a regular soccer ball is hit around
+ The stick used is called a broom (hence the name broomball), and is so named because of its appearance - a long wooden or aluminium handle with a broom-shaped triangular rubber head on the end
+ A game is divided into two halves
+ Each team has a goaltender plus four or five other players, depending on the size of the ice rink
+ The objective of the game is to score the most goals by putting the ball into your opponent's goal.

Those are the basics. No skating ability is required, making this an ideal sport for those of you who want to get out of the sun.

Broomball is a very easy game to get in to and, for the first few times anyone plays, general sporting skills don't matter a thing. Like any sport though it takes massive amounts of practice and perseverance to master.

For more information on broomball, click here.

But how do you run on the ice in shoes?

Special broomball shoes are manufactured with soft rubber soles to improve traction on the ice. The NQBA has a supply of club broomball shoes for members to use to make running on the ice easier.

The next best option to broomball shoes are Dunlop Volleys, available from places like K-Mart for around $25 a pair.

Is broomball a dangerous sport?

Like any sport broomball has an element of risk, but the NQBA boasts a very proud record in recent years when it comes to injuries.

The best way to guard against any physical danger on the ice is to wear the proper protective gear which, in Townsville, is supplied by us. The basic necessary equipment supplied by us includes knee pads, elbow pads, and a helmet, although more regular players should consider the use of shin pads, gloves, knee/shin guards, a protector, and chest pads and full face cages for goaltenders.

Falling over on the ice isn't as bad as it looks. Like many other things in life, the first time is the most painful - after your first fall you're a real broomballer! You won't notice the bumps and bruises either considering the fun you'll be having.

The NQBA has insurance through World Wide Sports Insurance, and insurance payments are covered in the seasonal membership fees.

I'm not a very sporty person, so I don't want to join a really competitive league like I'm forced to with some other 'social' sports, will this matter?

Not at all - at a social level, ice is a great leveller between the 'haves' and 'have-nots' in terms of sporting abilities.

The NQBA has social players in mind, creating C Grade in mid-2003. Although it remains a competition, with end-of-season trophies and awards, C Grade is designed for new and social broomballers.

We especially welcome current members bringing along friends, workmates, or family, creating a social team and having some fun on the ice.

To protect new players, there are several rules in place in C Grade competition to limit the impact higher-graded players can have.

So if you feel like playing something a little different, contact us and we'll get some details to you ASAP. Even better, visit the ice rink during one of our session times (found on the About the NQBA page)!

What are the costs associated with broomball?

Broomball is one of the cheapest competitive sports available to play at the moment. In some other sports registration alone costs hundreds of dollars, not to mention the need to buy equipment.

Below is a full list of costs; please bare in mind when considering to play broomball that all the basic protective equipment is supplied by the NQBA and, for social players, the below costs are the maximum you will need to pay.

Registration: $90 (full year), $50 (season), $30 (juniors 15 years and below), $5 (social), family Registrations are availble
Game Fees: $70 per team per game - Approx $10 per person

Any members who introduce a new paying member will also receive $5 in player credits (which can be used to pay registration, buy equipment etc.) to say thanks - so bring along your friends and family to broomball!

How do I go about signing up?

We encourage interested new players to get a team of their own. A new team can be made up of friends, family, work colleagues, even new broomballers in a position such as yourself.

Once you have a team organised, get in contact with as at the NQBA (click on the 'Contact Us' menu link for more information).

We love having new teams sign up. Since broomball returned to a competitive nature in Townsville in 2002, we have had over 500 players across a wide range of ages, skill and interest levels play the sport.

If you don't have a team or just want some more information, contact us!