Loren's Blog

Nets and Balls

Watching the Olympics today, I was struck by how many sports involve a net and a ball.

  1. Soccer (Football) - ball (goal net)
  2. Basketball - ball (hoop with a net)
  3. Volleyball - ball
  4. Tennis - ball
  5. Ice Hockey - puck (goal net)
  6. Table Tennis (Ping Pong) - ball
  7. Badminton - shuttlecock
  8. Field Hockey - ball (goal net)
  9. Water Polo - ball (goal net)
  10. Beach Volleyball - ball
  11. Handball - ball (goal net)
  12. Pickleball - ball
  13. Lacrosse - ball (uses a netted stick)
  14. Squash - ball (though the net is optional in some forms)
  15. Horse and Rider Polo - ball (goal net)
  16. Netball - ball (though the net is around the hoop)

It’s fascinating how many sports hinge on the interplay between a ball and a net.