Ben has taken up a new sport...

Soccer season has ended and Ben had a really great time with the team that adopted him during the middle of their season. Alex practiced a couple of times with his classmate's soccer team, but when basketball started in September on the same nights, he could no longer continue with the soccer team. (Even though he never actually played in a single soccer match, they have invited him to the end of the year party this Friday so they were very welcoming to him as well). 

So basketball was the obvious choice for Alex this fall/winter, but what about Ben? 

First, let me start off with naming a few winter sports that are available. Ice hockey, cross-country skiing, down hill skiing, bandy, and innebandy to name a few of the ones that you could choose around here. 

Bandy is a popular sport in Sweden similar to hockey on ice except you use a ball. 

Here is a picture from the web showing the ball they use. The rinks are much larger than hockey from what I understand. 

They say each town has a preferred ice sport, either ice hockey or bandy. Sandviken, our town, has one of the best national bandy teams in Sweden and the large arena by our house is home to the team. We are looking forward to going to a game. 

So back to the sport Ben has chosen...innebandy (aka-indoor bandy or floor ball). This is just like hockey only played with a ball indoors and not on ice. 

This is the equipment they use (along with safety googles), but no padding because the ball is softer. 

Here is Ben ready for practice...

Notice his Addidas sport pants he is wearing. The kids all wear them to school and for soccer and sports. Notice they are similar to our Addidas pants in the states, but they are tapered at the bottom like skinny jeans. I think they are really comfy in the winter for school where you have to put on and take off snow pants so much for recess. 

In floor ball the goalies stay on their knees. 

Here is Ben taking a shot on the goal during practice. 

Also you can't shoot the stick above the knees so there are no slap shots like in hockey. 

Ben is doing great and I'll keep you posted after some games.