Disco football - a new sport gaining popularity in the world

Despite the fact that there are more than 200 sports in the world today, this is not enough for people. New ones appear regularly, including many hybrid ones, such as chessboxing or hobbyhorsing. Many of them look unusual, even strange, and disco football is perhaps one of the most exotic.

You may have never heard of disco football. But enthusiasts have been involved in this sport for several years and even hold international competitions. The latter took place relatively recently in Montpellier, France, as part of the Montpellier Danse dance festival.

Many people believe that disco football is not really a sport, but something like a performance. At least that's what it looks like from the outside. And it was not invented by athletes, but by professional dancers - choreographers Peter Jacobson and Thomas Keighley, who lead the Ballet-de-Lorraine group.

There are not many rules in disc football. The main ones are not to stand still and not to run. All movements on the field must be in the rhythm of the dance. As in regular football, the offender receives a yellow card from the referees. By the way, in the game they not only count the goals scored in the goal. The goal must be graceful and danceable, so it is scored with points, like performances in rhythmic gymnastics. Yes, in this sport there is no division into men's and women's teams - everyone plays.

Two teams of 12 people each play on the field, and the match consists of two halves of 10 minutes and a 5-minute break. A panel of three referees gives scores twice during a match, first at half-time and then a second time after the game. The points awarded by the judges are added to the goals scored. Yes, if a team does not score a single goal, but wins on points, it is awarded the victory.

It all started in 2016, when choreographers Peter Jacobson and Thomas Keighley were asked to come up with an original dance for a holiday in the French city of Nancy. There was a football field in the park where the dance events took place. And experienced dancers decided to try to combine sports and dance and see what happens. It turned out very well.