The history of Scottish sports is quite ancient. The oldest game still being played today, “Shinty,” originated in Scotland 2000 years ago. Likewise, multiple traditional Scottish sports are still being played there. Most of these sports are part of Highland games today as well. This article aims to talk about the different Scottish sports played there for a long time.
Traditional Scottish Sports
Scotland is a pioneer country in many things worldwide such as Highland dances, sports for example Shinty and Curling and traditional outfits like utility kilts. The kilts are knee-length clothing made of tartans and Scots proudly wear them on special occasions. Besides, a large number of sports are part of this athletic country. Some other vital games are Football, Tennis, Rugby, etc. Below, we have a bit of detail about all of these games.
Shinty
Whenever we talk of traditional Scottish sports, the first name that flashes in our minds is Shinty. This game has been played for almost twenty centuries, not only in Scotland but also in other parts of the Highlands. Two teams contribute in Shinty, each having curving sticks in their hands and attempting a hard ball to get to the opponent’s goal.
Some people confuse Shinty and field hockey because they consider them the same. They may sound the same but have various distinctions. In Shinty, players can play with both sides of sticks, while hockey does not allow it. Similarly, a Shinty player can hit the ball in the air. On the other hand, the ball must stay on the ground in hockey.
Football
If Football is the most played game worldwide, then how can Scotland not be a part of it? Scottish people have been playing this game for centuries, and they played a significant role in the development of modern Football. Glasgow club Queen’s Park was an early pioneer of the game throughout the UK.
Moreover, many Scottish clubs were formed over time, participating in the first major competition in 1873, the Scottish Cup. The foundation date of the Scottish Football League was 1890. Today, Football is the national game of Scots, and many tournaments are held yearly.
Tennis
Another traditional Scottish sport is Tennis. The history of Tennis in Scotland is even older than that of Football. The first evidence of this game traces back to 1539 when King James III established a Tennis court in his residence.
Today, Tennis is also the most played game in Scotland. According to Tennis For Britain, 324,000 adults were reported to play Tennis there, an increase of significantly from the previous year. This spike in Tennis players became notable after 2017.
Caber Toss
Many gaming events are held every year in Scotland and caber toss is a major part of them. However, the gaming events are only complete with this particular game. This is a traditional game with a history rooted in military practices. The game was a way to show power and athletic skills.
In this game, players carry a full-length wooden log and toss it, and that’s how it got this name. Participants throw the caber so that its smaller end hits the ground first. Ideally, a wooden log should fall in the “12 o’clock” position. Here, the angle of the log is more important than the distance.
Rugby
Keeping Rugby aside while discussing traditional Scottish sports might be unfair. Let’s share a fact about the connection between Scotland and Rugby. Scotland was the first country to play the first international Rugby match ever with England and won that match in front of 4000 people.
Now, six Rugby championships are held a year. Unfortunately, the fame of this game is fading with time. Only 8670 male adults registered themselves as Rugby players in clubs in 2023. The number of participants decreased significantly compared to the previous years.
Stone Put
Undoubtedly, the number of traditional games in Scotland is quite significant compared to other countries, and Highland games prove it. A prominent conventional sport, “stone put,” is quite common there. The competitors throw a heavy stone at the possible maximum distance in this game.
In traditional Scots, this game was played between clans to represent physical prowess. Today, it is a standard game there. The average weight of stone differs for both genders. The average stone weight for men is 16-30 lbs while women throw an 8-18 lbs stone. A throw covering the maximum length is awarded as the winner.
Hill Race
Let’s talk about an athletic competition, hill racing now, which is a traditional sport in Scotland as well. Scots have been participating in this game for centuries. The ancient Scottish clans played this game to find the fastest runners. Today, it is just a game, and every participating individual is a rival to another.
The runners had to cover a specific distance, climbing the hill top. The average distance is almost 3 miles. Competitors have two options during the race: choose a long but easy route or a short but full of obstacles. A majority choose shorter distances for adventure purposes.
Maide leisg
If we talk about traditional fun games in Scotland, Maide Leisg is a common name. It is an interesting game and is thought to be a competitive game between Scottish families. The name Maide Leisg is derived from a Scottish Gaelic language that means “lazy sticks.”
In this game, two individuals sit on the ground with their soles pushing each other and holding a piece of wood with their hands. They pull each other until one person gets up from the ground. Therefore, the other person who remains stuck to the ground is the winner.
Curling
Curling is a team sport played on ice. Usually, two teams take turns sliding granite-made stones towards a target. Basically, it is an Olympic winter sport that every individual, from men to women and even physically disabled people sitting on wheelchairs, can play. The game was specified to the Scottish diaspora once but now it is popular in other countries.
This game is one of the oldest sports with an unknown history, but Scotland was the first country to promote it. In the 16th century, an artist made a portrait reflecting this game on a frozen ice pond. Today, this game is of cultural significance in Scotland. The curling community comprises almost 10,000 players with around 550 local clubs.
Conclusion
Scotland is famous worldwide for multiple entities, including traditional dress and highland games. Likewise, some sports are ancient in Scotland and have been played for centuries. These games are of historical significance there. Some familiar games are Shinty, Football, Tennis, curling, etc. All of these games are played in unique manners and have different numbers of players.