The sport of Calcio Storico dates back to before the dawn of time. Okay, maybe not that far, but it’s roots go wayyyyyy back. It has been dubbed the most dangerous (by some), most brutal (by many) sport in the world and it only happens in 3 games a year in Florence, Italy. Below you’ll find the cliffnotes on how the game is played, the rules and a bit more history.

80 meter x 40 meter field, with a fence around each side and spectators on just the other side of the fence.

27 players to a side consisting of four Datori indietro (goalkeepers), 3 Datori innanzi (fullbacks), 5 Sconciatori (halfbacks), 15 Innanzi o Corridori (forwards)

1 50-minute period

Scoring – 1 point for getting it in the net (caccia) that spans the 40m sides of the field. If you go over the net, oppposing team gets .5 point (half caccia). Also when you score, you swap sides.

Rules are simple. Get the ball in the net. Don’t kick your opponent in the head. don’t attack an opponent with another teammate (no 2 v. 1). do not strike someone from behind or on the ground. Past that it’s a free-for-all.

Essentially split between 4 neighborhoods in Florence, so you could go up against your friends. Each team is also based around the biggest church in that area.

On average 10 – 15 players will exit the game with injuries.

You’ll see players sitting on top of other players and all i can assume is that, once taken down, the opponent cannot hit you, so he keeps you down and out of play. This lasts until a goal is scored.

Came from the 59 BC Roman game Harpastum, which was used to keep legionaires fit

In medieval times, popes were known to play this game and swords were allowed

Current players still wear traditional leggings, but up top anything goes

most famous calcio storico game, played in 1530, when Florence had overthrown their government and were under siege. To show how tough they were, they played a game of calcio storico.

Salary? What salary. They get a dinner. That’s it. They used to get a Chianina cow.

To play calcio storico, you must either be born in Florence or have lived there for a minimum of 10 consecutive years.

All matches from last few years appear to be on YouTube.

Would you play? Would you watch?

A giant hill, a mass of people and one wheel of cheese. That’s essentially the entire premise behind the sport of cheese rolling.

While popular in many places, the true epicenter is at Cooper’s Hill near Gloucester in England, where the event takes place every year. 

No entry form, no fees, no qualifiers, you simply show up at the top of the hill. From what I can tell, the steepness is most similar to that of a black diamond in skiing.

Food rationing was introduced in 1941 so a wooden ‘cheese’ was used until 1954. The whole event was cancelled in 1998 because the previous year had 33 injuries. The current cheese is a 7-9 lb. Double Gloucester wheel.

First recorded event was in 1884.

Three races for men per year, one for the ladies and one for kids.

Chris Anderson is currently the man to beat, winning 15 cheeses over 11 years.

All time record holder is Stephen Gyde with a total of 20 cheeses over a period of 14 years.  

The next event is on the 28th May 2018.

Final question. Sport? Or Activity?