The Woodbridge Township School District recognizes and participates in 19 NCAA sanctioned sports. However, there are many more sports played at a collegiate level. There are also many other sports played at a professional and Olympic level that Woodbridge Township should also be considering for their athletic teams.
1. Archery
While it is not a sport sanctioned by the NCAA, archery is an Olympic sport which would be much more accessible to anyone. In archery, you aim a bow and arrow at a target and try to get as close to the middle as possible. Archery is more technique than physical prowess, which would make it a more accessible sport. It is like golf in a way, in that it is more a battle of the mind than the body.
2. Lacrosse
Lacrosse is a staple school sport, yet Woodbridge does not participate in it. It combines the more hand and stick-oriented style of hockey with the general premise of soccer. In lacrosse, there is a long stick with a net that players use to catch and throw the ball. The goal is to throw this ball into the opposing team’s net. Going as far back as the 17th century, Lacrosse is one of the oldest organized sports in North America.
3. Ultimate Frisbee
Ultimate Frisbee is a sport that is grossly under looked, but is rapidly growing in popularity. According to the World Flying Disc Federation, it is a non-contact, self-refereed sport; fouls and such are called by the players and are under an honor system. It currently has two pro leagues and thousands of colleges play it as a club sport. It’s even pushing to become an Olympic sport and is eligible for the 2028 games. In Ultimate, you throw the disc around to your teammates and try to get it passed into the end zone. The catch is that players cannot move when in possession of the disc.
4. Water Polo
At a basic level, water polo looks very similar to soccer. However, it goes much deeper than that(pun intended). Water polo is a sport which combines the elements of handball (soccer with your hands) and swimming. In this sport, two teams of seven players have to throw a ball into a net, all while keeping afloat. Both the NCAA and the Olympics recognize the sport, and two pro leagues also participate in it.
5. Fencing
This French sport also has professional outlets with the Olympics. It is a co-ed sport that is sanctioned by the NCAA and is very technical, so it’s more accessible, much like archery. It involves two people in armor with long and thin (thus flimsy) swords. They gain points by poking the other person, and can get very fast at a higher level. It is also where “en garde!” became a famous saying in the U.S.
