5 team sports women love

WATER POLO
The goal: Called soccer in a pool, players on both teams tread water while trying to throw the ball into the opponent's net.
Why should you play? "I think women love it because, simply put, it's really great game," says Lila Fraser, 28, who plays for the national team out of Montreal. "It is very strategy-oriented while requiring incredible fitness, finesses, endurance and strength."
Why women-only? While Fraser says playing co-ed is great for improving your game, men tend to feel awkward in mixed male and female teams as it's a contact sport.
More information: Water Polo Canada

HOCKEY
The goal: Whether ice hockey, floor hockey or field hockey, two teams compete to drive a ball or puck into the opponent's net. Recreational leagues usually favour no-contact gameplay.
Why should you play? It's Canada's national sport, and we rock at it! Team Canada had the Midas touch at the 2002 Winter Olympics when both the men's and women's teams won gold. It's great exercise: a 130-pound woman blasts 258 calories playing 30 minutes of hockey.
Why women-only? Although no-contact, hockey can be intense. Women may feel more confident and less fearful of someone double their size accidentally knocking them down.
More information: Hockey Canada

SYNCHRONIZED SWIMMING
The goal: Synchronized swimming is a graceful sport that combines swimming, gymnastics and ballet.
Why should you play? A great all-encompassing sport, synchronized swimming builds endurance, strength, coordination and speed.
Why women-only? According to Synchro Canada, the sport's governing body, 98 percent of participants are female, so you'll be hard-pressed to find any other team.
More information: Synchro Canada

BASEBALL
The goal: While the ball, pitch and size of the field are different, softball and baseball involve two teams taking turns at bat to try to score runs.
Why should you play? Films like A League of Their Own and Field of Dreams idealize the sport, with good reason. The sport transports you back to childhood when you grabbed your friends, a bat, ball and glove, headed to the park and had fun until Mom or Dad called you in for dinner. This game requires coordination, concentration and speed, and offers time to socialize when your team is at bat.
Why women-only? "Even if a mistake or bad play is made, women are able to keep the perspective of having fun," explains Dias.
More information: Baseball Canada, Softball Canada

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