Contact sports require strategy, quick thinking, and wit. Riddles that involve contact sports like football, rugby, wrestling etc. challenge one’s knowledge of the sports as well as make you think logically. Here are 41 such brain teasers with answers related to popular contact sports.
Football Riddles
Football is one of the most watched and played sports globally. It originated in Britain with standardized rules being made in 1863 when the Football Association was formed. Let’s start with some football riddles and their answers.
Riddle #1: I have four legs but cannot walk. I spend most of my time on the ground. Players fight hard to own me. What am I?
Answer: A football
Riddle #2: We are eleven in total, ten run while one stands stationary. A net guards me while the other tries to score against me. Who am I?
Answer: A football team
Riddle #3: I am not alive but I have a name. You cannot play without me though I feel no fame. What am I?
Answer: A football stadium
The next few riddles involve knowledge of football rules and regulations to be solved.
Riddle #4: I am awarded when the game is tied and neither team could score. What trophy do I refer to?
Answer: The Jules Rimet Trophy for a draw/tie in football
Riddle #5: I am granted when an attacking player is obstructed illegally inside the penalty area. What term am I?
Answer: A penalty or penalty kick
Riddle #6: You need to dribble past me to score a goal. I am the last in the defense. Who am I?
Answer: Goalkeeper
Let’s now move on to some general football puzzles.
Riddle #7: I happen when two players of the opposite team challenge for the ball. What term am I referring to?
Answer: A tackle
Riddle #8: I refer to the action of kicking the ball to your teammate. Our aim is to retain possession. What am I?
Answer: A pass
Riddle #9: We are the people who control and officiate the match. We caution foul players and add extra time. Who are we?
Answer: Referees and match officials
American Football Riddles
Let’s now try to solve some riddles related to American football.
Riddle #10: I am not a player but play a key role in the team’s victory. I strategize plays and guide the players. Who am I?
Answer: The coach
Riddle #11: I am oval in shape with points at both ends used in American football. What am I?
Answer: A football
Riddle #12: I am awarded when a player catches the ball in the opponent’s end zone. What am I called?
Answer: A touchdown
Riddle #13: I am the defensive player who tries to tackle the quarterback before he can throw or pass the ball. Who am I?
Answer: Linebacker
Riddle #14: I am granted when the team opts to give possession back to the opponents generally on fourth downs. What am I?
Answer: A punt
Let’s move on to some rugby riddles now.
Rugby Riddles
Here are some of the best rugby riddles and their puzzling answers.
Riddle #15: We are 15 players in one team trying to score more tries than the opponent. Who are we?
Answer: A rugby union team
Riddle #16: I am the way to score points in rugby where the player grounds the ball behind the opponent’s goal line. What term am I?
Answer: A try
Riddle #17: I am the ‘H’ shaped goal structure where scoring happens in rugby. What am I called?
Answer: The try zone
Riddle #18: I am awarded after touching down the ball behind the opponent’s try line. I give you an opportunity to score extra points. What am I?
Answer: A conversion kick
Some more rugby brain teasers coming up. Try to decode them.
Riddle #19: I refer to illegally obstructing an opponent who doesn’t have the ball. What term do I refer to?
Answer: Obstruction
Riddle #20: I am a nine-player team version of rugby. What is my name?
Answer: Rugby League
Let’s now ponder over some MMA puzzles.
Mixed Martial Arts Riddles
Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) combine different combat sports and martial arts. Let’s try to unlock some MMA riddles now.
Riddle #21: I am a combat sport where two fighters attack and counter-attack each other inside an octagonal cage. What am I?
Answer: The Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC)
Riddle #22: I refer to an illegal grip to throw your opponent onto his neck or head. What dangerous move am I?
Answer: A pile driver
Riddle #23: I am a wrestling technique where one combatant holds the opponent by encircling his waist and arching backwards. What am I called?
Answer: A back clinch
Let’s ponder over some wrestling riddles now.
Wrestling Riddles
Wrestling involves grappling moves and pins to subdue your opponent. Let’s decode some brainteasers on wrestling now.
Riddle #24: My move involves grasping your rival from behind around his waist and throwing him down onto his back. What am I?
Answer: A takedown
Riddle #25: I refer to illegally using the legs while executing a body slam in wrestling. What foul move do I refer to?
Answer: Using a leg trip
Riddle #26: I am an attacking move where the wrestler lifts and throws his rival onto the ground. What powerful move am I?
Answer: A body slam
Some more wrestling puzzles coming up.
Riddle #27: I refer to the protective headgear worn by wrestlers during practice and matches. What am I called?
Answer: The wrestling headgear
Riddle #28: I indicate an illegal hold in wrestling applied below the hips or knees. What foul tactic do I refer to?
Answer: Leg checking
Let’s now ponder over some hockey puzzles.
Ice Hockey Riddles
Ice hockey is a popular winter sport played on ice. Let’s try and solve some brainteasers on ice hockey now.
Riddle #29: I slide on ice and try to shoot the puck past the goalie into the net. Who am I?
Answer: An ice hockey player/forward
Riddle #30: I am the 12 feet wide structure with the net where scoring happens. What am I called?
Answer: The ice hockey goal
Riddle #31: I am the protective gear worn by the goalkeeper covering his face and head. What am I?
Answer: The goalie mask
Let’s decode some more ice hockey puzzles.
Riddle #32: We are the double blade shoes worn by hockey players to move swiftly on ice. What are we called?
Answer: Ice hockey skates
Riddle #33: I refer to the protective glass surroundings of the hockey rink to shield spectators from injury. What do I signify?
Answer: The boards
Let’s ponder over some lacrosse riddles now.
Lacrosse Riddles
Lacrosse is an interesting stick and ball sport with Native American origins. Let’s try and solve some lacrosse brainteasers now.
Riddle #34: I am the solid rubber ball used to score goals in lacrosse. What am I named?
Answer: The lacrosse ball
Riddle #35: We are a team of ten players whose aim is to throw the ball into the opponent’s goal using lacrosse sticks. Who are we?
Answer: A lacrosse team
Riddle #36: He tries to block shots from entering the 6×6 feet boxed goal. Who is the defensive player?
Answer: The lacrosse goalkeeper
Let’s ponder over some water polo riddles now.
Water Polo Riddles
Water polo is an aggressive aquatics sport between two seven player teams. Let’s immerse into some water polo riddles now.
Riddle #37: We are headgears made of silicone or latex material worn by water polo players to protect our heads. What are we called?
Answer: Water polo caps
Riddle #38: I am a foul where the defensive player pushes the opponent player underwater to gain advantage. What foul tactic am I referring to?
Answer: Dunking
Riddle #39: I am awarded when an attacking player is obstructed from taking a shot at the goal. What am I called?
Answer: A penalty shot
With many contact sports covered, let’s ponder over the answers of some final riddles.
Final Riddles
Let’s solve the last two brainteasers on the theme of contact sports.
Riddle #40: I originate from Ancient Greece and Rome where athletes wrestled in mud or oil. What sport am I?
Answer: Greco Roman Wrestling
Riddle #41: I am a combat sport from Brazil that involves grappling and submission techniques. What martial art am I?
Answer: Brazilian Jiu Jitsu (BJJ)
Conclusion
I hope you enjoyed solving these 41 puzzles on popular contact sports like football, MMA, wrestling, hockey etc. These riddles tested your knowledge of sports techniques, rules and key terms. Crack more such teasers to sharpen your thinking skills and enhance your grasp of various sports.