Introduction to the game "hikipallo" in English
	Kaiharin Pallo is a team which plays game called "hikipallo" here in Finland. The game´s organized form was invented in Ylöjärvi (nearby Tampere).This game is modificated from ice-hockey and there are much of similarities with icehockey. Translation of "hikipallo" would be "sweatball". Despite of similarities with ice-hockey sweatball is that much different to play that if you are good at ice-hockey, it doesn't mean you are good at sweatball. The game is played in an ice-hockey rink and ice should be as slippery as it can be (but it isn't always as the game is played outdoors). There are 6 players by side plus a goalie. Players don't have any equipment but ice-hockey stick and warm clothes. Shoes are normal joggers or other normal shoes but any kind of attempt to decrease slipperiness is forbidden. Goalie wears ice-hockey goalies knee covers (those big ones, I don't know exactly what they are called in english), glove, stick and shield. Some kind of mask is also used. It's each goalies own decision if he wants to wear some kind of armour to protect the chest. Our goalie has ice-hockey player's armour, not goalie's. Proper goalie's armour might slow the goalie's movements. Our goalie also wears ice-hockey player's trousers. The lightness of goalies equipment is because of tennisball is used in the game, not puck. That is why also other playes don't need equipment. So the rules are these: Offside is called (As there is no referee in all games, only the roughest offsides are called). Icing and offside pass are not included. Game time is 2 x 30 minutes. Minor penalty is 3 minutes, personal 10 minutes also possible. Checking is not allowed but you may little lean on the opponent and that is ok. Usually the penalty is called for high-sticking (you are not allowed to high-stick the ball and neither the opponent. If you do it's automatically 3 minutes), interference, or too rough play. Fighting is penalized by game misconduct. If game is even after full time the game ends in tie but if the winner must be found (cup matches) the penalty shootout is followed. Penalties in shootout are shot from one and the same spot few meters away from the goal. In game situations there might be sometimes a penalty shot like in ice-hockey. The organized leagues of sweatball are played only in Ylöjärvi. The "World Cup" of this game is played every year in Mutala, Ylöjärvi. The competitors in "World Cup" are from Finland and nearby Ylöjärvi usually. The name "World Cup" is sort of official though because of any team from anywhere may take part to the competition. All you have to do is pay the competition bill (about 100 FM). The bill is paid before the first match in the playing scene which is the rink of the Mutala's school. More information about the "World Cup" you can get from Ylöjärven Seutu -magazine. The winner of the tournament is rewarded with trophy called "Paavon Pytty". The winner team can keep it one year and then it is given to the next winner. There are also leagues of this game. There are two different levels: The championship league divided to two groups and the lower league also divided to two groups (this kind of leagueform was used during this season 1999-2000). The winners of the championship groups meet up in final. The winner of the lower group A plays with the worse team of championship group A and the winner of the single match which winner plays in the championship league next season. Same goes for B groups. The "World Cup" has been controlled by Lahnavetten Kuninkaat in the past years. This team has won the tournament three times in a row. The most difficult part in the game is that the game circumstances may be in different games totally different. One day the ice may be quite sticky so fitness and speed will play great role in the game. But on the next day ice may be extremely slippery and the nature of the game changes. Now you cannot use your speed and moving around is difficult. So now is important to play well together, play tactically right and use your teammates as well as the rink's walls to boost up your speed.
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