One story has it that Russian streetcar (tram) drivers, used to hit a small ball about the ice in winter during their lunch breaks. A second has it that small boys swatting a ball with toy brooms intrigued a group of soccer players. The third would have it that Broomball started as an avenue for non-skaters to participate in the rough and tumble of Ice Hockey. The fourth option describes the origins of Broomball arising out of the desire by women players to be involved in Ice Hockey, as this was then impossible in the male dominated and controlled sport, broomball was started as an avenue for women participants. The fifth story is that broomball was started by the Indians of Eastern Canada, using a ball and stick and tree stumps for goals.