Pallopelit

Pallopelit is a broad category of sports and games in Finnish that use a ball as a central element of play. The term covers both team-based and individual ball activities and is commonly used in physical education and sport administration to group activities with shared features: a ball is manipulated to advance play, maintain possession, and score points or goals. The exact classification can vary by context, but pallopelit typically emphasize ball-handling skills, coordination, spatial awareness, and teamwork.

Play can take place on various surfaces and in different environments—from grass fields and indoor courts to outdoor street settings. Equipment ranges from different sizes and materials of balls to nets, goals, and protective gear. Rules govern how the ball can be moved, how points are earned, game duration, and fouls or violations.

Common examples include football (soccer), basketball, volleyball, handball, and baseball/softball, among others. Rugby and other ball-based games are sometimes included because they involve similar skills and equipment. Pallopelit are a central part of physical education curricula in schools and are supported by national sports federations, clubs, and leagues that organize training, coaching, and competition from amateur to elite levels.