Soccer is regarded as the world's sport because it has gained a foothold in almost every country of the world. Other sports are more regional. For instance, American football was barely recognized outside of the United States, and baseball is very popular in Asian, North and South American countries but draws little interest in European countries. Australia has its own quirks as a nation, taking pride in many sports that don't have much worldwide appeal.
Cricket
Cricket is a field-and-ball sport featuring elements of field hockey and lacrosse. Although it is not often played in the United States, cricket matches are televised in Australia and can attract large crowds. Australia was the host for the Cricket World Cup in 1992 and has a field in Melbourne, one of Australia's largest cities -- devoted solely to cricket competitions. Several of Australia's neighboring countries, including New Zealand, are fervent cricket nations, helping turn the sport into a friendly international competition.
Rugby
Rugby is a sport with rules somewhere in between those of soccer and football. Rugby is older than American football, and although it is not as popular in regions of the world where American football is played, some parts of the world are still fervent rugby fans. Australia is one of these regions, and the country consistently boasts a strong rugby national team in both men's and women's fields of play. Rugby games in Australia can attract crowds in excess of 80,000, according to the the Australian government website.
Netball
Netball is primarily a women's sport that is derived from basketball and features a ball similar to a volleyball. Netball features a basket fixed 10 feet in the air, but it differs from basketball because you can't play off a backboard. Additionally, teams compete with seven players on the floor at once, rather than basketball's five. Although the sport is rarely seen in some parts of the world, particularly the United States, where women's basketball is widely played, netball is a popular sport in Australia as well as New Zealand.
Other Sports
Other sports that have appeal around the world can take the national spotlight in Australia. Swimming, for example, is a sport that Aussies have had years of success in at the Olympic level. Australia has also produced several notable professionals in golf and tennis, including Greg Norman and Rod Laver.
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