Come each January many of us decide to turn over a new leaf and get fitter and more active. We commit to hitting the gym at least once a week and plan to eat more healthily. But, unfortunately, life can get in the way of our best-laid plans and by March we’ve settled back into our old ways.
What might be needed is a totally different kind of sport to master and enjoy. This is especially true if we’re looking for an activity that is more than just exercise.
That’s because sports can offer us so many benefits on top of making us fitter, including improving our mental health and widening our range of friends.
What’s more, this is a great time to take up a sport as there are plenty of new ones that you might never have come across before, including these six examples.
Padel Tennis
This is a game that has really taken off in the last couple of years and is a cross between tennis and squash. Played in a box around a third of the area of a tennis court, the ball can bounce off any of the walls but must only bounce once on the ground before you hit it.
The rise in the popularity of the game has resulted in sports betting operators listing the sport on their site. Juan Lebrón Chincoa is widely regarded as the best padel tennis player in the world right now. It relies far more on skill and strategy than strength, making it ideal for anyone to play.
Scoring is exactly like tennis and serving is always done underarm. It’s usually played as a doubles game so it’s great for getting friends involved, too.
Frisbee Golf
As you might expect, this sport is a combination of frisbee and golf. The basis is a series of metal baskets set in the ground over a fairly wide area. The objective is to use as few throws of the frisbee as possible to land it in each of the baskets in sequence.
It’s a great test of skill as well as being a lot of fun to play. There’s also the chance to compete individually or as part of a team. In some areas there are even Frisbee Golf leagues being set up.
Walking Football
Football is the most popular sport in the world so it’s no wonder that people of all ages want to be involved. For some this might mean sports betting on a favourite team, for others it could be playing themselves. But many are put off by the physical nature of the game – and that’s why walking football is ideal for them.
It’s played by teams of five, six or seven, who walk the game. Running and aggressive tackling are against the rules and so is heading the ball. The ball is rolled in when it goes out of play and, best of all, there are no off-sides.
Dodgeball
If you thought the game of dodgeball only existed in the comedy movie starring Ben Stiller and Vince Vaughn how wrong you are. It’s an increasingly popular team game whose basic objective is to be the last person standing.
Played by two teams using a minimum of five balls, the aim is to capture the balls and use them to throw at the members of the opposing side. When you’re hit, you’re out for the round and can only rejoin the game after one team has won that round. It’s fast, fun and very competitive, too.
Coasteering
If you’re the sort of person who enjoys wild swimming then coasteering could well be the sport for you. The idea is to work your way along a stretch of coastline using a combination of walking, rock climbing and swimming making for a brilliant cardio workout.
You wear a wetsuit, life preserver and sturdy footwear to protect yourself from the elements and it’s a great way to explore the nooks and inlets along a coastline that might not otherwise be accessible except by boat. Sure, it’s not an option if you live inland, but for coastal dwellers it’s ideal.
Paddleboarding
A more serene method of travelling across water is paddleboarding. It’s sort of a cross between surfing and kayaking that you can enjoy on any stretch of water. The board itself is much bigger and more buoyant than a surfboard and you can choose to either lie down on your front and paddle with your hands or stand up and use a double-ended paddle. Most people get the hang of paddleboarding pretty quickly if they try it on calm waters to start with.
Boards come in a variety of lengths with some as short as 12 feet and others as long as 20 feet and cost from around $1000 upwards.
So, there you have them. Six exciting ways to get involved in sport.
