It’s hard to imagine your favorite sport not being practiced anywhere, right? From playing at the park to watching the pros, nearly every sport we love to play, or watch is a part of our daily life. Many sports have been practiced in the past but have since fallen out of favor.
Any list of the world’s most popular sports is going to include the usual suspects: soccer (FIFA, of course), basketball, tennis, and baseball. But which sports are you supposed to play? We have put together a list of the most practiced to least practiced sports, so you can get an idea of which sports you might enjoy playing and get a head start on becoming the next Serena Williams or Lionel Messi.
Soccer
Soccer (English Football) is the most widely played and most loved sport in the world. It’s estimated that 1.6 billion people are soccer players or fans, and that number continues to grow. It is also one of the oldest sports around, records trace the history of soccer back more than 2,000 years ago to ancient China. Greece, Rome, and parts of Central America also claim to have started the sport; but it was England that transitioned soccer, or what the British and many other people around the world call “football,” into the game we know today.
Badminton
Badminton is widely considered the highest-ranking sport of both skill and physical demands. The game involves the use of rackets to hit a small, hard ball, known as the shuttlecock, back and forth across a badminton court. It is so popular that more than 120 countries participate in international competitions, and more than 100 million people play the game regularly.
Field Hockey
Field hockey teams practice more often than many team sports, mainly because field hockey is played indoors, which tends to last a lot longer than other athletic activities. This means that field hockey teams can practice regularly, and that’s great for players looking to enhance their skills and increase their chances of making the team. But just because field hockey is the most practiced sport in the United States doesn’t mean it’s the most practiced in the world. In the UK for example, it is known as just “hockey” and is played indoors and outdoors.
Volleyball
Volleyball is a popular sport that can be enjoyed both indoors and outdoors. While people enjoy watching players on a volleyball court or even on a beach, many more people also participate in the sport. The rules of volleyball are simple: the ball must not touch the ground, must only touch the player’s hands once, and the ball must go over the net. There are twelve players on the court, and each team has 6 players. The object of the game is to hit or pass the ball back and forth across the court with the opposing team.
Basketball
Basketball is one of the most popular sports in the world. It’s estimated that there are over 1.2 billion basketball fans who have played it at some point. Today, basketball is played in over 190 nations. Plus, there are many basketball groups, like Colorado Lighting who are part of the Competitive youth basketball leagues Colorado, which can be enjoyed by student-athletes who want to continue playing. The sport’s history dates to 1891, when Dr. James Naismith, a physical education teacher from Springfield, Massachusetts, came up with the concept for an indoor game that would later become known as basketball.
Tennis
Tennis is a sport that requires a racquet and a ball. It’s considered a “gateway” sport because once a person learns how to play it, they’re pretty much hooked. Based on 2019 data, 87 million people play tennis worldwide, approximately 47% of tennis players are female and 53% are male. Tennis is one of the most popular sports in the world.
Table Tennis
The best thing about playing table tennis is that it can be as intense or as relaxing as you want. Whether you enjoy competing in tournaments or want to hone your skills to become a better player, table tennis is a great sport to take up. It’s a ton of fun, and there’s plenty of room for learning, practice, and improvement.
Baseball
Baseball is one of the oldest sports around, and even if you’re not into sports in general, you probably heard about it at some point. This sport has been around since the 1800s, and it’s still one of the most popular sports in the world. It’s played both indoors and outdoors and involves two teams, nine players, and 90 minutes. Although the ball has been around since the 1500s, the baseball we know today was invented in 1845. One of the reasons for baseball’s popularity is its history and the iconic teams. For instance, the New York Yankees and the Boston Red Sox have been rivals for a long time, each with their own dedicated fanbases.
Golf
Golf is a lifetime activity. With practice and dedication, anyone can learn to play this demanding game. However, golf is one of the most challenging and frustrating sports to play. It’s necessary to have a calm mind and a steady hand. Like other sports, golf represents the opportunity to enjoy time with friends while spending quality time together, exercising, and improving general fitness.
Sports are fun, healthy, and a great way to spend time with friends. There are hundreds of different sports out there, and each one can be learned by anyone at any age.