Eight questions to ask yourself to know which sports suit you best

Whether you are a sports fan or not, you can’t help but admire athletes in their prime doing what they do best. Just watching them accomplish incredible feats is breathtaking, and there is no reason why you can’t be doing some of these things yourself too. Playing sports is one of the best things you can do for your mental and physical health. 

The only question is, which sport should you play? Asking these questions will help you find an answer.

1. What physical qualities do you have?

Before delving into the sport itself, you have to look at your physical qualities and whether or not they could deter you from practicing certain sports. A 16-year-old looking to play hockey won’t think like a 36-year-old. Can your body handle certain sports? Or is it too late to play them? The answer is: it depends. You can’t really do gymnastics unless you are at a very young age, for example. This is why you have to consider your abilities and what your body can take first, before moving on to other points.

2. What do you want to achieve? 

Excelling in sports is the ultimate challenge a person could face in their life. You won’t find fiercer competitors elsewhere, and you need to be one if you want to win championships. But what if that is not what you want? Maybe you want to practice a particular sport for your own enjoyment and to get in better shape. This is why you must think long and hard about what you want to achieve. Is it entering local – and maybe even international – competitions? Or do you just want to enjoy a friendly game of basketball with your friends every now and then?

3. What do you value in sport? 

Some people value physical prowess, so they might be better off with martial arts or other sports that entail physical contact. Others value finesse and accuracy, so they would enjoy a sport like golf, where you can put technical skills to good use. As you can see on this homepage, golf, in particular, is a game that requires a lot of attention to detail and consistent practice. You need to know how to hold the club, properly position your body, master the swing and a lot more. Asking yourself what you like in a sport is important so you can narrow your choices down to a few.

4. Do you have any experience?

Your experience in certain sports is another factor that you need to take into consideration. Maybe you played baseball as a kid. If so, do you want to pick it up again? This will certainly save you some time because you already know the game, but the great thing about sports is that there are no restrictions, except for physical ones. If your body can take it, there is no reason why you can’t play basketball instead of baseball.

5. How much will it cost?

This is a point that a lot of people seem to forget. Playing sport costs money, and not just from training – though the less popular the sport, the more expensive the trainer. You also need to take equipment into consideration and whether or not you will need to spend money on other things like travel.

6. Do you prefer individual or group sports?

Finding a sport that suits you means asking this question sooner or later. Do you want to be part of a team, or do you prefer individual sports where it is just you? This is a question that you need to ask early on so you can eliminate some of your options.

7. Do you prefer unorganised sports?

Sometimes, a sport doesn’t have particular governing bodies – not ones that you have to follow anyway. Take sports like mountain climbing or hiking. These are great activities that you can do, and you can do them freely, anywhere you want.

8. Can you get a trainer? 

Do you even need one? Or is this a sport that you can practice on your own? You have to find an answer to that question because it is not just about whether or not you can improve in that sport without professional guidance. It is also about finding it when you need it. You have to take into account the availability of professional trainers in your vicinity.

Whichever sport you decide on, it will be great for your body and mind. Sports will teach you discipline and commitment, and they can change your life for the better. Take your time and consider all your options because there are many. The great thing is you can always change your mind and switch to a different one if you are not having fun, and that’s always reassuring.

The editorial unit